Sample Abstract

Author: Adler, Rachel

Title: Engendering Judaism: an inclusive theology and ethics

Publisher: Beacon Press books

Date: 9/28/1999

ISBN-13: 9780807036198

Size: xxviii, 269 pages, 24 cm Height

Publisher Overview: This is a pioneering work on what it means to “engender” Jewish tradition – how women's full inclusion can and must transform our understanding

and practice of Jewish law, prayer, and marriage. Adler's writing is passionate, sharply intelligent and offers a serious study of traditional biblical and rabbinic texts.

Engendering Judaism challenges both mainstream Judaism and feminist dogma and speaks across the movements as well as to Christian theologians and feminists.

Library of Congress Subject Headings:

Feminism – Religious aspects – Judaism

Judaism – Doctrines

Women in Judaism

Jewish women – Religious life

Women (Jewish law) Women – Legal Status, laws, etc., (Jewish law)

Library of Congress Classification

BM729.W6 A29 1998

Google Books Link: Home and About Page

Google Book Link: Table of Contents

Google Book Link: Preface

Googlbe Book Link: Acknowledgments

Google Book Link: Introduction

Googe Book Link: Ch. 1 Prelude: The Female Rapist and Other Inversions .....1

Ch. 2 Here Comes Skotsl: Renewing Halakhah .....21

Ch. 3 And Not Be Silent: Toward Inclusive Worship .....61

Ch. 4 Justice and Peace Shall Kiss: An Ethics of Sexuality and Relationship .....105

Ch. 5 B'rit Ahuvim: A Marriage Between Subjects.....169

Epilogue: On Seeds and Ruins.....209

Appendix.....213

Notes.....219

Index of Bible Citation.....261

General Index.....263

BOOK SUMMARY:

Adler’s book closely examines the ways in which Jewish religious laws and sociological attitudes have served to empower men, while effectively silencing women and

thereby turning them into, as Adler states, “peripheral Jews.” Adler sets forth a multidisciplinary feminist theology that serves to incorporate women as equal participants

within their religion and their community.

Ch. 1 Prelude: The Female Rapist and Other Inversions .....1

CHAPTER SUMMARY:

Talmudic Law as interpreted by men and the Ancient Canonical Stories written by men has alienated Jewish women from their religion. Women are diminished, defaced, distorted and alienated by their distorted portrayal in Canonical Stories – issues which can only be resolved by invoking the concept of the “resolution of comedy” which works to unite the genders. To break down the barriers that exist between men and women in Judaism, it becomes necessary to reinterpret canonical stories and view them as farce. Canonical Stories which portray rabbis as holy heroes preach that women may only be strong when helping elevate their spouses or the men in their lives, but must revert back to the shadows once the male attains his goals. Jewish women must acknowledge their rights, but before they are able to do this, they must first recognize the misogyny that exists within the ancient stories. Women must reject the notion that they exist solely to fulfill the needs of others, and realize that they are important in their own right and recognize their own desires and wishes. The Jewish Study House, the Beit Midrash, is a sacred space from which women are prohibited entry. Two tales, The Wife of Rabbi Akiba and Natan D’Tzutzita and the Lady Evangelist reinforce the notion that after women help their men attain glory, they lose their gifts of spirituality and are again relegated to subservience. Men must separate themselves from their mothers to become wholly autonomous and devote themselves to holy study, while women are expected to accept this way of life. While male beauty signifies spiritual perfection, female beauty is dangerous and devoid of spirituality.

CHAPTER ABSTRACTS:

Record Number BM729.W6 A29 1998 C1 A1 Chapter Title: Prelude: The Female Rapist and Other Inventions Google Book Link: Abstract #1 Adler provides an in-depth discussion of the role that the ancient canonical stories have played in alienating Jewish women. Under Talmudic Law, women are prohibited from engaging in the study of Jewish Biblical teaching. As such, women are treated as merely “peripheral Jews,” able to learn only from the grandmother’s tales deemed appropriate for women. Throughout history they have not been allowed to be active participants in their religion, unable to help shape their faith and work towards changing the rules that dominate their lives. As a result, over time they have become increasingly alienated not only from their own religion, but also the men who have defined their roles over the course of thousands of years. Knowledge Fact Talmudic Law as interpreted by men and the Ancient Canonical Stories written by men have alienated Jewish women from their religion. Library of Congress + Women in Judaism + Talmudic Law Women in Judaism + Talmudic Study Women in Judaism + Peripheral Jews Women in Judaism + Jewish Biblical Teaching Women in Judaism + Grandmother’s Tales Feminism – Religious Aspects – Judaism + Talmudic Law Feminism – Religious Aspects – Judaism + Talmudic Study Feminism – Religious Aspects – Judaism + Peripheral Jews Feminism – Religious Aspects – Judaism + Jewish Biblical Teaching Feminism – Religious Aspects – Judaism + Grandmother’s Tales Jewish Women – Religious Life + Talmudic Law Jewish Women – Religious Life + Talmudic Study Jewish Women – Religious Life + Peripheral Jews Jewish Women – Religious Life + Jewish Biblical Teaching Jewish Women – Religious Life + Grandmother’s Tales ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Record Number BM729.W6 A29 1998 C1 A2 Chapter Title: Prelude: The Female Rapist and Other Inventions Google Book Link: Abstract #2 Adler’s premise is that this alienation is the natural result of the fact that Jewish women are 1) excluded from studying these stories, and 2) distorted and defaced by these stories and the interpretation thereof. When one sector of society is defaced, ALL are ultimately diminished. Throughout this chapter, Adler analyses several variations on the rabbi as a “holy hero,” and calls upon Canadian literary theorist Northrop Frye’s concept of the “resolution of comedy” as a means to unite the genders. Knowledge Fact Women are diminished, defaced, distorted and alienated by their distorted portrayal in Canonical Stories – issues which can only be resolved by invoking the concept of the “resolution of comedy” which works to unite the genders. Library of Congress + Women in Judaism + Alienation of Jewish women Women in Judaism + Holy Hero Women in Judaism + Northrop Frye Women in Judaism + resolution of comedy Feminism – Religious Aspects – Judaism + Alienation of Jewish women Feminism – Religious Aspects – Judaism + Holy Hero Feminism – Religious Aspects – Judaism + Northrop Frye Feminism – Religious Aspects – Judaism + resolution of comedy Jewish Women – Religious Life + Alienation of Jewish women Jewish Women – Religious Life + Holy Hero Jewish Women – Religious Life + Northrop Frye Jewish Women – Religious Life + resolution of comedy --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record Number BM729.W6 A29 1998 C1 A3 Chapter Title: Prelude: The Female Rapist and Other Inventions Google Book Link: Abstract #3 The “resolution of comedy” teaches that dissolving the physical divide that exists between an audience comprised of men and women results in the audience ultimately becomes one – forced to stand face to face with one another. In this way, the barrier between the genders is broken down and the intended lesson of the rabbi as a holy hero stories becomes farcical. At the moment of illumination, the absurdity touches all, “purifying laughter” ensues, and the gender divide is eradicated. Knowledge Facts To break down the barriers that exist between men and women in Judaism, it becomes necessary to reinterpret canonical stories and view them as farcical comedy. Library of Congress + Women in Judaism + Gender Divide Women in Judaism + Purifying Laughter Women in Judaism + resolution of comedy Women in Judaism + comedy Feminism – Religious Aspects – Judaism + Gender Divide Feminism – Religious Aspects – Judaism + Purifying Laughter Feminism – Religious Aspects – Judaism + resolution of comedy Feminism – Religious Aspects – Judaism + comedy Jewish Women – Religious Life + Gender Divide Jewish Women – Religious Life + Purifying Laughter Jewish Women – Religious Life + resolution of comedy Jewish Women – Religious Life + resolution of comedy --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record Number BM729.W6 A29 1998 C1 A Chapter Title: Prelude: The Female Rapist and Other Inventions Google Book Link: Abstract #4 Adler utilizes four ancient tales of rabbis as “holy heroes” to demonstrate the role of women within Judaism. Women may be strong and support their husbands when needed, but must revert to their ordinary lives and recede into the background as silent and invisible beings once their husbands attain their own individual glory. In this manner the male retains his prized autonomy. Knowledge Facts Canonical Stories which portray rabbis as holy heroes preach that women may only be strong when helping elevate their spouses or the men in their lives, but must revert back to the shadows once the male attains his goals. Library of Congress + Women in Judaism + Canonical Stories Women in Judaism + Rabbi as Holy Hero Women in Judaism + Jewish Male Autonomy Feminism – Religious Aspects – Judaism + Canonical Stories Feminism – Religious Aspects – Judaism + Rabbi as Holy Hero Feminism – Religious Aspects – Judaism + Jewish Male Autonomy Jewish Women – Religious Life + Canonical Stories Jewish Women – Religious Life + Rabbi as Holy Hero Jewish Women – Religious Life + Jewish Male Autonomy --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record Number BM729.W6 A29 1998 C1 A5 Chapter Title: Prelude: The Female Rapist and Other Inventions Google Book Link: Abstract # 5 In order to shatter the traditional Judaic view of a woman’s “proper” role, the Jewish woman must acknowledge her rights, and rail against traditional misogynistic views within Jewish society. Adler utilizes two primary motifs in her analysis of Judaic gender roles. These highlight the reversal of power between Men and Women, and the separation between mothers and sons as well as husbands and wives that the Ancient Stories have taught must occur for the male to maintain his autonomy and spiritual purity. Knowledge Facts Jewish women must acknowledge their rights, but before they are able to do this, they must first recognize the misogyny that exists within the ancient stories. Library of Congress + [Drop down V] Women in Judaism + Misogyny and Judaism Women in Judaism + Spiritual Purity Feminism – Religious Aspects – Judaism + Misogyny and Judaism Feminism – Religious Aspects – Judaism + Spiritual Purity Jewish Women – Religious Life + Misogyny and Judaism Jewish Women – Religious Life + Spiritual Purity --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record Number BM729.W6 A29 1998 C1 A6 Chapter Title: Prelude: The Female Rapist and Other Inventions Google Book Link: Abstract #6 Under the feminist object-relations theory, proponents note the dichotomy of women as both givers of life and symbols of death. In societies where masculinity confers a preferred and authoritative status, the male can only attain independent selfhood by sundering themselves mother completely and definitively from their mothers, and in a sense all women, to ensure that the separation remains permanent. Women are then ultimately viewed as creatures that exist solely to fulfill the needs of others, rather than individuals who have their own wishes and desires. This is the essence of patriarchal dominance. Knowledge Facts Women must reject the notion that they exist solely to fulfill the needs of others, and realize that they are important in their own right and recognize their own desires and wishes. Library of Congress + Women in Judaism + Feminist object-relations theory Women in Judaism + Jewish patriarchal dominance Feminism – Religious Aspects – Judaism + Feminist object-relations theory Feminism – Religious Aspects – Judaism + Jewish patriarchal dominance Jewish Women – Religious Life + Feminist object-relations theory Jewish Women – Religious Life + Jewish patriarchal dominance -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record Number BM729.W6 A29 1998 C1 A1 Chapter Title: Prelude: The Female Rapist and Other Inventions Google Book Link: Abstract #7 No place is patriarchal dominance that is pervasive throughout Jewish law more prominent than in the beit midrash, or study house. The study house is a sacred space, inhabited only by men – a space in which women are excluded and forbidden entry. In what noted scholar in the field of gender studies Eve Kosofsky Sedgwick termed a homosocial environment, the beit midrash is a place wholly dominated by the masculine psyche. Knowledge Facts The Jewish Study House, the Beit Midrash, is a sacred space from which women are prohibited entry. Library of Congress + Women in Judaism + Beit Midrash Women in Judaism + Judaism and Gender Studies Women in Judaism + Eve Kosofsky Sedgwick Feminism – Religious Aspects – Judaism + Beit Midrash Feminism – Religious Aspects – Judaism + Judaism and Gender Studies Feminism – Religious Aspects – Judaism + Eve Kosofsky Sedgwick Jewish Women – Religious Life + Beit Midrash Jewish Women – Religious Life + Judaism and Gender Studies Jewish Women – Religious Life + Eve Kosofsky Sedgwick ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Record Number BM729.W6 A29 1998 C1 A8 Chapter Title: Prelude: The Female Rapist and Other Inventions Google Book Link: Abstract #8 The first story two stories that Adler deconstructs as prime examples of the power discrepancy between men and women within Judaism are The Wife of Rabbi Akiba and Natan D’Tzutzita and the Lady Evangelilst. The primary motif in each of these tales is one of dependent men who are only able to attain glory and honor due to the strength and determination of their wives. Once attained, their wives subsequently find themselves cast down into the role of silent, invisible persons. They lose their innate gift of spirituality, and become relegated to submissive beings. Knowledge Facts Two tales, The Wife of Rabbi Akiba and Natan D’Tzutzita and the Lady Evangelist reinforce the notion that after women help their men attain glory, they lose their gifts of spirituality and are again relegated to subservience.