In this one-off class, we will engage traditional and modern Jewish texts to ask how niddah – Jewish laws about menstruation and sex – can be a resource in our lives as queer people. Although these laws are saturated with assumptions about what constitutes “normal” bodies and “normal” sex, they also suggest paths forward for sanctifying our bodies and sex lives just as they are. This class is also open to allies.
Rabbi Avigayil Halpern (she/her) is a writer and educator whose work focuses on feminist and queer Torah. Currently based in Berlin, you can find R. Avigayil online at ravigayil.com, @_ravigayil on Instagram, and avigayil.substack.com.
This shiur was recorded on Nov 15, 2023 as part of the Fall 5784 Niddah Lecture Series.
Queer Niddah for Everyone
Your purchase includes a download of one zip file, which contains:
- The complete video recording of this shiur with captions (.m4a and .vtt files)
- The slideshow presentation used for the shiur (.pdf file)
- The source sheet with full Hebrew and English texts (.pdf file)
- The record of the live chat from the Zoom room during recording (.txt file)
- An audio-only version of the recording for easy listening (.mp4 file)