Judith Plaskow is one of the most infamous scholars of feminist theology. Her book, Standing Again at Sinai: Judaism from a Feminist Perspective was revolutionary. The book was the first-ever book of Jewish feminist theology to be written. In the book, Plaskow challenges different aspects of Judaism that deny women inclusivity into significant roles in religion. Plaskow insists that the Torah must be rewritten to include information relating to women’s’ experiences. Torah is the central symbol of Jewish religion and culture which is strongly male-centered.
The author stresses on intricately observing Jewish history and broadening Jewish memory. She argues that discerning chronicle and non-chronicle aspects of the Jewish religion will reveal evidence of women’s religious leadership and changing patterns of family and gender relations. Plaskow also shows evidence of women’s spiritual lives within and outside conventional religious organizations. Taken seriously, these indications prove Judaism is more complex and diverse than mainstream versions of the Torah and Jewish religion as a whole. Discovering women’s Torah provides the Jewish community with a fuller history on which they can develop new Jewish ideologies and identities.
The author also argues that including women in the center of Jewish religion alongside their male counterparts would automatically require rethinking many aspects of their tradition and in doing so reworking Jewish theology. Plaskow also defines the importance of including women in Jewish religion-she explains that women’s beliefs and principles are rooted in scriptural conventions hence women base most aspects of their life on religion.
Plaskow concludes her book by urging women to claim their rightful place in every aspect of Jewish life and to no longer accept the role of others. She also adds that changing Torah should be the first agenda as Jewish women cannot reshape Jewish religion in the present without first reclaiming their history.
