Female as Nature, Male as Culture? Rereading the Story of Ḥoma (b. Ketubbot 65a)

Scholars typically describe female characters in talmudic tales as “others” or “outsiders.” Theirs are often considered opposing or subversive voices, a way to challenge social conventions, or as an otherness designed to affirm and strengthen the dominant rabbinic voice. The purpose of this article is to explore a story that challenges the assumption concerning the otherness of women, the story of Ḥoma in Raba’s court (b. Ketubbot 65a). A careful reading of the Ḥoma story while paying attention to its context will show that this question is dealt with in nearly every layer of the story. Throughout the story, the interweaving of interests and cultural contexts that influence and are influenced by this question are revealed, as well as the story’s surprising ability to rearrange the components of the gender equation.