Conferences Archive (2010-2011)
2010-2011 Heading link
The Jewish-Muslim Initiative,International Studies Program, and
the Institute for the Humanities at the University of Illinois at Chicago
present
Changing Roles? Women in Traditional Jewish & Muslim Communities
February 7, 2011
The traditional religious legal systems in both Judaism and Islam (halacha and sharia) been widely challenged, in recent years, by charges that they are oppressive or demeaning to women. Women committed both to a traditional form of Judaism or Islam and to the gender equality that marks the modern world have responded to this charge in a variety of ways – some of which have begun to change their communities quite radically. This conference will explore changing roles of women in prayer, study, communal leadership and other aspects of traditional Muslim and Jewish life.
Location: Institute for the Humanities, Lower Level Stevenson Hall,
701 South Morgan, University of Illinois at Chicago.
9:30 AM Coffee
10 AM – 12 PM General Issues: Change in Sharia and Halacha
Tova Hartman, Bar Ilan University
Najeeba Syeed-Miller, Claremont School of Theology
12 PM – 1 PM Lunch Break
1 -3 PM Specific Issues I: Dress; Study and Teaching
Tahera Ahmad, Northwestern University
Marcia Hermansen, Loyola University Chicago
Erin Leib Smokler, Drisha Institute for Jewish Education, University of Chicago
3 – 3:15 Coffee Break
3:15 – 5:15 Specific Issues II: Leadership; Prayer
Ruth Balinsky, Yeshivat Maharat
Hina Azam, University of Texas at Austin
Deborah Klapper, Gann Academy
Closing Reception
Conference organized by Samuel Fleischacker, Director of Jewish Studies, University of Illinois at Chicago
For more information, contact Linda Vavra, Associate Director, Institute for the Humanities, 701 South Morgan, MC 206, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL. 60607-7040, at 312-996-6354 or lvavra@uic.edu.