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Multifocal Strategies of Religious-Zionist Feminism

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Multifocal Strategies of Religious-Zionist Feminism religions Article ArticleThe “Tempered Radical” Revolution: Multifocal Strategies of The “Tempered Radical” Revolution: Multifocal Strategies of Religious-ZionistReligious‐Zionist FeminismFeminismArticle inin IsraelIsrael The “Tempered Radical” Revolution: Multifocal Strategies of Tanya Zion‐Waldoks Tanya Zion-Waldoks Religious‐Zionist Feminism in Israel Department of Education, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem 9190501, Israel; Departmenttanya.zion‐[email protected] of Education,Tanya Hebrew Zion University ‐Waldoks of Jerusalem, Jerusalem 9190501, Israel; [email protected] Abstract: Agunah activism, a flagship struggle of Religious‐Zionist feminism, links gender politics, Abstract: Agunah activism, a flagship struggle of Religious-ZionistDepartment of Education, feminism, Hebrew links University gender politics, of Jerusalem, Jerusalem 9190501, Israel; Jewish‐Orthodox politics, and national Israeli politics.tanya.zion This qualitative‐[email protected] study focuses on agunah ac‐ Jewish-Orthodox politics, and national Israeli politics. This qualitative study focuses on agunah tivists’ strategies and conceptions of change, highlighting the complex ways religious women radi‐ activists’ strategies and conceptions of change, highlighting the complex ways religious women cally transform conservative contexts, complicated Abstract:by intersections Agunah of activism, religion, agender, flagship and struggle state. It of Religious‐Zionist feminism, links gender politics, radically transform conservative contexts, complicated by intersections of religion, gender, and state. examines dynamic boundary‐work and how activistsJewish deploy‐Orthodox the inner politics, workings and national of “the HalakhicIsraeli politics. This qualitative study focuses on agunah ac‐ It examines dynamic boundary-work and how activists deploy the inner workings of “the Halakhic framework” to shift creatively between social positioning,tivists’ strategiesideological and or conceptionscultural positioning, of change, and highlighting a the complex ways religious women radi‐ framework” to shift creatively between social positioning, ideological or cultural positioning, and political positioning to create “change from within”.cally My transform case study conservative troubles the contexts, premise complicated that reli‐ by intersections of religion, gender, and state. It a political positioning to create “change from within”. My case study troubles the premise that gion and feminism are antithetical, and that distinctexamines identities dynamic or set social boundary locations‐work predetermine and how activists deploy the inner workings of “the Halakhic religion and feminism are antithetical, and that distinct identities or set social locations predetermine social movements’ frames or actions. I expand uponframework” the term “tempered to shift creatively radicals” betweenwhich challenges social positioning, ideological or cultural positioning, and a social movements’ frames or actions. I expand upon the term “tempered radicals” which challenges reformist/revolutionary and conservative/radical binaries.political “Temperedpositioning radical”to create strategies “change fromare two within”.‐ My case study troubles the premise that reli‐ reformist/revolutionary and conservative/radical binaries. “Tempered radical” strategies are two- pronged: a tempered mode of modulation and moderationgion and feminism to rock theare boatantithetical, without and falling that outdistinct identities or set social locations predetermine pronged: a tempered mode of modulation and moderation to rock the boat without falling out (avoid (avoid the red lines, find “the right way”) and a radicalsocial mode movements’ of stirring frames the seaor actions. and creating I expand hori upon‐ the term “tempered radicals” which challenges the red lines, find “the right way”) and a radical mode of stirring the sea and creating horizons (arrive zons (arrive there, one way or another). Dynamicallyreformist/revolutionary holding both modes together, and conservative/radical through a “mul‐ binaries. “Tempered radical” strategies are two‐ there, one way or another). Dynamically holding both modes together, through a “multifocal lens”— tifocal lens”—the world‐as‐it‐is and the world‐as‐itpronged:‐should‐ be—enablesa tempered modetheir strategic of modulation maneuver and‐ moderation to rock the boat without falling out the world-as-it-is and the world-as-it-should-be—enables their strategic maneuverings. They remain ings. They remain “within” while radically transforming(avoid individuals, the red lines, communities, find “the right Jewish way”) law, and Or a‐ radical mode of stirring the sea and creating hori‐ Citation: Zion‐Waldoks, Tanya. “within” while radically transforming individuals, communities, Jewish law, Orthodox society and Citation: Zion-Waldoks, Tanya. 2021. thodox society and the Israeli public sphere. This studyzons (arrivedemonstrates there, one how way religious or another). and gendered Dynamically holding both modes together, through a “mul‐ 2021. The “Tempered Radical” the Israeli public sphere. This study demonstrates how religious and gendered structures are at once The “Tempered Radical” Revolution: structures are at once constitutive and mutable. tifocal lens”—the world‐as‐it‐is and the world‐as‐it‐should‐be—enables their strategic maneuver‐ Revolution: Multifocal Strategies of constitutive and mutable. Multifocal Strategies of Religious- ings. They remain “within” while radically transforming individuals, communities, Jewish law, Or‐ Religious‐Zionist Feminism in Israel. Citation: Zion‐Waldoks, Tanya. Zionist Feminism in Israel. Religions Keywords: Orthodoxy; feminism; tempered radical;thodox boundary society work; and Religiousthe Israeli‐Zionism; public sphere. Modern This‐ study demonstrates how religious and gendered Religions 12: x. Keywords: Orthodoxy;2021. The feminism; “Tempered tempered Radical” radical; boundary work; Religious-Zionism; Modern- 12: 628. https://doi.org/10.3390/ Orthodoxy; activism structures are at once constitutive and mutable. https://doi.org/10.3390/xxxxx Orthodoxy; activismRevolution: Multifocal Strategies of rel12080628 ə Religious‐Zionist Feminism in Israel. Academic Editors: Amir Mashiach Keywords: Orthodoxy; feminism; tempered radical; boundary work; Religious‐Zionism; Modern‐ Academic Editors: Amir Mashiach Religions 12: x. and Isaac Hershkowitz Orthodoxy; activism and Isaac Hershkowitz https://doi.org/10.3390/xxxxx TEMPEREDTEMPERED (adjective)(adjective) temtem·∙pered|pered|\nˈtemtem-p‐pəərd rd \[1]n[1] treated so asas toto impartimpart increasedincreased Received: 29 June 2021 strengthstrength…... [2][2] having having a specific a specific temper… temper [3]... (a) [3]having (a) the having elements the elements mixed in mixedsatisfying in Received: 29 June 2021 Academic Editors: Amir Mashiach Accepted: 3 August 2021 satisfying proportions (b) qualified, lessened, or diluted ... [4] conforming to adjustment Accepted: 3 August 2021 proportions (b)and qualified,Isaac Hershkowitz lessened, or diluted … [4] conforming to adjustment by tem‐ Published: 10 August 2021 by temperament. Published: 10 August 2021 perament. TEMPERED (adjective) tem∙pered|\ˈtem‐pərd \[1] treated so as to impart increased RADICALRADICAL (adjective)(adjective)Received: 29 June radrad· ∙2021ii·∙cal|\cal| nˈrara-di-k‐di‐kəl\ln [1][1] …(d)...strength…(d) designed designed [2] to having to remove remove a specific the the root root temper… of of a [3] (a) having the elements mixed in satisfying Publisher’s Note: MDPI stays neu‐ Accepted: 3 August 2021 Publisher’s Note: MDPI stays neutral adisease disease ….... [2]. [2] of, of,or relating or relating to, to,the the origin, origin, fundamental fundamentalproportions [3] [3](a) (b) (a)very qualified, very different different lessened, from from the or diluted … [4] conforming to adjustment by tem‐ tral with regard to jurisdictional Published: 10 August 2021 with regard to jurisdictional claims in perament. claims in published maps and institu‐ theusual usual or traditional, or traditional, extreme extreme (b) favoring (b) favoring extreme extreme changes changes in existing in existing views, views, habits, habits, con‐ published maps and institutional affil- conditions,ditions, or institutions or institutions (c) (c)associated associated with with political politicalRADICAL views, views, practices, (adjective) practices, and and radpolicies∙ policiesi∙cal|\ of ˈex ofra‐‐di‐kəl\ [1] …(d) designed to remove the root of a tional affiliations. Publisher’s Note: MDPI stays neu‐ iations. extremetreme change change d) (d) advocating advocating extreme extreme measures measures to to retain retain or or restore restore a political statestate ofof tral with regard to jurisdictional disease …. [2] of, or relating to, the origin, fundamental [3] (a) very different from the 1Error! Reference source not found. affairsaffairs.. claims in published maps and institu‐ usual or traditional, extreme (b) favoring extreme changes in existing views, habits, con‐ tional affiliations. ditions, or institutions (c) associated with political views, practices, and policies of ex‐ Copyright: © 2021 by the author. 1.1. Introduction:Introduction: “Change?!”“Change?!” treme change d) advocating extreme measures to retain or restore a political state of Copyright:Submitted for© 2021possible by open the author.access “How“How manymany Orthodox rabbis does does it it take take to to affairs.change changeError! a
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