Wives of Commoners and the Masculinity of the Rabbis: Jokes, Serious Matters, and Migrating Traditions

Reuven Kiperwasser*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

4 Scopus citations

Abstract

This article analyses the migration of rabbinic narrative traditions between the land of Israel and Babylonia and examines plot transformations in these narratives in order to illustrate the cultural differences between these two centers of rabbinic thought. In particular, I explore the positioning of women as an internal Other and the construction of a rabbinic, masculine identity that is distinct from the masculine identity of the common, unlearned man. I will look at some brief, entertaining stories about a few rabbinic sages and their interactions with unnamed women and unidentified unlearned men.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)418-445
Number of pages28
JournalJournal for the Study of Judaism
Volume48
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - 2017
Externally publishedYes

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© Koninklijke Brill NV, Leiden 2017 , The Netherlands.

Keywords

  • comparative studies
  • gender
  • humor
  • migrating traditions
  • narratives
  • rabbinic
  • rabbis

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Wives of Commoners and the Masculinity of the Rabbis: Jokes, Serious Matters, and Migrating Traditions'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this