This study (some 10,500 words; and a similar one published in Hebrew- as follows) deals with contemporary spiritual interpretations of an ancient Jewish legend – on a witch hunt executed by Rabbi Shim’on ben Shatach at Ashkelon in the 2nd century B.C..
It presents a comparison of three spiritual leaders in Israel, each re-designing the old story in a different way, thus expressing various values – in relation to Judaism, to their feminism’s character, and to the place of magic in the world.
The article was published in the important journal of Jewish Studies, pronted by the Oxford Centre for Hebrew & Jewish Studies – Journal of Jewish Studies.
Abstract
This study analyzes the cosmology and theology that are being shaped by contemporary alternative spiritualities, regarding the link between witchcraft and women. It raises issues such as secularization and re-enchantment, religious/spiritual identities and feminism.
The study case is the contemporary writings of Israeli alternative spiritualities’ leaders, as they re-narrate a tale from Rabbinic Literature, about the Ashkelon Witch-Hunt that was led by Rabbi Shim’on ben Shatach. This tale has been reshaped in three different ways by spokespersons who represent various religious/spiritual Jewish-Israeli paths: Reform Judaism (Prof. Ruchma Weiss), Jewish Renewal (Rabbi Ohad Ezrahi), and Neo-Shamanism (Dov Trubnik).
All contemporary alternative spiritual texts analyzed herein demonstrate their authors’ identification with the rejected anti-heroines, the Ashkelonian witches. Some appropriate Judaism, whilst others criticize it; some write from within it, whilst others from without. The three alternative spiritual texts reflect different cosmological views contending with issues of secularization versus re-enchantment, as well as various theologies or thealogies. They also voice explicit religious feminist tones, that range from liberal to cultural-maternal and eco-feminist feminisms.
Authors
Marianna Ruah-Midbar Shapiro
Links
The article can be downloaded (without password) from its page on the journal’s website.
To the National Park at Ashkelon, with its ancient and pagan findings – click here
The article analyses Hebrew texts by Ruchama Weiss (see here), Pele Ohad Ezrachi (see here), and Dov Ahava/Trubnik (from this book).
For another interesting text, published after the research was already conducted, by Carmit Mizrahi, click here.
Year
2021
Language
English
Academic/Non-academic
Academic item
Publisher/Source
Journal of Jewish Studies
Bibliographical citation
Ruah-Midbar Shapiro, Marianna, “Witch-Hunt or Women’s Oppression? The Secularization and Re-Enchantment of the Witches of Ashkelon Tale by Contemporary Spiritualities’ Leaders”, in Journal of Jewish Studies 72.1 (Spring 2021): 164-190.
