The Tent, the Field, and the Battlefield: How Stories of Biblical Women Mine and Undermine Each Other

Class Title – The Tent, the Field, and the Battlefield: How Stories of Biblical Women Mine and Undermine Each Other

Class taught by Judy Klitsner

Class description: What do the infertile, tent-dwelling mothers of Genesis have in common with the military and spiritual leaders of the book of Judges? By reading several women-centered stories in light of one another, we will uncover the Bible’s complex—and often surprising–portrayal of unfolding feminine potential.

Judy Klitsner

Judy Klitsner is the Rabbi Joshua S. Bakst Chair in Tanakh and a senior educator in Bible at Pardes. A student of the renowned Bible teacher Nehama Leibowitz, Judy is known for her close textual readings that weave together traditional commentary, modern scholarship and original interpretation. Her book Subversive Sequels in the Bible: How Biblical Stories Mine and Undermine Each Other received a National Jewish Book Award.

Judy has taught generations of students at Pardes, many of whom now use her methods in Jewish educational settings around the world. An internationally sought-after lecturer, she has taught Bible to Jewish, Christian, and Muslim religious leaders. Judy is also the founding board chair of Sacred Spaces, an organization dedicated to preventing and addressing abuse in Jewish institutions.