Recent ‘gender-sensitive’ translations of the Bible attempt to ameliorate the exclusive effects of grammatical gender in biblical Hebrew. This talk explores the strategies that the Bible’s ancient authors and commentators employed to navigate the same issues that exercise contemporary translators: how to construct a gender-neutral subject when every noun, verb and adjective is marked with grammatical gender and there is no neuter option. Bring a lunch. Drinks and snacks will be available. Can't make it in person? Join us via Zoom. 

About the Speaker

Elizabeth Shanks Alexander, Ph.D. is a professor in the department of religious studies at the University of Virginia. Her research focuses on the classic texts of rabbinic Judaism (midrash, Mishnah and Talmud). Her most pressing questions have to do with how rabbinic literature functions as literature, and how it conveys meaning. Orality theory has taught her to see rabbinic texts as moments in a larger conversation and her work often tries to reconstruct the thinking that drives the conversation. She also makes use of literary theory to discern patterns in the texts that point towards themes and tropes. She is particularly drawn towards theological and ethical topics in rabbinic literature.