Newly Orthodox Women vs Judith Plaskow: Feminism Moving in Opposite Directions Anonymous College

Judith Plaskow is one of the leading scholars of feminist theology. Her book, Standing Again at Sinai: Judaism from a Feminist Perspective, was the first book of Jewish feminist theology ever written.[1] She has also written an additional book, a collection of essays, has co-edited three books, and published numerous articles in edited volumes and journals.[2] Plaskow believes that the Torah must be “reclaimed”, as it has been written by and in the language of the patriarchy in such a way that marginalizes women.[3] Ultimately, Plaskow’s goal is to redefine the Torah’s content to include material relating to women’s experiences, on this topic she writes, “We must render visible the presence, experience, and deeds of women erased in traditional sources. We must tell the stories of women's encounters with God and capture the texture of their religious experience.”[4] Plaskow’s views on feminism within Judaism are new, transformative, and ultimately push the conventional traditions and values within the religion. Standing in stark contrast to Plaskow is Orthodox Judaism, which continues to embrace the traditional roles of women within religion. However, Debra Renee Kaufman's article, Patriarchal Women: A Case Study of Newly...