🧕🏼Women and Religion Unit 5 – Women in Judaism: Matriarchs to Modern Times

Key Figures and Matriarchs

• Sarah, the first matriarch, demonstrated faith and loyalty to God by following her husband Abraham to Canaan (Genesis 12:1-5)
• Rebekah, Isaac's wife, played a pivotal role in ensuring Jacob received the birthright blessing instead of Esau (Genesis 27)
• Rachel and Leah, the wives of Jacob, became the mothers of the twelve tribes of Israel (Genesis 29-30)
• Miriam, Moses' sister, led the Israelite women in song and dance after the crossing of the Red Sea (Exodus 15:20-21)
  • She also played a crucial role in protecting Moses as a baby (Exodus 2:1-10)
• Deborah, a prophetess and judge, led the Israelites to victory against the Canaanites (Judges 4-5)
• Ruth, a Moabite woman, demonstrated loyalty to her mother-in-law Naomi and became an ancestor of King David (Book of Ruth)
• Esther, a Jewish queen in Persia, saved her people from a decree of extermination (Book of Esther)

Biblical and Rabbinic Perspectives

• The Torah presents women as equal to men in spiritual matters, both created in the image of God (Genesis 1:27)
• Rabbinic literature (Talmud and Midrash) contains a mix of positive and negative attitudes towards women
  • Some passages emphasize the importance of women's roles and contributions
  • Others reflect the patriarchal society and may limit women's participation in certain areas
• The Talmud recognizes the importance of women's consent in marriage (Kiddushin 2a)
• Women are exempt from certain time-bound positive commandments (mitzvot), such as prayer at specific times, to allow for their domestic responsibilities (Mishnah Kiddushin 1:7)
• The Talmud praises the virtues of the "Woman of Valor" (Eshet Chayil) in Proverbs 31, highlighting her strength, wisdom, and industriousness
• Rabbinic literature emphasizes the importance of women's education, particularly in understanding Jewish law and ethics (Mishnah Sotah 3:4)

Historical Roles and Traditions

• In ancient times, women played important roles in the household, managing domestic affairs and raising children
• Women were responsible for maintaining the laws of kashrut (dietary laws) and the purity of the home
• In medieval times, some Jewish women became prominent scholars, such as Rashi's daughters and granddaughters
• Women played a significant role in the development of Yiddish literature and theater in the 19th and early 20th centuries
• In the early 20th century, Jewish women were active in labor movements and social justice causes
  • Rose Schneiderman and Clara Lemlich were prominent figures in the labor movement
• Jewish women have been at the forefront of the feminist movement, advocating for women's rights and gender equality
  • Betty Friedan and Gloria Steinem are notable examples

Lifecycle Events and Rituals

• Birth: Jewish girls are named in a ceremony called Zeved Habat (Simchat Bat in Reform communities)
• Bat Mitzvah: A ceremony marking a girl's coming of age at 12 (or 13 in Reform communities), signifying her acceptance of Jewish responsibilities
• Marriage: The ketubah (marriage contract) outlines the husband's obligations to his wife, including providing for her needs and treating her with respect
  • The chuppah (wedding canopy) symbolizes the couple's new home and shared life together
• Mikveh: Women immerse in a ritual bath (mikveh) for spiritual purification after menstruation and childbirth
• Shabbat: Women traditionally light the Shabbat candles to usher in the Sabbath
• Passover: Women play a central role in the Passover Seder, with special emphasis on the four cups of wine and the role of the prophetess Miriam

Jewish Law and Women's Status

• Jewish law (halakha) governs many aspects of women's lives, including marriage, divorce, and religious obligations
• Women are obligated to follow most negative commandments (mitzvot lo ta'aseh) but are exempt from some positive time-bound commandments (mitzvot aseh shehazman grama)
• In Orthodox Judaism, women are not counted in a minyan (prayer quorum) and do not lead public prayer services
  • However, women's prayer groups have emerged as an alternative in some Orthodox communities
• In Conservative and Reform Judaism, women have attained greater equality in religious leadership and participation
  • Women can be ordained as rabbis and lead prayer services in these movements
• Jewish law grants women the right to own property and engage in business transactions independently of their husbands
• The get (religious divorce document) must be given by the husband to the wife for a divorce to be finalized, which has led to challenges in cases of recalcitrant husbands

Feminism and Modern Jewish Movements

• The Jewish feminist movement emerged in the 1960s and 1970s, advocating for greater gender equality in Jewish life
• Jewish feminists challenged traditional gender roles and sought to expand women's opportunities for religious leadership and participation
• The first women were ordained as rabbis in the Reform movement in 1972 (Sally Priesand) and in the Conservative movement in 1985 (Amy Eilberg)
• Women's Tefillah (prayer) groups have been established in some Orthodox communities, allowing women to lead prayer services for other women
• The Women of the Wall movement has advocated for women's right to pray at the Western Wall in Jerusalem while wearing prayer shawls and reading from the Torah
• Jewish feminist theologians, such as Judith Plaskow and Rachel Adler, have developed new approaches to understanding Jewish texts and traditions from a gender-sensitive perspective

Contemporary Issues and Challenges

• The issue of agunot (women "chained" to their marriages due to husbands' refusal to grant a religious divorce) remains a significant challenge in Orthodox communities
  • Prenuptial agreements and other halakhic solutions have been proposed to address this issue
• Women's leadership roles in Orthodox synagogues and institutions continue to be a topic of debate and discussion
• The question of women's ordination as rabbis in the Orthodox movement remains controversial
• Balancing career and family responsibilities is an ongoing challenge for many Jewish women
• Addressing gender-based violence and sexual harassment within Jewish communities has become a priority in recent years
  • The #MeToo movement has led to increased awareness and activism around these issues
• LGBTQ+ inclusion and acceptance in Jewish communities is an ongoing conversation, with different approaches among the various denominations

Notable Jewish Women in History and Today

• Gluckel of Hameln (1646-1724): A successful businesswoman and diarist whose memoirs provide insight into Jewish life in 17th-century Germany
• Emma Lazarus (1849-1887): An American Jewish poet whose poem "The New Colossus" is inscribed on the Statue of Liberty
• Golda Meir (1898-1978): The fourth Prime Minister of Israel and the first woman to hold the position
• Hannah Senesh (1921-1944): A Jewish paratrooper who rescued Jews during World War II and was executed by the Nazis
• Ruth Bader Ginsburg (1933-2020): A U.S. Supreme Court Justice and a prominent advocate for gender equality and civil rights
• Blu Greenberg (b. 1936): An Orthodox Jewish feminist author and activist who founded the Jewish Orthodox Feminist Alliance (JOFA)
• Elena Kagan (b. 1960): An Associate Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court and the first Jewish woman to serve on the court
• Tiffany Haddish (b. 1979): An American comedian, actress, and author who embraced her Jewish heritage through a bat mitzvah ceremony in 2019