Women Who Went Before
Suffering Witches to Live: Jewish Women and the Legacies of Religious Law
Dec 6, 2022
In a captivating discussion, Dr. Elizabeth Shanks Alexander, a Professor at the University of Virginia specializing in rabbinic literature, dives into the intricate relationship between Jewish women and religious law. She explores whether women can keep track of their own menstrual cycles within outlined laws, revealing how ancient rabbis viewed witchcraft and its implications for women's roles. The conversation also highlights the challenges women faced in navigating a male-dominated system, shedding light on the legacy of those deemed witches and their overlooked stories.
59:19
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Quick takeaways
- The podcast emphasizes the historical exclusion of women from religious and legal frameworks in Jewish communities, perpetuating systemic gender disparities.
- Discussion of witchcraft highlights how ancient stereotypes marginalized women's autonomy, revealing societal fears projected onto female power in religious texts.
Deep dives
Historical Context of Women's Rights in Law
Abigail Adams famously urged her husband to consider women's legal rights in the formation of new American laws in 1776, highlighting the deep-rooted gender disparities that persisted for centuries. Despite her passionate plea, women were largely sidelined in the political sphere, an issue mirrored in ancient Jewish communities where men dominated religious and legal frameworks. The podcast discusses how imperial laws in these communities were supplemented by rabbinical laws that often ignored women's needs and experiences. These historical precedents underscore the systemic vulnerabilities faced by women due to patriarchal legislative bodies.
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