Colleges for Women’s Torah Study (Midrashoth) as Change Agents in Women’s Role Within Religious Zionism in the Past and Present in the Postmodern Era

• 作者: Elisheva Munk Hadar Baruch Nitza Davidovitch
• 来源期刊: 哲学研究:英文版
• 学科: 政治法律
• 关键词: women RELIGIOUS Torah STUDY Midrashoth
• 年，卷（期）: 2020,（1）
• 页码范围: 1-15
• 页数: 15页
• 分类号: D44

摘要

Torah study by women has been a point of dissension over the years.Side by side with partial support,the subject has aroused resistance within the religious community.In recent years,Torah-oriented study settings for women have greatly expanded,concurrent with the rise in the value of Torah study as part of religious women’s life.One option that has become more available for women in religious Zionist society in recent years,as part of the moratorium,is colleges for Torah study by women,called“Midrashoth”(single:Midrasha).The purpose of the current study was to examine whether and to what degree full-program Midrashoth constitute change agents for their students by shaping the image of women within religious Zionist society.The first Torah-oriented Midrashoth were opened in the 1990s,with one main aim to enable women to study Torah and Talmud and thus attempt to reach an equal level as men in this area.Previously,the study of“Torah Lishmah”(i.e.,Torah for its own sake)was less customary and not perceived as part of the role of women in religious Zionist society.Since the opening of the Midrashoth and until the present,several interesting developments have occurred.The first was the significant increase in Torah-oriented Midrashoth for women,particularly full-program Midrashoth.At present,there are 25 full-program Midrashoth.Another development is the timing of studies at the Midrasha.In the past,some women would study at Midrashoth after completing their national service,particularly when a full program was involved.But at present,there is an increase in full-program Midrashoth even before national service.The current study found that nearly half the respondents had studied a full program before their national service.Another interesting change that is occurring in recent years involves women’s motives for studying at the Midrashoth.As stated,the main purpose for which Torah-oriented Midrashoth were established was for women’s Torah study.This purpose has remained valid,but it has been joined by oth