Language:
Hebrew
Year of publication:
2019
Titel der Quelle:
JSIJ - Jewish Studies; an Internet Journal
Angaben zur Quelle:
17 (2019) 16 pp.
Keywords:
Talmud Bavli Criticism, Narrative
;
Talmud Yerushalmi Criticism, Narrative
;
Women in rabbinical literature
Abstract:
Rabbi’s maidservant is mentioned three times in the Jerusalem Talmud and seven times in the Babylonian Talmud. In the Jerusalem Talmud, the stories about her draw upon a common core and underscore her wisdom, her knowledge of the Torah, her language proficiency, and her constant presence alongside Rabbi. The Babylonian Talmud adds positive characteristics traditionally identified with women, such as empathy and sensitivity to others, and foregrounds her wisdom, her language skills and knowledge of the Torah. The analysis of the sources in this article demonstrates that the positive attitude toward Rabbi’s maidservant and her partnership with the Sages was made possible through a number of narrative components and effects. First, we find the indirect glorification of Rabbi through her image. The second component is her social status, her belonging to the lower class. The third component is associated with the character of her activities. She does not act within the areas traditionally associated with the Sages: the study of the Torah and the law, and she makes no attempt at appropriating what the Sages believe to be their own. The fourth component is the motive for her actions: serving Rabbi, she does not pursue her personal interests. Her actions are based on the awareness of the other. The fifth component results from her socially esteemed female qualities, such as sensitivity, empathy and compassion. Depicting a lower-status character who possesses several qualities of a learned student makes it possible for the text to expose philosophical conflicts and to critically assess the Sages’ behavior. As a result, the representation of the maidservant expresses significant tensions, which are related to such diverse thematic issues as gender, social status, sexual morality, authority over knowledge, the Sages’ hubris, and even euthanasia.
URL:
אתר את הפרסום בקטלוג המאוחד של ספריות ישראל
