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Trans Talmud
Trans Talmud: Androgynes and Eunuchs in Rabbinic Literature | Max K. Strassfeld
3 posts | 1 read | 1 to read
Trans Talmud places eunuchs and androgynes at the center of rabbinic literature and asks what we can learn from them about Judaism and the project of transgender history. Rather than treating these figures as anomalies to be justified or explained away, Max K. Strassfeld argues that they profoundly shaped ideas about law, as the rabbis constructed intricate taxonomies of gender across dozens of texts to understand an array of cultural tensions. Showing how rabbis employed eunuchs and androgynes to define proper forms of masculinity, Strassfeld emphasizes the unique potential of these figures to not only establish the boundary of law but exceed and transform it. Trans Talmud challenges how we understand gender in Judaism and demonstrates that acknowledging nonbinary gender prompts a reassessment of Jewish literature and law.
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review
Estherhasredhair
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Mehso-so

What was promised: a look at modern trans life through the lens of talmudic commentary of eunuchs.
What I got: a 200 page commentary on leverite marriages and the most substantial parts being in the last 5 pages.
Also written in a very dry and academic style that is not for me.
3 out of 5 stars

Anna40 What a shame! This sounded great. 3w
4 likes1 comment
quote
Estherhasredhair
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Not sure how comfortable i am with a Jewish author quoting Christian gospel.

blurb
Estherhasredhair
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First impressions? Wow i sounded just like this pre 10/7/2023. I fear that the language used will date this book eventually, but the author is correct that this kind of book has been a long time coming.