Who Owns Judaism? Gender, Ritual, and Authority
The course will examine the interrelationships of gender, ritual, and authority in modern Judaism from a variety of perspectives, using ethnographic studies, feminist theory, ritual theory, queer theory, and anthropological analysis to identify and analyse trends, factors, and influences in a range of controversial issues affecting Jews around the world. We will trace the contours of current issues back to rabbinic texts, where relevant, and use historical information to examine development in ritual. How does ritual mediate religious power, and how do changing perceptions of gender roles influence access to power and generate change in ritual? How are concepts of authenticity and authority related? Issues spanning the denominational range within Judaism will be examined (such as rabbinic ordination), as well as those that are currently particularly controversial in the Orthodox world (text study, new communal rituals for women). The module aims to develop a critical awareness of the wider social and political implications of ritual, and how it can serve as an arena for contestation of authority. A variety of theoretical approaches will be used that can be applied in other contexts.
For information about the course please contact Dr Lindsey Taylor-Guthartz.