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In the Image of God: A Feminist Commentary on the Torah

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Using classical Jewish sources as well as material from history, anthropology, sociology, ancient religion, and feminist theory, Judith Antonelli has examined every woman and issue pertaining to women in the Torah, parshah by parshah. The reader will discover that the Torah is not the root of male supremacy that it os often made out to be. Rather, by looking at the Torah in the context in which it was given - the pagan world of the ancient Near East - it becomes clear that the Torah actually improved the status of women as it existed in the surrounding societies. It refutes the common feminist stereotype that Judaism is inherently a "patriarchal religion". The existence of sexism within Judaism is acknowledged - and challenged - but illustrates they are the result of sociological factors, not "divine law.". For instance, the author asserts that even within Orthodoxy, women should be able to become rabbis, and that denying them such roles is a sociological problem, and not a problem inherent in the Jewish tradition itself.

This book challenges the standard feminist spirituality notion that paganism in the ancient near east was good for women just because it worshipped goddesses. In actuality, ancient Canaanite, Babylonian, and Egyptian religions were very sexually exploitative of women. The Torah reacts against this exploitation and attempts to liberate women, as well as men, from the sexual slavery of pagan rites. This is the author's thesis as she examines every woman, and every issue pertaining to women, in the biblical books of Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy. The author does this through the lens of traditional rabbinic commentary and a belief in divine revelation (rather than academic biblical criticism). A truly fascinating, inspirational book, of value to Christians as well as Jews. It is a virtual encyclopedia of women in the Torah from a viewpoint that says the Torah WAS the feminist document of its day and should be seen and utilized as such today. Thus she takes on, at the same time, sexist clergy and antisemitic feminists. Quite a unique approach!