This article is about historical and modern views of Jewish females (a.k.a. Jewesses). For the portrayal of Biblical womanhood, see Women in the Bible.
Further information: Maternity in Judaism and Matrilineality in Judaism
See also: Genetic studies of Jews § Maternal_line
A female IDF soldier-officer praying at the Judaism sacred site of the Western Wall in Jerusalem, Israel
Part of a series on
Jews and Judaism
Etymology
Who is a Jew?
Religion
God in Judaism (names)
Principles of faith
Mitzvot (613)
Halakha
Shabbat
Holidays
Prayer
Tzedakah
Land of Israel
Brit
Bar and bat mitzvah
Marriage
Bereavement
Baal teshuva
Philosophy
Ethics
Kabbalah
Customs
Rites
Synagogue
Rabbi
Texts
Tanakh
Torah
Nevi'im
Ketuvim
Talmud
Mishnah
Gemara
Rabbinic
Midrash
Tosefta
Targum
Beit Yosef
Mishneh Torah
Tur
Shulchan Aruch
Zohar
History
General
Timeline
Land of Israel
Name "Judea"
Antisemitism
Anti-Judaism
Persecution
Leaders
Modern historiography
Historical population comparisons
Ancient Israel
Twelve Tribes of Israel
Kingdom of Judah
Kingdom of Israel
Jerusalem (in Judaism
timeline)
Temple in Jerusalem(First
Second)
Assyrian captivity
Babylonian captivity
Second Temple Period
Yehud Medinata
Maccabean Revolt
Hasmonean dynasty
Sanhedrin
Schisms (Pharisees, Sadducees, Essenes)
Second Temple Judaism (Hellenistic Judaism)
Jewish–Roman wars (Great Revolt, Diaspora, Bar Kokhba)
Late Antiquity and Middle Ages
Rabbinic Judaism
History of the Jews in the Byzantine Empire
Christianity and Judaism(Jews and Christmas)
Hinduism and Judaism
Islamic–Jewish relations
Middle Ages
Khazars
Golden Age
Modern era
Haskalah
Sabbateans
Hasidism
Jewish atheism
Emancipation
Old Yishuv
Zionism
The Holocaust
Israel
Arab–Israeli conflict
Communities
Ashkenazim
Galician
Litvak
Mizrahim
Sephardim
Teimanim
Beta Israel
Gruzinim
Juhurim
Bukharim
Italkim
Romanyotim
Cochinim
Bene Israel
Berber
Related groups
Bnei Anusim
Lemba
Crimean Karaites
Krymchaks
Kaifeng Jews
Igbo Jews
Samaritans
Crypto-Jews
Anusim
Dönmeh
Marranos
Neofiti
Xueta
Mosaic Arabs
Subbotniks
Noahides
Population
Judaism by country
Lists of Jews
Diaspora
Historical population by country
Genetic studies
Land of Israel
Old Yishuv
New Yishuv
Israeli Jews
Africa
Algeria
Angola
Bilad-el-Sudan
Botswana
Cameroon
Cape Verde
Benin
Democratic Republic of the Congo
Djibouti
Egypt
Ethiopia
Eritrea
Eswatini
Gabon
Gambia
Ghana
Guinea
Guinea-Bissau
Ivory Coast
Kenya
Libya
Madagascar
Malawi
Mali
Mauritius
Morocco
Mozambique
Namibia
Nigeria (Igbo)
Republic of the Congo
São Tomé and Príncipe
Sierra Leone
Somalia
South Africa
Sudan
Tanzania
Tunisia
Uganda (Abayudaya)
Zambia
Zimbabwe
Asia
Afghanistan
Bahrain
Cambodia
China
Hong Kong
India
Indonesia
Iran
Iraq
Israel
Japan
Jordan
Kazakhstan
Kurdistan
Kuwait
Kyrgyzstan
Laos
Lebanon
Malaysia
Mongolia
Myanmar
Nepal
Oman
Pakistan
Philippines
Qatar
Saudi Arabia
South Korea
Singapore
Sri Lanka
Syria
Tajikistan
Taiwan
Thailand
Turkey
Turkmenistan
United Arab Emirates
Uzbekistan
Vietnam
Yemen
Europe
Armenia
Austria
Azerbaijan
Belarus
Bulgaria
Cyprus
Czechia
Denmark
Estonia
Finland
France
Georgia
Germany
Greece
Hungary
Italy
Latvia
Lithuania
Moldova
Netherlands
Norway
Poland
Portugal
Romania
Russia
Serbia
Spain
Sweden
Ukraine
United Kingdom
Northern America
Canada
United States
Latin America and Caribbean
Argentina
Bolivia
Brazil
Chile
Colombia
Cuba
Dominican Republic
Ecuador
El Salvador
Guyana
Haiti
Jamaica
Mexico
Paraguay
Peru
Puerto Rico
Suriname
Uruguay
Venezuela
Oceania
Australia
Fiji
Guam
New Zealand
Palau
Denominations
Orthodox
Modern
Haredi
Hasidic
Reform
Conservative
Karaite
Reconstructionist
Renewal
Science
Haymanot
Humanistic
Culture
Customs
Minyan
Wedding
Clothing
Niddah
Pidyon haben
Kashrut
Shidduch
Zeved habat
Conversion to Judaism
Aliyah
Hiloni
Music
Religious
Secular
Art
Ancient
Yiddish theatre
Dance
Humour
Cuisine
American
Ashkenazi
Bukharan
Ethiopian
Israeli
Israelite
Mizrahi
Sephardic
Yemenite
Literature
Israeli
Yiddish
American
Languages
Hebrew
Biblical
Yiddish
Yeshivish
Jewish Koine Greek
Yevanic
Juhuri
Shassi
Judaeo-Iranian
Ladino
Judeo-Gascon
Ghardaïa Sign
Bukharian
Knaanic
Zarphatic
Italkian
Gruzinic/Judaeo-Georgian
Judeo-Aramaic
Judeo-Arabic
Judeo-Berber
Judeo-Malayalam
Judeo-Domari
Politics
Jewish political movements
Anarchism
Autonomism
Bundism
Feminism
Leftism
Secularism
Territorialism
World Agudath Israel
Zionism
General
Green
Labor
Kahanism
Maximalism
Neo-Zionism
Religious
Revisionist
Post-Zionism
Category
Portal
v
t
e
Part of a series on
Women in society
Society
Women's history (legal rights)
Woman
Animal advocacy
Business
Female entrepreneurs
Gender representation on corporate boards of directors
Diversity (politics)
Diversity, equity, and inclusion
Economic development
Explorers and travelers
Education
Feminism
Womyn
Government
Conservatives in the US
Heads of state or government
Legislators
Queen regnant
List
Health
Journalism
Law
Law enforcement
Military
Mother
Nobel Prize laureates
Piracy
Positions of power
Reproductive rights
Venture capital
Violence and abuse
Voting rights
Workforce
Exchange of women
Science
Technology
Computing
Engineering
Geology
Medicine
dentistry
in the United States
Organizations
Science
Science, technology, engineering and mathematics
Space
Telegraphy
Arts
Humanities
Architecture
Arts
Art history field
Women's cinema
Dance
Film
"Chick flicks"
Fine arts
Literature
Science fiction
Philosophy
Feminist philosophy
Photographers
Music
Jazz
Punk rock
In Shakespeare's works
Religion
Theological figures
Baháʼí Faith
Bible
Buddhism
Christianity
Catholicism
Mormonism
Opus Dei
Hinduism
Islam
Judaism
Sikhism
Taoism
Popular culture
Comics
Portrayal in American comics
Film industry
Music
Fictional pirates
Speculative fiction
Video games
Gender representation in video games
Sports
Auto racing
Baseball
Basketball
Boxing
Cricket
Curling
Cycling
Fastpitch softball
Football / soccer
Golf
Gymnastics
Ice hockey
Lacrosse
Mixed martial arts
Netball
Paralympic Games
Rodeo
Roller derby
Rowing
Surfing
Swimming
Tennis
Track and field
Volleyball
Winter sports
See also: List of sports
By country
Afghanistan
Albania
Algeria
Andorra
Angola
Argentina
Armenia
Australia
Azerbaijan
Bahrain
Bangladesh
Belgium
Benin
Bhutan
Bolivia
Bosnia
Brazil
Brunei
Bulgaria
Cambodia
Chad
Chile
China
Colombia
Comoros
Croatia
Cuba
Cyprus (North)
Denmark
DR Congo
Dominican Republic
Ecuador
Egypt
El Salvador
East Timor
Ethiopia
FS Micronesia
Fiji
Finland
France
Georgia
Germany
Ghana
Greece
Guatemala
Guyana
Haiti
Honduras
Iceland
Italy
India
Indonesia
Iran
Iraq
Israel
Ivory Coast
Japan
Jordan
Kazakhstan
Kenya
Kiribati
Kuwait
Kyrgyzstan
Laos
Lebanon
Libya
Madagascar
Malaysia
Maldives
Mali
Marshall Islands
Mauritania
Mauritius
Mexico
Mongolia
Morocco
Myanmar
Nepal
New Zealand
Niger
Nigeria
North Korea
Oman
Pakistan
Palau
Panama
Paraguay
Peru
Philippines
Poland
Portugal
Puerto Rico
Qatar
Russia
Saudi Arabia
Senegal
Seychelles
Sierra Leone
Singapore
Spain
Somalia
South Africa
South Korea
South Sudan
Sudan
Suriname
Sri Lanka
Sweden
Syria
Taiwan
Tajikistan
Thailand
Tonga
Tunisia
Turkey
Turkmenistan
Tuvalu
Trinidad and Tobago
Uganda
Ukraine
United Arab Emirates
United Kingdom
United States
Uruguay
Uzbekistan
Vanuatu
Vatican City
Venezuela
Vietnam
Yemen
Kurdistan
v
t
e
Women in Judaism have affected the course of Judaism over millenia. Their role is reflected in the Hebrew Bible, the Oral Law (the corpus of rabbinic literature), by custom, and by cultural factors. Although the Hebrew Bible and rabbinic literature present various female role models, religious law treats women in specific ways. According to a 2017 study by the Pew Research Center, women account for 52% of the worldwide Jewish population.[1]
Gender has a bearing on familial lines: in traditional Rabbinic Judaism, Jewish affiliation is passed down through the mother, although the father's name is used to describe sons and daughters in the Torah[2] and in traditional Hebrew names, e. g., "Dinah, daughter of Jacob".
A growing movement advocates for increased inclusion of women in positions such as rabbis, cantors, and communal leaders.[3] This challenges historic practices. Perspectives on women's roles evolved over time due to discussion and reinterpretation of religious texts.[4]
Levi status (patrilineal descent from the tribe of Levi) is given only to a Jewish male descended patrilineally from Levi;[5] likewise a Kohen descends from Aharon, the first Kohen. Bat-Kohens and Bat-Levis inherit that status from their Jewish father with the corresponding title HaKohen/HaLevi.
^"The Gender Gap in Religion Around the World". Pew Research Center. 22 March 2016.
^Bowker, John (2021-10-12). World Religions: The Great Faiths Explored and Explained. National Geographic Books. pp. 121, 131. ISBN 978-0-7440-3475-2.
^Lerner, Anne Lapidus (1977). ""Who Hast Not Made Me a Man": The Movement for Equal Rights for Women in American Jewry". The American Jewish Year Book. 77: 3–38. ISSN 0065-8987. JSTOR 23605350.
^Roded, Ruth (2015). "Jewish and Islamic Religious Feminist Exegesis of the Sacred Books: Adam, Woman and Gender". Nashim: A Journal of Jewish Women's Studies & Gender Issues (29): 56–80. doi:10.2979/nashim.29.56. ISSN 0793-8934. JSTOR 10.2979/nashim.29.56. S2CID 155932131.
^"Medical Definition of Levite". Retrieved 2017-02-19.
WomeninJudaism have affected the course of Judaism over millenia. Their role is reflected in the Hebrew Bible, the Oral Law (the corpus of rabbinic literature)...
In modern Rabbinic Judaism, the traditional method of determining Jewishness relies on tracing one's maternal line. According to halakha, the recognition...
InJudaism, especially in Orthodox Judaism, there are a number of settings in which men and women are kept separate in order to conform with various elements...
legal traditions of the Jewish people. Contemporary Judaism having originated as an organized religion in the Middle East during the Bronze Age, and evolved...
practice nowadays among Orthodox Jewish women. In Orthodox Judaism, men are generally not allowed to hear women sing, a prohibition called kol isha (literally...
however, the subject of women rabbis in Orthodox Judaism is more complex. Although a significant number of Orthodox women have been ordained as rabbis...
ISBN 978-0-8264-1629-2. Swidler, Leonard (1976). WomeninJudaism: The Status of Womenin Formative Judaism. Metuchen, New Jersey: Scarecrow Press. ISBN 978-0810809048...
of the ribosome. Feminism in Israel Sexism in Israel WomeninJudaismWomen for Israel's Tomorrow Women of the Wall Women's Party (Israel) Gett: The Trial...
Conversion to Judaism (Hebrew: גִּיּוּר, romanized: giyur or Hebrew: גֵּרוּת, romanized: gerut) is the process by which non-Jews adopt the Jewish religion...
Conservative Judaism (known as Masorti Judaism outside North America) is a Jewish religious movement that regards the authority of Jewish law and tradition...
Women of Reform Judaism (WRJ), formerly known as the National Federation of Temple Sisterhoods, is the women's affiliate of the Union for Reform Judaism...
Interfaith marriage inJudaism (also called mixed marriage or intermarriage) was historically looked upon with very strong disfavor by Jewish leaders,...
Tallitot: How Jewish Prayer Shawls Have Changed Since Women Began Wearing Them". WomeninJudaism: Contemporary Writings. 3 (2). University of Toronto...
present in Reconstructionist and Reform Judaism, but they also appear in Orthodox Judaism. Gender separation inJudaism Jewish feminism WomeninJudaism Kate...
make the religious, legal, and social status of Jewish women equal to that of Jewish men inJudaism. Feminist movements, with varying approaches and successes...
Forbidden relationships inJudaism (איסורי ביאה Isurey bi'ah) are intimate relationships which are forbidden by prohibitions in the Torah or rabbinical...
InJudaism, ritual washing, or ablution, takes two main forms. Tevilah (טְבִילָה) is a full body immersion in a mikveh, and netilat yadayim is the washing...
"denominations", include diverse groups within Judaism which have developed among Jews from ancient times. Today in the west, the most prominent divisions are...
InJudaism, views on abortion draw primarily upon the legal and ethical teachings of the Hebrew Bible, the Talmud, the case-by-case decisions of responsa...
criticism of Judaism and its texts, laws, and practices originated in inter-faith polemics between Christianity and Judaism. Important disputations in the Middle...
Haredi Judaism (Hebrew: יהדות חֲרֵדִית Yahadut Ḥaredit, IPA: [ħaʁeˈdi]; also spelled Charedi in English; plural Haredim or Charedim) consists of groups...
Priestess Through Conversations with Contemporary Spiritual Leaders". WomeninJudaism. 5 (2). Grenn, D'vorah. "Welcome..." The Lilith Institute. Retrieved...
Buddhism Women in Sikhism Women in JudaismWomenin Christianity Womenin Islam Womenin Mormonism Yoga for women Yogini McDaniel 2004, p. 90. Brown 1998...
Reform Judaism, also known as Liberal Judaism or Progressive Judaism, is a major Jewish denomination that emphasizes the evolving nature of Judaism, the...
forms part of the observance of Rabbinic Judaism. These prayers, often with instructions and commentary, are found in the Siddur, the traditional Jewish prayer...
semen in vain (in Hebrew: הוצאת זרע לבטלה) is (according to Orthodox Judaism) a Biblical prohibition derived from (Genesis 38:7), this is explained in the...
Global Information
