Class given for Temple Beth Ora by Dr. Jack Goldberg, Dec. 19 2020

https://youtu.be/MMBUELgvO_o

What Is The Source Of Gynophobia In Traditional Judaism?
Contemporary Instances of the Problem:
1. The War on Women in Israel by Dr. Elana Sztokman.
In the Foreword, Elana describes being brought to tears on an El Al flight from the U.S. when a Haredi man held up the departure for 30 minutes when he refused to sit next to her.
2. Marriage and Divorce in the Jewish State: Israel’s Civil War by Susan Weiss and Nettie Gross-Horowitz.

Heart rending narratives of Agunot (chained women) adrift in the Rabbinic courts.


Portrayals of Women in the Hebrew Bible.
1. Sarah – expulsion of Hagar & Ishmael: Genesis- 21: 8-16.
2. Rebecca – gets Jacob to trick his father out of blessing: Genesis-27:2-30.
3. Tamar – tricks her father in law, Judah to impregnate her: genesis 38: 6-29.
4. Five daughters of tzlafchad succeed in persuading God to change law of inheritance of father’s land. - numbers 27: 1-11.
5. Achsaw daughter of Caleb persuades her husband Othniel to obtain land from her father; she then persuades her father to add sources of water for the arid land. - Joshua 15:16-19.
6. Huldah the prophetess, rather than Jeremiah, is asked to authenticate the Book of the Law found in the temple for the king. -2 kings 22:8-20
7. Deborah provides Israel exemplary leadership – Judges, Chapter 4

8. Esther decrees the observance of Purim - Esther 9: 29-32 ; decrees observance of Purim


Portrayals of Women in the Talmud. (Use Sefaria Web Site)
1. Rabbi Yossee berates his daughter for being attractive to men. Taanit 24a, line 5.
2. Rav’s anxiety about walking behind a woman. Kiddushin 81a, line 3.
3. Danger of proximity to a menstruating woman. Pesachim 111a, line 11
4. Pejorative characterization of women. Shabbat 152a, line 12