Travel agent. Nutritionist. Interior Decorator. Psychologist. Gourmet Chef. Kashrus Consultant.
Today’s Jewish woman wears all those hats plus so many more as now, more than ever, as she is called upon to be well versed in so many different areas as she goes about her day-to-day life. To assist her in this task are several websites aimed at offering information on a variety of topics, with articles that are both enlightening and timely. This week we review three of the most popular.
Savvima.com Thousands of women visit savvima.com each week, looking for inspiring articles, home décor ideas, recipes, crafts and more. Created by Monsey resident Naomi Weinstein in April 2010 to cater to the interests of the “Savvy Ima” in a way that was both fun and relevant, savvima.com addresses the many issues that affect Jewish women, wives and mothers.
“Ever have a friend who can be described as a breath of fresh air?” asks Naomi. “Always upbeat but not overly sugary? Savvima is that friend. We offer recipes, new product reviews and giveaways, home organizing tips and so much more. Raising a family, and being a homemaker are demanding jobs and our goal is to inspire and assist readers to be Savvy-Imas.”
Browsing through the site it is easy to see why readers from all over the globe, and all across the religious spectrum, have flocked to its visually appealing pages which offer regular giveaways of new cookbooks, children’s books, kitchen products and more. Aside from being clean, attractive and easy to read, savvima.com is loaded with information that is both appropriate and timely. The Shopping section doesn’t just list sales, it offers intriguing articles on topics like postpartum fashion and how to create a chic layered look and still be able to beat the heat. Other timely articles include Tips About Tipping (Relationships), Speaking to Your Kids About Personal Safety (Health) and Creating Coloring Pages From Photos (Crafts). Rounding out the site are sections on Your Nest (Home Décor), Holidays, Inspiration and Cooking. Savvima.com also invites readers to submit their own recipes and a rolling comment bar displays the latest thoughts shared by the reader, giving the site a real sense of community.
Kosherwoman.com KosherWoman.com was launched in March 2010 by a group of women who found that Jewish women not only needed answers to questions about countless different subjects, but needed to be able to find those answers as quickly as possible, without having to search through various lengthy articles.
“Today’s women, from teens through senior citizens, lead extremely busy lives as they juggle their familial obligations with school, work and the other activities that are part and parcel of daily life,” explained one of the site’s founders. “Oftentimes when questions or issues arise they need answers that are both simple and quick.”
The site covers eight categories: prayer, travel, kitchen, lifestyle, health, nutrition, diet and exercise and currently has over 150 pages of information. While many of the pages deal with personal health, cooking and nutrition, KosherWoman.com also tackles religious issues and is in constant contact with a well-respected rabbi who deals with matters of Jewish law.
“We found that particularly when it came to questions that pertain to religious observance there were many basic questions that even women who had been observant their entire lives were embarrassed to ask their husbands or rabbis,” remarked one KosherWoman.com contributor. “Basic questions, regarding things we have done all our lives, and we suddenly realized after all these years, we have no idea if we are doing them correctly.”
KosherWoman.com continues to evolve as readers submit their requests for future pages – many current pages and sections were originally suggested by readers. Contributors to the site admit to being stunned by the overwhelming response from readers all across the globe and comments posted on the home page are proof positive that KosherWoman.com is a valuable asset to many.
Imamother.com Unable to find a parenting website geared towards religious Jewish women, Montreal resident Yael Cozocaru decided to start her own almost eight years ago and what began as a hobby for both Yael and her husband, Yossi, has evolved into a full time job for both of them as imamother.com has become a major resource for Jewish wives and mothers everywhere.
“I was looking for some kind of support, a way to connect with friends, ask questions about issues that arose in my life and what began as a tiny site for family and friends has grown into something that continuously amazes me,” said Yael. “Women told their friends and it just kept on growing. People in the middle of nowhere, where there are no other religious women to befriend, now have socialization with women just like themselves, any time of day or night.”
