{{short description|American activist and influencer}} {{POV|date=April 2026}}{{Infobox person | name = Adina Sash | image = פלעטבוש מיידל.jpg | alt = | birth_date = | birth_place = Brooklyn, New York | occupation = {{Hlist|Activist}} }} '''Adina Miles Sash''' (born '''Esther Adina Miles, also known as "''FlatbushGirl''"''') is an American Jewish activist and social media influencer, based out of Brooklyn, New York. Sash gained notability within Orthodox Judaism for her stage character (''FlatbushGirl'') on her Instagram. Originally her content focused on the everyday lives of Orthodox Jewish women with comedic sketches and videos.<ref name="Daily"/><ref name=tjc1/> In recent years, her activism has been primarily focused on issues relating to Aggunot.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hajdenberg |first=Jackie |date=2026-03-30 |title=New York woman at center of Orthodox ‘sex strike’ receives her Jewish divorce |url=https://jewishchronicle.timesofisrael.com/new-york-woman-at-center-of-orthodox-sex-strike-receives-her-jewish-divorce/ |access-date=2026-04-13 |website=jewishchronicle.timesofisrael.com |language=en-US}}</ref>
== Early life and education == Sash was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York. As a young child, Sash began to question many of the rules taught to her in her Jewish day school.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Miles |first=Rona |title=The Blogs: My daughter is FlatbushGirl and I couldn’t be prouder |url=https://blogs.timesofisrael.com/my-daughter-is-flatbushgirl-and-i-couldnt-be-prouder/ |access-date=2026-04-15 |language=en-US}}</ref> She holds a degree in Medieval Literature from Brooklyn College.<ref name="kcp1">{{Cite web|url=https://www.kingscountypolitics.com/interview-frum-flatbushgirl-challenges-for-district-leader-seat/|title=Interview: Frum FlatbushGirl Challenges For District Leader Seat|last=Politics|first=Kings County|date=2018-07-23|website=Kings County Politics|language=en-US|access-date=2019-01-28|archive-date=2020-11-09|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201109020542/https://www.kingscountypolitics.com/interview-frum-flatbushgirl-challenges-for-district-leader-seat/|url-status=dead}}</ref> According to Sash, her online activism began after having received misogynistic comments, from Orthodox Jews, during an attempt to start a marketing business.<ref name=tjc1>{{cite web|url=https://www.thejc.com/lifestyle/features/flatbush-girl-frum-funny-feminist-instagram-influencer-1.474174|title=Flatbush Girl: Frum, Funny, Feminist, Instagram Influencer|website=The Jewish Chronicle|date=20 December 2018 |language=en-US|access-date=2020-06-15}}</ref> Her mother Rona Miles, who teaches psychology at Brooklyn college, has publicly supported (in 2020) her daughter's activism.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Miles |first=Rona |title=The Blogs: My daughter is FlatbushGirl and I couldn’t be prouder |url=https://blogs.timesofisrael.com/my-daughter-is-flatbushgirl-and-i-couldnt-be-prouder/ |access-date=2026-04-12 |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Rona Miles |url=https://www.brooklyn.edu/faculty-staff/rona-miles/ |access-date=2026-04-13 |website=Brooklyn College |language=en-US}}</ref> According to her Instagram account, Sash is married and the mother of two sons.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Instagram |url=https://www.instagram.com/flatbushgirl/p/CYjQDSMgkX7/ |access-date=2026-04-13 |website=www.instagram.com}}</ref>
==Career== === Early Activism === In 2017, Sash launched a social media campaign #FrumWomenHaveFaces that gained traction on social media in order to raise awareness of some Orthodox newspapers and magazines not publishing photos of women. Her campaign was covered in various local media outlets including the NY Daily News and received the support of several well known Jewish figures.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://forward.com/fast-forward/376648/flatbush-girl-launches-modest-proposal-frumwomenhavefaces/|title=Flatbush Girl Launches Modest Proposal: #FrumWomenHaveFaces|last=Adkins|first=Laura E.|website=The Forward|date=10 July 2017 |access-date=2019-01-28}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.refinery29.com/en-us/2017/07/163228/mayim-bialik-orthodox-judaism-womens-faces-blurred|title=Mayim Bialik Calls Out "Absurd" Policy Of Blurring Out Women's Faces|last=Donnelly|first=Erin|website=www.refinery29.com|date=12 July 2017 |language=en|access-date=2019-01-28}}</ref> Sash's campaign tactics included purchasing a full-page ad in the ''Flatbush Jewish Journal'' thanking city councilman Chaim Deutsch for his service to the Jewish community, and when informed the paper would not allow her face to be shown or the word "girl" to be used in the title, Sash modified the ad so that an emoji covered her face and her moniker was changed from 'Flatbush Girl' to 'Flatbush Boy'.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://forward.com/schmooze/377068/mayim-bialik-doesnt-need-vocal-chords-to-express-her-opinions/|title=Mayim Bialik Doesn't Need Vocal Chords To Express Her Opinions|last=Scott|first=Becky|website=The Forward|date=14 July 2017 |access-date=2019-01-28}}</ref><ref name="Daily">{{Cite web|url=https://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/orthodox-jewish-mom-emoji-fight-women-rights-article-1.3313514|title=Orthodox Jewish mom and popular social media star uses emoji in fight for women's rights - NY Daily News|last=Durkin|first=Erin|website=nydailynews.com|date=10 July 2017 |access-date=2019-01-28}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://forward.com/fast-forward/377780/flatbush-girl-pushes-back-over-frumwomenhavefaces-campaign/|title='Flatbush Girl' Pushes Back Over #FrumWomenHaveFaces Campaign|last=Snow|first=Erica|website=The Forward|date=25 July 2017 |access-date=2019-01-28}}</ref>
=== Reception within the Orthodox community === Sash's reception within the Orthodox community has at times been mixed and controversial. Backlash to Sash's activism, centering on Orthodox norms of women's modesty, has received some local media coverage in the past.<ref name="nypost">{{Cite web|url=https://nypost.com/2018/09/09/orthodox-jewish-women-slammed-for-wearing-slutty-wigs/|title=Orthodox Jewish women slammed for wearing 'slutty' wigs|last=Lewak|first=Doree|date=2018-09-09|website=New York Post|language=en|access-date=2019-01-28}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.jacarandafm.com/shows/scenic-drive-rian/orthodox-jewish-woman-told-her-long-wigs-are-slutty/|title=Orthodox Jewish woman told her long wigs are 'slutty'|website=Jacaranda FM|date=29 June 2018 |access-date=2019-01-28}}</ref> However, several Liberal Orthodox women's advocacy groups, including the Jewish Orthodox Feminist Alliance (JOFA) and Chochmat Nashim, have previously supported Sash's activism.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://jewishweek.timesofisrael.com/orthodox-instagram-star-reflects-on-ugly-aftermath-of-social-media-campaign/|title=Orthodox Instagram Star Reflects On Ugly Aftermath Of Social Media Campaign|last=Hanau|first=Shira|website=jewishweek.timesofisrael.com|language=en-US|access-date=2019-01-28}}</ref>
In the winter of 2023, Sash held an Instagram Live discussion with her followers when one of her friends named Riki Rose said she had an important question and was prompted to share her screen. However, the image that appeared on the screen was that of a man with exposed genitals.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Fox |first=Mira |date=2023-01-18 |title=An indecent exposure online exposes controversy in the Orthodox world |url=https://forward.com/culture/532463/flatbushgirl-sexual-assault-orthodox-jewish-gender-inequality-instagram/ |access-date=2026-04-13 |website=The Forward |language=en}}</ref> The incident led to Sash losing several thousand followers, while some accused her husband of being the offender.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Henry |first=Jacob |date=2023-01-20 |title=Orthodox influencer Flatbush Girl hunting man who flashed online session of 3,000 |url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/orthodox-influencer-flatbush-girl-hunting-man-who-flashed-online-session-of-3000/ |access-date=2026-04-13 |work=The Times of Israel |language=en-US |issn=0040-7909}}</ref>
In the fall of 2024, Sash staged a "sex-strike" in support of another woman in her community awaiting a Get.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hajdenberg |first=Jackie |date=2026-03-30 |title=New York woman at center of Orthodox ‘sex strike’ receives her Jewish divorce |url=https://jewishchronicle.timesofisrael.com/new-york-woman-at-center-of-orthodox-sex-strike-receives-her-jewish-divorce/ |access-date=2026-04-12 |website=jewishchronicle.timesofisrael.com |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-09-12 |title=Woman creates 'sex strike' to receive Jewish divorce from husband {{!}} The Jerusalem Post |url=https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/article-819776 |access-date=2026-04-12 |website=The Jerusalem Post {{!}} JPost.com |language=en}}</ref> The strike lasted for approximately 6 months. Some Jewish leaders and rabbis, including Hershel Schachter condemned Sash for this stunt and referred to her behavior as "destructive".<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-03-13 |title=Prominent US Rabbi: Sex strike against divorce refusal 'destructive' {{!}} The Jerusalem Post |url=https://www.jpost.com/judaism/article-791783 |access-date=2026-04-13 |website=The Jerusalem Post {{!}} JPost.com |language=en}}</ref>
=== Politics === In 2018, Sash ran for a district leader position in the 45th New York State Assembly District.<ref name="kcp1" /><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://jewishweek.timesofisrael.com/running-for-city-council-flatbush-girl-defends-yeshivas/|title=Running For City Council, 'Flatbush Girl' Defends Yeshivas|last=Hanau|first=Shira|date=2019-03-19|website=The New York Jewish Week|language=en-US|access-date=2020-06-15}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.jewishpress.com/news/us-news/ny/when-flatbush-girl-does-politics-she-shakes-multiple-status-quos/2018/09/06/|title=When Flatbush Girl Does Politics She Shakes Multiple Status Quos|last=Israel|first=David|date=6 September 2018 |language=en-US|access-date=2019-01-28}}</ref> In 2019, Sash again ran for public office, this time to replace the vacated seat of New York City Councilman Jumaane Williams, but finished with only 696 votes after all absentee ballots were counted.<ref name="Vote NYC">{{cite web|url=https://vote.nyc/sites/default/files/pdf/election_results/2019/20190625Primary%20Election/00302200045Kings%20Member%20of%20the%20City%20Council%2045th%20Council%20District%20Recap.pdf#page=5|title=Kings Member of the City Council 45th Council District Recap|first=Board Of Elections|last=The City of New York|date=|website=Vote NYC|accessdate=27 July 2020}}</ref><ref name="GG crowded">{{cite web|url=https://www.gothamgazette.com/city/8422-crowded-city-council-field-forms-for-special-election-to-replace-jumaane-williams|title=Crowded Field Forms for Special City Council Election to Replace Jumaane Williams|first=Ben|last=Brachfeld|date=|website=Gotham Gazette|accessdate=5 April 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://bklyner.com/meet-the-candidates-running-for-the-45th-council-district/|title=Meet The Candidates Running For The 45th Council District (Updated) - BKLYNER|author=|date=28 March 2019|website=bklyner.com|accessdate=5 April 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.amny.com/news/elections/jumaane-williams-city-council-seat-1.28113388|title=City Council special election set for month before primaries|author=|date=25 March 2019|website=am New York|accessdate=5 April 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.kingscountypolitics.com/farah-louis-wins-the-45th-city-council-district-special-election/|title=Farah Louis Wins The 45th City Council District Special Election|first=Kelly|last=Mena|date=15 May 2019|publisher=|accessdate=16 May 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://brooklyneagle.com/articles/2019/05/15/farah-louis-wins-city-council/|title=Farah Louis wins special election for City Council seat|author=|date=15 May 2019|website=Brooklyn Eagle|accessdate=16 May 2019}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== * Adina Sash's [https://www.instagram.com/flatbushgirl FlatbushGirl Instagram page] * Adina Sash's [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUtRiVb4VOA9-B64o6ypl5A YouTube channel]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Sash, Adina}} Category:Year of birth missing (living people) Category:People from Flatbush, Brooklyn Category:Comedians from Brooklyn Category:Orthodox Jews and Judaism in New York City Category:21st-century American women Category:Brooklyn College alumni Category:American women activists Category:Living people