Nashim Call for Papers
CALL FOR PAPERS: NASHIM NO. 39
Islamic And Jewish Religious Feminisms – Textual Foundations and Practices
The similar sociologies of Islam and Judaism have given rise to two comparable religious feminist movements in the 1970s (Roded, 2012). They deal with the textual foundations as well as the religious practices of their faith communities. Despite the similarities between Islamic and Jewish religious feminisms, there are significant differences between the two movements, such as their global and Middle Eastern manifestations. Sharia and halakhah as well as responsa – fatwas and piskei halakhah –are similar in function, framework and discourse. They differ significantly, however, in relevance to daily life. Jewish and Islamic communal prayers are also quite different in form, although there are some similar feminist issues, such as gender segregation. Despite the seeming communality of interests among religious feminist women of both faiths, interactions between Jews and Muslims may seem impossible in the current politically charged atmosphere.
For issue no. 39 of Nashim (Fall 2021), under the consulting editorship of Ruth Roded of the Islam and Middle East Studies Department of The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, we are seeking contributions from scholars in religious studies, legal studies, anthropology, sociology and literature on a range of topics within the general subject of gendered interpretation of religious textual foundations and feminist approaches to devout practices.
Proposals for submissions to the issue may address but are not confined to the following subject areas:
- Comparative studies of Islamic and Jewish religious feminist movements in the United States, Israel and the Muslim world. Of particular interest is the development of religious feminism in French following the trajectory of Jews and Muslims from North Africa to France and to Israel/the US.
- Exegesis of the Hebrew Bible and the Quran – beyond Eve and Qawwamun.
- Feminists tackle oral law – Reading Sharia and halakhah as well as responsa – fatwas and piskei halakhah – on issues related to women.
- Women leaders and authorities: Prayer leaders, jurisconsults (muftis and posekot), and judges.
- Women and communal prayer: relevance, degree of participation, gendered segregation.
- The gendered body in Judaism and Islam: Menstruation and purification; sexuality and sexualities.
- Is there Haredi/Salafi religious feminism, albeit designated by a different term?
We hope to receive proposals both from emerging scholars and from scholars who are already established in their fields.
Proposals for submissions of up to 12,000 words, not previously published or under consideration for publication elsewhere, should be sent to Deborah Greniman, Managing Editor of Nashim, by August 15, 2020, at nashim@schechter.ac.il. Final date for submission of articles: December 1, 2020. All scholarly articles will be subject to peer review. Academic Editor of Nashim: Renée Levine Melammed.
Nashim is published jointly by the Schechter Institute of Jewish Studies, the Hadassah-Brandeis Institute at Brandeis University and Indiana University Press.