Scholar-in-Residence Weekend

A program of the Miriam & Moses Center for Pluralistic Adult Jewish Learning

Dr. Gwynn Kessler is associate professor of Religion at Swarthmore College in Philadelphia. Her research focuses on rabbinic interpretation of Scripture—or midrash—and more specifically on rabbinic theology and rabbinic constructions of gender and identity. Her book Conceiving Israel: The Fetus in Rabbinic Narratives explores rabbinic traditions regarding the fetus for the purpose of examining rabbinic constructions of gender, ethnicity, and theology.

FRIDAY, JUNE 12 PRIDE SHABBAT

7 p.m. Erev Shabbat service featuring Stephanie & the Shabbatones, with guest speaker Dr. Gwynn Kessler discussing “Grasshoppers and Angels: The Past and Future of LGBTQ Jews”

Dr. Kessler will examine Jewish text and rituals concerning LGBTQ engagement throughout the past 50 years and look toward the future of our ongoing contributions and challenges.

Featuring piano, drums, saxophone, and bass guitar, along with our cantorial soloist’s powerful voice, Stephanie & the Shabbatones will bring energy, joy, and an exciting blend of Jewish and secular music to elevate our prayer experience.

SATURDAY, JUNE 13

9:15 a.m. Torah Study with Dr. Kessler
“Reading Midrash As/Like an LGBTQ Person”

The ancient rabbis depict the first human, Adam, and the first ancestors of Israel, Abraham and Sarah, as gender nonconforming. Joseph wears high heels and eye makeup, Mordechai breastfeeds Esther, Dinah is conceived as male but born female, and Moses is portrayed as both God’s wife and husband. Dr. Kessler will lead participants in exploring midrashic traditions about biblical figures that provide connections between classical rabbinic sources and LGBTQ identities.

This program is sponsored by Lea & Sandy Caplan

10:30 a.m. Shabbat Morning Service

11:30 a.m. Lunch & Learn with Dr. Kessler
“Beyond Male and Female: Rabbinic Constructions of Gender”

Although the Tanakh depicts sex/gender as binary, confined to the categories of man/male and woman/female, early rabbinic sources already found these classifications too limited to depict the variety of gendered embodiments. Attendees will evaluate rabbinic traditions regarding the nonbinary designations of “tumtum” and “androginos” and learn how they developed over time.

Click here to register.

This program is sponsored by Lea & Sandy Caplan