Gender and Judaism

Gender and Judaism is an emerging subfield at the intersection of gender studies and Jewish studies. Gender studies centers on interdisciplinary research on the phenomenon of gender. It focuses on cultural representations of gender and people's lived experience. Jewish studies is a field that looks at Jews and Judaism, through such disciplines as history, anthropology, literary studies, linguistics, and sociology.

History

Jewish law, or halacha, recognises gender ambiguity, and has done throughout Jewish history. The concept of a Tumtum being a person of ambiguous gender, is dealt with. Also the concept of the androgynos, being a person characterised with elements of both genders, is dealt with. These concepts have precedent dating back to the beginning of Jewish thought. These are obviously not recent concepts. Gender and Judaism has drawn scholarly interest due to the rapid growth of its intersecting fields during the late 20th century, fueled as well by popular and academic attention to Jewish feminism. As universities established women's studies programs, they have linked to Jewish studies as well. For instance, in 1997, Brandeis University established the Hadassah-Brandeis Institute, which aims to "develop fresh ways of thinking about Jews and gender worldwide by producing and promoting scholarly research and artistic projects."^[1] In addition, controversies over the role of women in Jewish denominations has drawn attention to gender roles, as constructed and regulated by religious institutions. For this reason, besides the academic attention, the liberal Jewish movements turn to gender and Judaism to reinforce their own mission and identity. Notably, the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College has established the Gottesman Chair in Gender and Judaism and operates Kolot — the Center for Jewish Women's and Gender Studies ",^[2] the first such center established at a rabbinical seminary (1996).

With the U.S.-based Association of Jewish Studies, a women's caucus works "to advance the study of gender within the Association for Jewish Studies and within the wider academic community." AJS holds at least one panel on gender every annual meeting, provide funding for presentations on gender and Judaism and published a collection of syllabi pertaining to gender.^[3]

Terms

• Zachar (זָכָר): This term is derived from the word for a pointy sword and refers to a phallus. It is usually translated as “male” in English.

• Nekevah (נְקֵבָה): This term is derived from the word for a crevice and probably refers to a vaginal opening. It is usually translated as “female” in English.

• Androgynos (אנדרוגינוס): A person who has both “male” and “female” sexual characteristics. 149 references in Mishna and Talmud (1st-8th Centuries CE); 350 in classical midrash and Jewish law codes (2nd -16th Centuries CE).

• Tumtum (טומטום): A person whose sexual characteristics are indeterminate or obscured. 181 references in Mishna and Talmud; 335 in classical midrash and Jewish law codes.

• Ay’lonit (איילונית): A person who is identified as “female” at birth but develops “male” characteristics at puberty and is infertile. 80 references in Mishna and Talmud; 40 in classical midrash and Jewish law codes.

• Saris (סָרִיס): A person who is identified as “male” at birth but develops “female” characteristics as puberty and/or is lacking a penis. A saris can be “naturally” a saris (saris hamah), or become one through human intervention (saris adam). 156 references in mishna and Talmud; 379 in classical midrash and Jewish law codes.^[4]

Scope

Gender and Jewish studies intersect primarily through research on Jewish women and the role of women in Judaism and Jewish culture.

Nonetheless, gender and Jewish studies also investigate the gender phenomena pertaining to men and masculinity. In addition, the subfield encompasses research on homosexuality and queer theory as these pertain to Jews and Judaism.

In historical terms, gender and Jewish studies span a broad range, from Biblical exegesis, research on rabbinic literature, Medieval Jewish culture, the importance of gender in Jewish responses to modernity, and gender identity politics in the contemporary period.

See also

• Jewish feminism
• Women in Judaism
• Kate Bornstein, gender theorist raised Modern Orthodox
• Daniel Boyarin, gender and Talmudic culture scholar
• Judith Butler, gender theorist and a self-described anti-Zionist Jewish American
• Andrea Dworkin, radical feminist
• Nice Jewish boy, on masculinity
• Elana Maryles Sztokman, Jewish feminist author and thought-leader
• Jay Michaelson, queer theorist and Kabbalist.
• Shulamith Firestone, radical feminist theorist raised Orthodox
• Kalonymus ben Kalonymus

References

1. -Brandeis Institute
3. AJS
4. "Terms for Gender Diversity in Classical Jewish Texts" (PDF). Transtorah.org. Retrieved 2012-10-28.

External links

• History of Beckerman Kolot collection on gender and Judaism at RRC, by librarian D. Stern
• Kolot: Center for Jewish Women and Gender Studies
• Nashim: A Journal of Jewish Women's Studies and Gender Issues
• The Kabbalah of Gender Identity
• Jewish Law Watch, Center for Women in Jewish Law on agunah
• M.A. Degree in Jewish Studies: Women's and Gender Studies, Schechter Institute, Israel. The Institute has also held conferences on "The Teaching of Gender Studies and Judaica" and "The Impact of Women's and Gender Studies on Jewish Studies"
• Laura Levitt. "Judaism and Gender," International Encyclopedia of the Social and Behavioral Sciences, Dr. Neil J. Smelser, and Dr. Paul B. Baltes, Editors in Chief, Oxford : Elsevier Science Limited, 2001, 8011-8014. A thorough historical survey of Gender and Jewish studies
• Spots of Light: Women in the Holocaust an online exhibition by Yad Vashem

Bibliography

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