 |
|
           
|
|
| |
Sort results by:
|
|
|
Hartman, Tova
Feminism Encounters Traditional Judaism: Resistance and Accommodation. Hartman, Tova. Brandeis University Press, 2007.
Synopsis: In five essays, Dr. Tova Hartman explores the relationship between contemporary feminist thought and aspects of Jewish tradition. Dr. Hartman discusses three feminist analyses of Freudian psychology for reading Jewish texts; modesty and the religious male gaze; the backlash against feminism by traditional rabbis; the male imagery in liturgy; and Orthodox women and purity rituals. Hartman’s book will speak directly to scholars and students of gender, religion, and psychology, as well as anyone interested in the negotiation of feminism and tradition.
Click here to purchase this item.
|
| |
ADDITIONAL READING
|
|
|
Berman, Saul J
"The Status of Women in Halakhic Judaism," Berman, Saul J. Tradition, 14:2, 1973, 5-28.
Synopsis: In this article, R. Saul Berman first discusses the issues that have given rise to the desire to change the position of women in Jewish law. He then analyzes the legal components of the status that Jewish law assigns to women. Based on his analysis, he evaluates the justice of complaints against that status and offers some proposals to address these complaints.
Click here to view this item.
|
|
Brown, Erica
"The Apron, The Briefcase and the Sefer: Is Feminism Compatible With Judaism? (Judaism and Feminism: A Symposium)," Brown, Erica. Le'ela, 32, 1991, 7-8.
Synopsis: Erica Brown writes about the role of feminism within halakhic Judaism. She asserts that feminism should not merely focus on the self, but should encourage spiritual and religious growth.
Click here to download this item in PDF format.
If you are having trouble opening this document,
click here to download Adobe Reader.
|
|
Feldman, Aharon
"Halakhic Feminism or Feminist Halakha?," Feldman, Aharon. Tradition, 33:2, 1999, 61-79.
Synopsis: This essay discusses the book Jewish Legal Writings by Women as it relates to the basis of feminism and its place within Orthodox Judaism. He discusses the importance of the Jewish home and how that will provide the basis for the continuity of the Jewish people.
Click here to purchase this item.
|
|
Feldman, Emanuel
"Orthodox Feminism and Feminist Orthodoxy," Feldman, Emanuel. Jewish Action, Winter, 1999.
Synopsis: This article describes ways in which Orthodox Feminism can maintain its halakhic integrity while pursuing important, often controversial work.
Click here to download this item in PDF format.
If you are having trouble opening this document,
click here to download Adobe Reader.
|
|
Feldman, Emanuel
"Women and Judaism," Feldman, Emanuel. Tradition, 21:3, Fall, 1984.
Synopsis: R. Feldman critiques Orthodox Feminism and, in particular, work by Blu Greenberg.
Click here to purchase this item.
|
|
Fishbane, Simcha
"In Case There Are No Sinful Thoughts: The Role and Status of Women in Jewish Law As Expressed in the Aruch Hashulhan," Fishbane, Simcha. Judaism, 42:4, 1993, 492-503.
Synopsis: According to the author, The rabbinic rulings of R. Yehiel Mekhel Halevi Epstein reflect the influence of social change on perceptions of womens' roles. Fishbane maintains that R. Epstein followed traditional halakha in the adjudication process, but made allowances in laws for women for existing social practices and human behavior.
Click here to view this item.
|
|
Fishman, Elie
"Orthodox Egalitarianism," Fishman, Elie. Mosaic, 8, 1990.
Synopsis: From the standpoint of religious obligation, Fishman discusses the changing role of women in Orthodoxy, specifically in reference to the role of women in the synagogue.
Click here to download this item in PDF format.
If you are having trouble opening this document,
click here to download Adobe Reader.
|
|
Frimer, Aryeh
"Guarding the Treasure: A Review of Expanding the Palace of Torah: Orthodoxy and Feminism," Frimer, Aryeh. B.D.D., 2007.
Synopsis: In her erudite volume, Prof. Tamar Ross attempts to delineate the points of conflict between unabashed feminism and Orthodox Judaism, and presents a new theological approach in an attempt to bridge this gap. Prof. Aryeh Frimer believes that Dr. Ross has failed to attain this goal for two reasons: firstly, the theology presented is at odds with basic tenets of faith that have characterized Orthodox Judaism over the millennia. Secondly, the work fails to fully appreciate the halakhic process and the complexity of rabbinic literature.
Click here to read Tamar Ross's response to Dr. Aryeh Frimer's review.
Click here to purchase Expanding the Palace.
Click here to download this item in PDF format.
If you are having trouble opening this document,
click here to download Adobe Reader.
|
|
Frimer, Rabbi Aryeh
"Innovations in Orthodoxy Today: Is Everything in Halakha Halakhic?," Frimer, Rabbi Aryeh. JOFA Journal, V, 2, 2004, 3-5.
Synopsis: R. Aryeh Frimer discusses the criteria that should be used to judge and set limits on innovative behavior with in Orthodoxy. He raises concerns about whether or not some recent developments in the Orthodox feminist movement are halakhic, focusing on the need to approach the halakha surrounding each topic with an open mind and without an expectation of the end result.
Click here to download this item in PDF format.
If you are having trouble opening this document,
click here to download Adobe Reader.
|
|
Geffen, Rela M.
"Intersecting Spheres: Feminism and Orthodox Judaism," Geffen, Rela M.. Jewish Sects, Religious Movements, and Political Parties, Mor, Menachem, ed., 1992, 185-203.
Click here to purchase this item.
|
|
Greenberg, Blu
"Judaism and Feminism," Greenberg, Blu. The Jewish Women, New Perspectives. Koltun, Elizabeth Ed. Schocken Books, 1976, 79-192.
Click here to purchase this item.
|
|
Greenberg, Blu
"Female Sexuality and Bodily Functions in Jewish Traditions," Greenberg, Blu. Women, Religion, and Sexuality, 1991, 2-44.
Synopsis: Greenberg offers a detailed analyses of women's sexuality as percieved by halakhah in the areas of: definitions of the female sex, life cycles and ceremonies, generativity, sexuality, and the transmission of values.
Click here to download this item in PDF format.
If you are having trouble opening this document,
click here to download Adobe Reader.
|
|
Greenberg, Blu
"Woman and Judaism," Greenberg, Blu. Contemporary Jewish Religious Thought: Original Essays on Critical Concepts, 1987, 1039-1052.
Synopsis: Greenberg discusses some of the contradictions and paradoxes within Judaism that originate from Biblical passages. She offers examples of biological differences and explains how those differences impact halakha and tradition.
Click here to download this item in PDF format.
If you are having trouble opening this document,
click here to download Adobe Reader.
|
|
Halbertal, Tova Hartman and Tamar H. Miller
"Our Tradition Ourselves," Halbertal, Tova Hartman and Tamar H. Miller. JOFA Journal, 2001.
Synopsis: This article summarizes the tenets of liberal and radical feminism and focuses on the unique aspects of Orthodox feminism, while posing the question, is gender inequality in Orthodox Judaism really God given?
Click here to download this item in PDF format.
If you are having trouble opening this document,
click here to download Adobe Reader.
|
|
Meiselman, Moshe
"Women and Judaism: A Rejoinder," Meiselman, Moshe. Tradition, 15:3, 1975, 52-68.
Synopsis: In a statement on feminism and Judaism, R. Mesielman explores whether it is appropriate to readjust Jewish values.
Click here to purchase this item.
|
|
Mintz, Adam
"A Women's Place: Towards a Constructive Dialogue," Mintz, Adam. Jewish Action, Winter, 1999, 1-2.
Synopsis: This article offers guidelines to inform the debate about a woman's place in Judaism.
Click here to download this item in PDF format.
If you are having trouble opening this document,
click here to download Adobe Reader.
|
|
Poupko, Chana K. and Wohlgelernter, Devora L.
"Women's Liberation - An Orthodox Perspective," Poupko, Chana K. and Wohlgelernter, Devora L.. Tradition, 15:4, 1976, 45-52.
Synopsis: Two professional, Orthodox women discuss the importance of maximizing women's religious potential, particularly by encouraging Jewish scholarship among women.
Click here to purchase this item.
|
|
Ross, Tamar
"Can the Demand for Change In the Status of Women Be Halakhically Legitimated?," Ross, Tamar. Judaism, 42:4, 1993, 478-491.
Synopsis: This article attempts to answer the following: the theological question - what room is there in halakha for change? And the practical question - if there is room at all for change, how is it to be effected?
Click here to view this item.
|
|
Sacks, Jonathan
"Creativity and Innovation In Halakhah," Sacks, Jonathan. Rabbinic Authority and Personal Autonomy, Moshe Sokol. Jason Aronson, 1992.
Click here to purchase this item.
|
|
Sperber, Rabbi Daniel
"The Human Element in the Commandments: The Effect of Changing Community Norms on Halakhic Decisions," Sperber, Rabbi Daniel. JOFA Journal, VI, 4, 2007, 7-9.
Synopsis: Rabbi Sperber uses the Talmudic ruling that a man should not walk behind a woman to show how halakha can be amended and changed as societal norms change. He then proposes that this same principle be carefully applied to resolve some of the “untenable halakhic situations presented by contemporary society.”
Click here to download this item in PDF format.
If you are having trouble opening this document,
click here to download Adobe Reader.
|
|
Stern, Marc D
"On Egalitarianism & Halakha," Stern, Marc D. Tradition, 36:2, 2002, 1-30.
Synopsis: This article discusses the move within society at large towards equality of genders and all people. It then focuses on the specifics within the Jewish world.
Click here to purchase this item.
|
|
Wolosky, Shira
"The Lonely Woman of Faith," Wolosky, Shira. Judaism, 52: 1-2, 2003, pp. 3-18.
Synopsis: This article asserts that Rav Soleveitchik’s essay, The Lonely Man of Faith, suggests ways in which feminism, rather than threatening traditional Jewish values and commitments, can be seen to accord with and enhance them.
Click here to download this item in PDF format.
If you are having trouble opening this document,
click here to download Adobe Reader.
|
|
Zohar Zvi M.
"Traditional Flexability and Modern Strictness: The Halakhic Positions on Women's Suffrage," Zohar Zvi M.. Sephardi and Middle Eastern Jewries: History and Culture, Goldber, Harvey E. ed. Indiana University Press, 1996, 119-133.
Synopsis: Dr. Zvi Zohar presents the halakhic views on women's suffrage of Sephardi halakhic authorities.
|
|
|
Bigman, David
"Patriarchal Assumptions in Contemporary P'sak," Bigman, David. JOFA 4th International Conference. 2002.
Synopsis: Early posekim often made assumptions of their time about gender roles, women's intellectual capacity and social status when forming halakhic opinions. Why do modern-day posekim continue to rely on these outdated assumptions in contemporary p'sak? Are there possible solutions for engaging in traditional halakhic discourse without regressing to historical assumptions of gender and gender roles?
Click here to download a PDF order form for this item.
If you are having trouble opening this document,
click here to download Adobe Reader.
|
|
Dratch, Mark
"Building Fences/Mending Fences: Facing Negative Reactions to Halakhic Decisions," Dratch, Mark. JOFA 3rd International Conference. 2000.
Click here to download a PDF order form for this item.
If you are having trouble opening this document,
click here to download Adobe Reader.
|
|
Greenberg, Yitz
"Reconsidering Women's Role in the Covenant: Rabbi Soloveitchik's Thought As A Source for Feminism," Greenberg, Yitz. JOFA Washington DC Conference. 2002.
Click here to download a PDF order form for this item.
If you are having trouble opening this document,
click here to download Adobe Reader.
|
|
Greenberg, Yitz
"The Hashkafah of Rav Soloveitchik and its Potential Application for Feminism," Greenberg, Yitz. JOFA 2nd International Conference. 1998.
Click here to download a PDF order form for this item.
If you are having trouble opening this document,
click here to download Adobe Reader.
|
|
Hartman, Dr. Tova
"Torah U’Mada: Taking Feminist Thought Religiously," Hartman, Dr. Tova. JOFA 6th International Conference. 2007.
Synopsis: A fundamental principal of Modern Orthodoxy is the acceptance of Torah U’Mada: the belief that elements of the modern world should not only be studied, but can have a positive impact on our religious lives. What are the limits of Torah U’Mada? Which elements of modern values can be incorporated into our understanding of mada? Can Modern Orthodoxy truly withstand the feminist critique? Is the Orthodox establishment ready to view feminist thought as part of the corpus of modern thinking that can have a positive impact on our religious identities?
Click here to listen to the audio file.
Click here to download the audio file.
|
|
Holzer, Elie
"Philosophy of Halakha: Taking Tradition Apart," Holzer, Elie. JOFA 3rd International Conference. 2000.
Click here to download a PDF order form for this item.
If you are having trouble opening this document,
click here to download Adobe Reader.
|
|
Joseph, Norma Baumel
"When is Change Not Change: Halakhic Innovation or Application?," Joseph, Norma Baumel. JOFA 3rd International Conference. 2000.
Click here to download a PDF order form for this item.
If you are having trouble opening this document,
click here to download Adobe Reader.
|
|
Linzer, Dov
"Public Policy and Halakhic Decision Making," Linzer, Dov. JOFA 3rd International Conference. 2000.
Click here to download a PDF order form for this item.
If you are having trouble opening this document,
click here to download Adobe Reader.
|
|
Ross, Tamar
"Meta-Halakhic Issues: Feminism and Change," Ross, Tamar. JOFA 3rd International Conference. 2000.
Click here to download a PDF order form for this item.
If you are having trouble opening this document,
click here to download Adobe Reader.
|
|
|
Berkovits, Eliezer
Jewish Women in Time and Torah. Berkovits, Eliezer. Ktav, 1994.
Synopsis: The author examines the status of women in halakhah, and offers suggestions to improve that status, especially in the areas of ritual participation and marital rights.
Click here to purchase this item.
|
|
Elior, Rachel
Men and Women, Gender, Judaism & Democracy. Elior, Rachel. , 2005.
Synopsis: Men and Women: Gender, Judaism and Democracy is a collection of articles on the socio-legal status of women in Israel, the religious and cultural context of their rights, and their equality according to religious and civil law. The significance of the heritage of the past, the challenges of the present, and the constructive criticism aiming to suggest alternative outlooks for the future, are elaborated on by eleven leading thinkers.
Click here to purchase this item.
|
|
Henkin, Yehuda Herzl
Equality Lost. Henkin, Yehuda Herzl. Urim Publications, 1999.
Synopsis: Several essays in this volume are relevant to Feminism and Halakha.
Click here to purchase this item.
|
|
Leibowitz, Yeshayahu
Judaism, Human Values, and the Jewish State. Leibowitz, Yeshayahu. Harvard University Press, 128-131, 1995.
Synopsis: This volume expresses the author's thoughts on his commitment to the Zionist idea, and his wide ranging views on religious, ethical and political issues. His chapter on "The Status of Women: Halakhah and Meta-Halakhah" is relevant to this category.
Click here to purchase this item.
|
|
Meiselman, Moshe
Jewish Women in Jewish Law. Meiselman, Moshe. Ktav, 1978.
Synopsis: R. Moshe Meiselman addresses the attitude of Jewish law to women and how the Jewish tradition views the contemporary challenge of feminism. The author mixes current issues with scholary ones and treats other issues such as learning Torah by women, women's position in court both as witnesses and as litigants, the marriage ceremony, and marital life.
Click here to purchase this item.
|
|
Ross, Tamar
Expanding the Palace of the Torah. Ross, Tamar. University Press of New England, 2004.
Synopsis: Prof. Ross's book is an examination of the theological implications for Orthodox Judaism of women's changed status in the modern world.
Click here for a review of Expanding the Palace by Dr. Aryeh Frimer.
Click here to read Tamar Ross's response to Dr. Aryeh Frimer's review.
Click here to purchase this item.
|
|
Wolowelsky, Joel B
Women, Jewish Law and Modernity: New Opportunities in a Post-Feminist Age. Wolowelsky, Joel B. Ktav, 1997.
Synopsis: This book explores how increased women's involvement in Jewish ritual in our homes, at life-cycle events, in our synagogues, and in our schools can be realized while being consistent with halakha.
Click here to purchase this item.
|
|
|
New sources are continually being added to JOFA.org. Check back often!
If you have a submission you would like us to consider, send it to
website@jofa.org.
|
|
|
|
|
