The Intrepid Women of Exodus: Ruth Bader Gindburg's Feminist Seder Supplement

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Thought this might be of interest-- plus I adore the portrait and wanted to share




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Passover is nigh and the Notorious R.B.G. has spoken.

Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg has released a supplementary Seder reading highlighting the role of women in the Exodus narrative. Ginsburg—who is the first Jewish woman ever appointed to the Court—decided to contribute a feminist perspective after being asked by a Jewish nonprofit to to write on social justice and Passover. Below is an excerpt of her essay, which was co-written with Washington D.C.’s Rabbi Lauren Holtzblatt:

The stories we tell our children shape what they believe to be possible—which is why at Passover, we must tell the stories of the women who played a crucial role in the Exodus narrative.

The Book of Exodus, much like the Book of Genesis, opens in pervasive darkness. Genesis describes the earth as “unformed and void, with darkness over the surface of the deep.” In Exodus, darkness attends the accession of a new Pharaoh who feared the Israelites and so enslaved them. God alone lights the way out of the darkness in Genesis. But in Exodus, God has many partners, first among them, five brave women.

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These women had a vision leading out of the darkness shrouding their world. They were women of action, prepared to defy authority to make their vision a reality bathed in the light of the day.

http://blog.longreads.com/2015/03/23/the-intrepid-women-of-exodus-ruth-bader-ginsburgs-feminist-seder-supplement/

[Xipe Totec]

1. The Book of Ruth

During the time of the Judges when there was a famine, an Israelite family from Bethlehem – Elimelech, his wife Naomi, and their sons Mahlon and Chilion – emigrated to the nearby country of Moab. Elimelech died, and the sons married two Moabite women: Mahlon married Ruth and Chilion married Orpah.

The two sons of Naomi then died also. After about ten years (1:4) in Moab, Naomi decided to return to Bethlehem. She told her daughters-in-law to return to their own mothers, and remarry. Orpah reluctantly left; however, Ruth said, "Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God: Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried: the LORD do so to me, and more also, if aught but death part thee and me." (Ruth 1:16–17 KJV)

[ismnotwasm]

3. One of the most beautiful passages I think

[Behind the Aegis]

2. Thank you for sharing this here.

It is much appreciated!

[ismnotwasm]

4. You are most welcome