Women in Hasidism: New Perspectives Beyond the Debate

Session Submission Type: Panel Session

Abstract

The role of women in Hasidism has been a focal point of scholarly debate, leading to a richer understanding of Hasidic history and culture. On the one hand, there were scholars who argued that the Hasidic movement demonstrated egalitarianism toward women, and even acknowledged the possibility of women to become leaders themselves. On the other hand, there were scholars who argued that there is no proof for such an egalitarianism, and it is even doubtful that women were considered full members of the movement at all.

This panel aims not to resolve the debate, but to postpone the question of egalitarianism and address the ambiguous relationship of Hasidism to women through new lenses. The different lectures in this panel open new perspectives and uncharted territories regarding the role of women in Hasidic history and culture. The panel will include scholars of Hasidism from various disciplines: Literature, history, and religious studies.

The panel will feature presentations highlighting representations in Hasidic literature of women in general (such as identifying the social roles usually associated with them, or the degree of agency the manifest) as well as self-representation of Hasidic female leaders. Presentations will demonstrate new approaches such as employing ‘distant reading’ methodologies of Digital Humanities (Mandel-Edrei and Sagiv), reading Hasidic sources through new-romantic lenses (Shonkoff), reading of new sources found in archives (Peretz) or neglected sources (Gellman).

By pushing the boundaries of the current debate, we aim to contribute to a more nuanced understanding of Hasidism and its complex gender dynamics. We believe that this exploration will not only enrich our understanding of Hasidism but also shed light on the broader issues of gender and Jewish Studies.

Sub Unit

• Modern Jewish History in Europe, Asia, Israel, and Other Communities

Chair

• Wojciech Tworek, Uniwersytet Wrocławski

Individual Presentations

• Digital Analysis of Female Agency in Hasidic Stories - Chen Mandel-Edrei, Hebrew University of Jerusalem; Gadi Sagiv, The Open University of Israel

• Hasidism, Leadership and Gender: The Case of Malka Shapiro - Dorit Peretz, The Open University of Israel and Bar-Ilan University

• On Women in Neo-Hasidism - Sam Shonkoff, Graduate Theological Union

• The Rebbetzin of Mea-She’arim: Hasidism and Gender in the Old Yishuv - Uriel Gellman, Bar Ilan University

Zoom Host

• Zoom Host 07