picture of Karin Huegel

Cover JAJ 10 3 2019

Abstract:

Karin Hügel, "Jewish Legal Interpretations of Female Homoeroticism".

In the Hebrew Bible there is no prohibition of female homoeroticism. In the Mishnah and the Tosefta legal interpretations of it cannot be found either. Later Jewish legal positions concerning female homoeroticism can be captured under three headings, viz. (1) "Sifra Acharei Mot on Lev 18:3 (no marriage of female and male homoerotic couples)"; (2) "Talmudic sayings about female homoeroticism in the Palestinian Talmud Gittin 8:10,49c (a controversy about whether female homoeroticism is a sexual offence or not) and in the tractates of the Babylonian Talmud Yebamoth 76a (female homoeroticism is mere obscenity) and Shabbath 65a-b (reservations about sisters sleeping together)"; and (3) "Maimonides: different views on female homoeroticism in Mishneh Torah, Sefer Kedushah, Hilkhot Issurei Biah 21:8 and Commentary on the Mishnah Sanhedrin 7:4". These Halakhic texts are read queerly in order to sustain Jewish lesbian women and other queer persons of today.

  • Karin Hügel, "Jüdische gesetzliche Auslegungen zu weiblicher Homoerotik", in: Journal of Ancient Judaism, Volume 10, Number 3, Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht, Göttingen (now: Brill/Schöningh, Leiden) 2019, 416-454.

    Journal of Ancient Judaism 10,3 2019
    ISSN: 1869-3296,
    eISSN: 2196-7954.

    I gave lectures in English on "Jewish Legal Interpretations of Female Homoeroticism" at the 1st European Lesbian* Conference "Lesbians in Europe: Connect, Reflect, Act, Transform" on October 7, 2017 in Brotfabrik in Vienna, Austria; at the International Meeting of the Society of Biblical Literature, on July 4, 2019 at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome, Italy and at the Annual Conference of the European Association of Biblical Studies on August 14, 2019 at the University of Warsaw, Poland having won the travel grant of the European Association of Biblical Studies.

    Abstract: Surviving Instead of Dying

    Abstract: Queer Readings of Adam's Androgyny

    Abstract: Queer Readings of Jewish Male Prostitution in Antiquity

    Abstract: The Sin of Sodom as Hatred of Foreigners in the Book of Wisdom 19:13–17

    Abstract: Jewish Legal Interpretations of Female Homoeroticism

    Abstract: Queer Interpretations of the Commandments of Love in Leviticus

    Abstract: Readings for Blessing Ceremonies of Same-Sex Couples Queerly Interpreted

    Abstract: King Davidʼs Exposure while Dancing: A Queer Reading of 2 Samuel 6

    Abstract: Queer Appropriations of David and Goliath: Artistic Self-portraits as Defeated Pederasts

    Abstract: A Queer Reading of Qohelet 4,9-12

    Abstract: Queer Readings of the Song of Songs

    Abstract: A Queer Reading of Joseph

    Abstract: Queer Readings of the Hebrew Bible. The Book of Ruth and the Creation Accounts

    Back to publications