Jewish Women/Jewish Men

Author Aviva Cantor offers an illuminating look at Jewish history as seen through the lens of feminist theory. Presenting a new view of Jewish gender and social relationships, Cantor explains how patriarchal values have affected virtually every aspect of Jewish life. From the creation of Halacha, Jewish constitutional law, and the story of Queen Esther to an examination of sex, marriage, and child-rearing to the establishment of a Jewish state and the struggles of contemporary Jewish feminists, Cantor weaves the fabric of Jewish gender relationships into a compelling cultural tapestry. Finally, Jewish Women/Jewish Men goes beyond historical analysis to offer a liberating vision of how Jewish society could be transformed by adopting humane feminist values.

Beyond its central premise, the book can be read through the connected lenses of Nonfiction. Those themes offer useful points of attention as the characters, ideas, or world develop, especially where the book complicates the expectations of its primary category.