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The Centre for Jewish Studies
University of Manchester
Limmud Day, Sunday February
27th 2000
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Title: 'REDEEMING EVE'.
Abstract: As an Orthodox Jewish woman with
an interest in feminism, I am seeking to reconcile Judaism and feminism.
Turning to the Hebrew Bible, in particular the early chapters of Genesis
and some later Prophetic writings, I develop the theory that women's
contemporary
development is part of a gradual messianic process which will eventually
lead to the repeal of the curses of the Garden of Eden and bring women back
to the status of Eve before her sin. I have discovered that many of these
views on women are shared by scholars like Aryeh Kaplan and Manis Friedmann.
This workshop looks at some of the key verses which substantiate our
thesis.
The Speaker: Doreen is Senior Reporter
and Columnist on the Jewish Telegraph, which she joined in 1985 as a book
reviewer. She was born in Blackpool and educated at the Prestwich Day School,
Southport High School for Girls and at Jews' College Institute for the Training
of Teachers, gaining a BA from London University in French, English and
Hebrew. For 27 years she was a Rebbetzen, and was also a Jewish studies
teacher. She was the Manchester synagogue and religious issues co-ordinator
for the Chief Rabbi's Review of Women in the Jewish Community, and is still
active on the Women in the Community Regional Co-ordinating Council. In
1981 she published a novel, The Barmitzvah, which examined this male
Jewish ritual through the budding feminist eyes of the twin sister of the
barmitzvah boy.
The Centre for Jewish Studies
The Department of Religions and Theology
University of Manchester
Oxford Road
Manchester M13 9PL
United Kingdom
Tel +44 (0)161 275 3614; Fax +44 (0)161 275 3613
e-mail: Bernard.Jackson@man.ac.uk