Essay on Jewish Women in Medieval Ashkenaz - 1547 Words

Medieval Jewish society, like all traditional Jewish culture, was run by patriarchal hierarchy â€Å"Philosophical, medical, and religious views of the time all supported the view that men were superior to women both in nature and in deed† . Women’s position in society was secondary in comparison to that of men. They were characterized as lightheaded, weak, easily seduced, and linked to sorcery. This essay will focus on the Jewish women living in the medieval society of Ashkenaz, a region of northern France and Germany, around the time of 1000-1300 CE. Several questions will be addressed pertaining to the social status, educational opportunities, and their participation in society will be examined. Although not much was written about the†¦show more content†¦Furthermore, they endured violence by their husbands who treated them like children. Their husbands would often go away on business trips to the Muslim world, and abandon their wives while marrying another , and then abandon their second wives after years abroad to return to their first. Jewish laws prevented women from taking action to defend themselves from their unfaithful husbands. Authorities made it difficult for women to obtain a divorce because women were stereotypically characterized as rebellious . Around 1000 CE, Rabbi Gershrom issued two different prohibitions. One was against polygamy, and the other prevented women from being divorced against their will. A woman could initiate divorce and even force it on her husband, if she found the situation fit. The rulings also stated that women wouldn’t lose their economic rights, and were allowed to take back property they had brought to the marriage. As women became more powerful economically, their status transformed . They took advantage of the new power, and the rate of the divorce was estimated by Grossman to have been as high as 20%. They began to see more power with their spouses, family, and society as a whole. The legal sphere transformed the social status of women, as Grossman argues â€Å"for the first time in Jewish history, the women had .the upper-hand† concerning divorce and marriage. It can be assumed that the legal rulings gave women security, peace of mind, and a new place in social status. One ofShow MoreRelatedHalakha, Jewish Religious Law And Religious Commandments1913 Words   |  8 PagesHalakha by definition is Jewish religious law, encompassing both civil and religious commandments and prohibitions. The word Halakha stems from the root meaning to walk. Halakha involves the study of law and customs in the Jewish religion. According to rabbinic law it must be performed to sanctify all life and attain redemption. This idea when introduced was a collection of rabbinic commentaries from the Hebrew bible or the torah. The importance of halakha among Judaism and its trends, ideas, theoriesRead MoreAnalysis Of Elisheva Baumgarten s Mothers And Children Essay1866 Words   |  8 Pagessources from medieval Ashkenazi Jews as well as in its meticulous analysis of the often ambiguous writings. In Mothers and Children, Baumgarten examines a plethora of primary sources to explore the inner dynamics of Jewish families; she then uses this information to draw objective conclus ions about the relationship between the Jewish and Christian communities in the middle ages. In Baumgarten’s own words, â€Å"The premise of this study is that it is impossible to comprehend the history of medieval Jews without