Limmud Toronto 2021

As a modern Jewish woman, how should I read classical rabbinic texts about women? Should I read them with grace or suspicion? Should I impose modern complexities on the text, or try to walk a mile in the shoes of the ancient sages—reading the text from their perspective? Is it even possible to read historical texts without anachronism? How free should I feel to seek out strong woman predecessors to serve as models for me? These are not simply theoretical questions—they keep sleep from the eyes of feminist religious educators, who feel obligated to their tradition and who ask themselves if traditional and feminist values are mutually exclusive or if they can be contained within a single education.
The Hartman high school for girls in Jerusalem aims to be a laboratory for religious feminist education—teaching girls Torah and Talmud at a high level, teaching them to take part in public rituals and ceremonies, teaching them to be proud of and comfortable in their bodies, making them into leaders who will change the world. Join us as we explore challenges involved in teaching an ancient tradition to young, empowered women, who see traditional texts not just as sources of inspiration but also as sources of authority.