Draft:Jewitches
Jewish Spiritual Movement
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The Jewitches (also styled JeWitches) movement has been described in media coverage as involving Jews—often but not exclusively women—who blend Jewish heritage with elements of witchcraft, folk magic, and, in some cases, Semitic neopaganism.[1][2]
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Comment: In accordance with Wikipedia's Conflict of interest guideline, I disclose that I have a conflict of interest regarding the subject of this article. Jewitches (talk) 02:11, 24 March 2026 (UTC)
It has also been characterized as part of a broader revival of interest in Jewish mysticism and folk practices like astrology, palm reading, herbalism, and horoscopes.[3][4]
Since its inception in the early 2000s, the Jewitch movement has grown to include several organizations and social media communities.
History
The term 'Jewitchery' originated in the early 2000s as a means of describing "the practices of Wiccans of Jewish heritage".[5] Early documented usage of the term appears in the writings of Melissa Oringer on the website jewitchery.com, where she used terms including “Jewitch,” “Jewitches,” and “Jewitchery.”
Oringer heavily cited the work of Raphael Patai, in particular, his book The Hebrew Goddess.[6]
By the mid-2000s, the term and related concepts began appearing in discussions of Jewish spirituality and identity[7], including in a 2006 article by the Jewish Women's Archive, which describes Jewitchery as involving Jewish women who identify as “Jewitches,” “Judeo-Pagans,” or “JAPs” (Jewish American Pagans) and who practice witchcraft, Wicca, or other forms of goddess-centered spirituality.[8]
Beginning in 2021, “A Jewitch Herbal: Mystical Reflections on Food, Nature and Urban Farming” became a recurring column by Devorah Brous in the Jewish publication The Forward.[9]
Practices and beliefs
Practices associated with Jewitches vary but may include ritual observances drawn from both Jewish tradition, folk traditions, or neopagan traditions. These can involve the use of herbalism, astrology, meditation, and ceremonial rituals, alongside Jewish practices such as Shabbat observance or holiday rituals interpreted through a mystical or symbolic lens.[10][11]
While some Jewitches, such as Starhawk and Melissa Oringer, identify as practicing within both Jewish and pagan or earth-based spiritual traditions, others, such as Zohare Jacobi, have described Jewish mystical and folkloric traditions as longstanding elements of Judaism, suggesting that contemporary Jewitch practices draw on existing traditions rather than introducing entirely new concepts.[12]
Community and organizations
The JeWitch Collective
The JeWitch Collective is a community organization that describes itself as focused on ritual practice, education, and activism rooted in both Jewish and earth-based spiritual traditions. It operates as a nonprofit project with a fiscal sponsor in Berkeley, California. The organization's constituency is over 50% queer.[13]
The organization describes its work as combining ritual practice, education, and activism, in particular, Tikkun Olam.[14]
JeWitch Collective activities include hosting events like Passover Seders and retreats.[15][10]
JeWitch Camp
The JeWitch Collective founded in 2015 at Camp Cazadero, JeWitch Camp featured numerous Jewish rituals such as Tu B'Shevat, Shabbat, Havdalah, and Kiddush Levanah. It continued through 2020 with leadership from Starhawk.[16]
Jewitches Podcast
Founded by Zohare Jacobi in 2021 as an offshoot of her website and blog, jewitches.com, the Jewitches podcast features discussions of Jewish identity, mysticism, and traditional Jewish folklore.[17][10] Jacobi's various platforms have amassed thousands of followers since beginning in 2020.[18]
Notable Individuals
Individuals associated with or discussed in connection with the movement include Starhawk, Zohare Jacobi, Judika Illes, Pam Grossman, and Gabriela “Gaby” Herstik, among others.[16][18][10]