Ginsburg Ingerman Overseas Students Program Ben-Gurion University of the Negev

Women in the Bible, Midrash and Law: A Feminist Perspective 13-5-356 Fall Semester

Naomi Graetz Email: [email protected]

Course Description: This course will examine the image and status of women within Judaism from the biblical period to the present. It will ask critical questions about the image of women in biblical, rabbinic, medieval and modern Judaism. It will explore the impact of the past on the contemporary quest for equality of the sexes in secular and religious life and demonstrate how a feminist approach can redefine the role of modern Jewish women. Course Objectives: The main objective of this course is to provide basic knowledge about women in Judaism from a feminist perspective using primary and secondary sources. By the end students should be able to understand the need for change in women’s traditional status. Course Structure:

Lecture: 4 hours Total # of Credits: 4

Teaching Method: The course will be conducted through a combination of lectures and class discussion. The lectures and discussions will be based on weekly reading assignments. Both secondary and primary sources will be available on high learn. Course Requirements Attendance is required There are no pre-requisites for this class. On-going Journals will be kept based on required and optional readings. The 20 journal entries should reflect class discussion as well as original thought. Journals and papers must be handed in on time to be considered for a grade. Structure of Final Course Grade 1. 20 Journal entries handed in on weekly basis 20% 2. 5-8 page Mid Term paper (due after 12th meeting) 20% 3. 5-10 minute presentation of final paper at last class 10% 4. 10-20 page Final paper (due end of semester) 50% 100%

Course Textbook: All readings will either be on High Learn or on the Library Website. It is advisable to have a Bible (Tanakh) in English and/or in Hebrew. Course Schedule Layout:

First Week Class 1 – Lecture title: Introduction and Methodology Are Feminism and Judaism Compatible? Reading: PAULA HYMAN, "Jewish Feminism" JWA Class 2 - Lecture title: Image and Status of Women in the Bible and Midrash Eve and the Matriarchs Readings: Genesis: 1-3; 16-20; 24; 27; 29-30; 31; 34; 38 Second Week Class 3- Lecture title Image and Status of Women in the Bible (continued) Differing Images of women in the bible Readings: Proverbs 6:20-35; 7; 31: 10-31 * Exodus 1:8-2:10; 20:1-14; 22:15-16; 21:7-11 Numbers 5:11-31; 27: 1-11; 30: 2-17; 36:1-12 Leviticus 18; 20: 7-26; 27:1-8 Deuteronomy: 22:22-29; 24: 1-4; 25:5-01 Class 4- Lecture title Challenging the Stereotypes Biblical Countertypes of Women in the Bible--Miriam Readings: Exodus 1:15-22, 2:1-10, 15:1-21; Numbers: 12:1-16; 20:1 NAOMI GRAETZ, “Miriam, Guilty or Not Guilty?” Unlocking Third Week Class 5- Lecture title Challenging the Stereotypes Biblical Countertypes of Women in the Bible—Hannah Readings: I Samuel 1:9-2:15 NEHAMA ASCHKENASY "A Non-Sexist Reading of the Bible," Class 6- Lecture title Esther and Ruth Two scrolls about women. Do they have any thing in common? Readings: Selections from the Book of Esther MARY GENDLER, "The Restoration of Vashti," Koltun Fourth Week Class 7- Lecture title Book of Ruth Readings: Entire Book of Ruth Class 8- Lecture title Women as depicted in the prophets The Marriage Metaphor and the “Pornographics” of Prophetic Literature”, Readings: Hosea 2; Ezekiel 16 &23 T. DRORAH SETEL, "Prophets and Pornography,” in Russell Fifth Week Class 9- Lecture title A Text of Terror The Concubine of Gibeah Readings: Judges 19 Class 10- Lecture title The Image of Women in the Midrash Beruriah and others Sixth Week Class 11- Lecture title The Status of Women in Jewish Law Images of Women in the Talmud and Mishnah Reading: JUDITH HAUPTMAN, Rereading the Rabbis, pp. 1-30 Class 12- Lecture title The Status of Women in Jewish Law (cont) Women and the Commandments Reading: CHANA SAFRAI, “Beauty, Beautification, and Cosmetics

MIDTERM PAPER DUE (20% OF GRADE)

Seventh Week Class 13- Lecture title The Status of Women in Jewish Law (cont) Procreation, Contraception and Abortion Reading: RACHEL BIALE, "Abortion," Women in Jewish Law Class 14- Lecture title The Jewish Family Husband and wife in Israeli law Readings: BLU GREENBERG "Marriage in the Jewish Tradition," J ECUM Eighth Week Class 15- Lecture title The Jewish Family (cont) Husband and wife in Israeli law Readings: RACHEL BIALE, "Divorce," BIALE Class 16- Lecture title Attitudes of Jewish sources to Abuse Domestic Violence Readings: NAOMI GRAETZ, "WIFEBEATING" JWA Ninth Week Class 17- Lecture title Attitudes of Jewish sources to Abuse (cont.) Trafficking in Women Readings: NAOMI GRAETZ, “Jewish Sources and Trafficking in Women,” in Global Perspectives in Dalla Class 18- Lecture title Women in Israel Religion, Women’s Network, Women for Peace, Politics Readings: NAOMI GRAETZ, “Women and Religion in Israel” in Kalpana Misra and Melanie Rich (eds.) Jewish Feminism in Israel Tenth Week Class 19- Lecture title Gender issues and the Rabbinate Can Women's Voice be heard? Should Women's Face be seen? Readings: NAAMAH KELMAN, "Thirty-Year Perspective on Women and Israeli Feminism" in Goldstein Class 20- Lecture title Women in the Synagogue Women rabbis, women cantors, Mehitza, tallitot, kippot, WTN Readings: ROCHELLE MILLEN, “The Female Voice of Kaddish,” JLW ELIZABETH TIKVAH SARAH. “Being A Lesbian Rabbi Eleventh Week Class 21- Lecture title JOFA, Kolech, Drisha Are Orthodoxy and Feminism compatible? Readings: MARGALIT SHILO, "The First Decade of the Orthodox Women's Revolution in Israel," GOLDSTEIN SARAH BREGER “Do 1 Rabba, 2 Rabbis and 1 Yeshiva = a New Denomination?” Class 22- Lecture title Modern Midrash The necessity of rewriting our stories Readings: NAOMI GRAETZ, "Why I Write Midrash" S/HE CREATED THEM

Twelfth Week Class 23- Lecture title Modern Midrash cont. The Case of Elisheva Readings: JILL HAMMER, "Elisheva" Sisters at Sinai

Class 24 – Presentations of Final Paper (5-10 minutes)—papers to be handed in by end of semester