Women in Judaism: A Multidisciplinary Journal 1 (1997)1

Women in Judaism:
A Multidisciplinary Journal

ISSN 1209-9392

Fall 1997

Volume 1, Number 1

"A woman is acquired by three means and acquires herself by two means" - Mishnah Kiddushin 1:1

Articles

Women in the Changing World of the Kibbutz Michal Palgi

Several recent decisions in the kibbutz movement in Israel may bring about far-reaching ideological, sociological and economic changes. This article examines the status of kibbutz women in the worksphere, in management and in the social structure of the changing environment of the kibbutz. The failure to include gender equality among the factors crucial to kibbutz survival, and the concentration on economic factors, have intensified gender inequality in kibbutz society.

Canadian Jewish Women and their Experiences of Antisemitism and Sexism Nora Gold

This study explores the experiences of antisemitism and sexism among 47 Canadian Jewish women, examining the similarities and differences between these two forms of oppression. The three areas in which antisemitism and sexism converge (the Jewish American Princess stereotype, the woman's body image, and her relationship with Jewish males) all relate to intimate issues and sexual identity. The results of this study confirm the feminist recognition that "the personal is political," and that structural inequalities and oppression affect life at the deepest and most personal levels.

Marginal Discourse: Lesbianism in Jewish Law Reena Zeidman

Recent theory has argued that lesbianism poses a fundamental challenge to Jewish tradition, as it must contend not only with anti-gay prohibitions but also with gender inequality. The author examines the approach (or non-approach) of the Bible and halakhic sources to lesbianism. She concludes that lesbianism has been primarily relevant in halakha as a threat to heterosexual marriage, and confirms the need for alternate approaches to the texts to ensure that lesbianism is treated as significant in its own right.

Deuteronomy 21: 10-14 - The Beautiful Captive Woman Pearl Elman

Anti-rape legislation is a pressing issue. Deuteronomy 21:10-14 contains what appears to be an ancient form of anti-rape legislation. The author examines the way in which the biblical provision was interpreted by post-biblical commentaries and halakhic sources. The Talmud Yerushalmi and the Talmud Bavli disagree on various issues concerning the captive woman, including the timing and the location of intercourse between the captor and the captive. The Yerushalmi clearly was against the rape of a captive woman at war, while the Bavli was primarily concerned with the threat of theological pollution posed by a foreign woman.

Essay

"I Don't Know Enough": Jewish Women's Learned Ignorance Rachel Josefowitz Siegel

Bibliographies

Jewish Women's Voices, Past & Present Compiled by Frieda Forman
with Cynthia Maier

Jewish Women in the Bible and Antiquity Compiled by Meir Bar-Ilan
http://faculty.biu.ac.il/~barilm/bibfemik.html

Bibliography of Jewish Women's Resources Compiled by Tsiporah Wexler-Pashkoff
http://aleph.lib.ohio-state.edu/www/biblio.html

Articles
Women in the Changing World of the Kibbutz	Michal Palgi
Several recent decisions in the kibbutz movement in Israel may bring about far-reaching ideological, sociological and economic changes. This article examines the status of kibbutz women in the worksphere, in management and in the social structure of the changing environment of the kibbutz. The failure to include gender equality among the factors crucial to kibbutz survival, and the concentration on economic factors, have intensified gender inequality in kibbutz society.
Canadian Jewish Women and their Experiences of Antisemitism and Sexism	Nora Gold
This study explores the experiences of antisemitism and sexism among 47 Canadian Jewish women, examining the similarities and differences between these two forms of oppression. The three areas in which antisemitism and sexism converge (the Jewish American Princess stereotype, the woman's body image, and her relationship with Jewish males) all relate to intimate issues and sexual identity. The results of this study confirm the feminist recognition that "the personal is political," and that structural inequalities and oppression affect life at the deepest and most personal levels.
Marginal Discourse: Lesbianism in Jewish Law	Reena Zeidman
Recent theory has argued that lesbianism poses a fundamental challenge to Jewish tradition, as it must contend not only with anti-gay prohibitions but also with gender inequality. The author examines the approach (or non-approach) of the Bible and halakhic sources to lesbianism. She concludes that lesbianism has been primarily relevant in halakha as a threat to heterosexual marriage, and confirms the need for alternate approaches to the texts to ensure that lesbianism is treated as significant in its own right.
Deuteronomy 21: 10-14 - The Beautiful Captive Woman	Pearl Elman
Anti-rape legislation is a pressing issue. Deuteronomy 21:10-14 contains what appears to be an ancient form of anti-rape legislation. The author examines the way in which the biblical provision was interpreted by post-biblical commentaries and halakhic sources. The Talmud Yerushalmi and the Talmud Bavli disagree on various issues concerning the captive woman, including the timing and the location of intercourse between the captor and the captive. The Yerushalmi clearly was against the rape of a captive woman at war, while the Bavli was primarily concerned with the threat of theological pollution posed by a foreign woman.

Essay
"I Don't Know Enough": Jewish Women's Learned Ignorance	Rachel Josefowitz Siegel

Bibliographies
Jewish Women's Voices, Past & Present	Compiled by Frieda Forman with Cynthia Maier
Jewish Women in the Bible and Antiquity	Compiled by Meir Bar-Ilan http://faculty.biu.ac.il/~barilm/bibfemik.html
Bibliography of Jewish Women's Resources	Compiled by Tsiporah Wexler-Pashkoff http://aleph.lib.ohio-state.edu/www/biblio.html

All material in the journal is subject to copyright; copyright belongs to contributors, unless otherwise noted. There is to be no reproduction or distribution of contents by any means without prior permission. Contents do not necessarily reflect the views of the editors. The editors acknowledge with gratitude the support of the Jewish Studies Program at the University of Toronto.

Last revised April 6, 1998
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