Women in Judaism – Part 1Biblical Women

Eve • As the mythological first woman, her story is powerful and

open to different interpretations .

• Negative aspects:

- One account has her created after Adam….and from Adam’s rib.

- She chose to disobey God and tempted Adam to do the same.

- She thus becomes the cause for mankind’s loss of paradise.

- She is punished with the pain of childbirth and a hard life.

• Feminists often see the Eve story as setting a pattern for men blaming women and seeing them as inferior.

• (The article by Phyllis Trible tries to give a different interpretation)

2 distinct creation stories can be found in Genesis

5th Century BC 8th century BC

2 distinct creation stories can be found in Genesis

5th Century BC 8th century BC

From the story of the 3 Patriarchs and their wivesSarah, Rebecca, Leah and Rachel

• Sarah, wife of Abraham, mother of Isaac.

• Rebecca, wife of Isaac, mother of Jacob and Esau

• Jacob has 2 wives; Leah and Rachel

• Their major roles is as wives and mothers,

• not priestesses or propheteses…. until………

Miriam

• Prophetess

• Sister of Moses and Aaron

• Challenges Moses for taking a Cushite wife

• (foreigners will bring pagan influences). Shows a woman can have authority.

Deborah

• Prophetess: warned General Barak he would be killed by a woman. He was

• One of the Judges in the book of Judges (so she held a leadership position)

Esther –a Jewish woman living in a pagan land

• Taken by a foreign king and becomes a queen

•Has her own book in the Hebrew bible

•Model for marranos of how to keep one’s religion in secret in a foreign land.

• Is able to win the kings favor and protection for her people in exile

Ruth

• Moabite widow of a Jewish husband who lives a strong independent life

• Loyal friend to her mother in law Naomi and sister in law Orpha.

• As widows they all travel from Moab back to Judah.

Ruth’s great grandchild becomes King David.

Women in Judaism – Part 2Historical Women

Gluckel of Hamlin (Germany,1600’s)

• Her memoir of her life as a Jewish woman preserving her traditions and caring for her family.

Grace Aguilar (Spain, 1816-1847)• Wrote 12 novels, including

Women of Israel

Henrietta Szold (U.S.,1860-1945)

• Worked in Zionist movement to establish Israel

• Organized kibbutzes

Berta Pappenheim (Germany, late 1800s)

Fought against poverty and human trafficking in Eastern Europe, started social welfare agencies for homeless and hungry Jews, and schools for girls.

Articles in MoodlePhyllis Trible tries to give a different interpretation to the Adam & Eve story that is more pro-women.

Rita Gross talks about how much of language about God in Judaism could be more feminine

Judith Plaskow discusses making new Jewish rituals for girls that were original just for boys such as the naming ceremony at a boy’s birth (brit milah). Aviva Cantor does the same thing with the Passover Seder with a Jewish Women Haggadah.

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