A Doorway Of Their Own: Female Ethos in Dialogue in the Talmuds

Abstract:This paper examines four talmudic stories that portray women giving food to beggars who come to their doors. This motif represents a distinct female social and ethical perspective that contrasts with and critiques the dominant male rabbinic ethos. However, The talmudic editors frequently position, interpret and modify such stories in ways that draw attention away from, and even undermine, the female characters and the values they represent. Nevertheless, these strong female voices and characters are not totally silenced. They become part of a wider dialogic framework, remaining an integral part of the Talmud's discourse.