Ruach HaYam teaching presented by Penina Weinberg October 22, 2020

The story of the Tower of Babel, Gen 11:1-9, is included in the Torah portion for this week: Parashat Noach. This enigmatic story comprises only a few verses, and seems to indicate that a crime against God has been committed. But what is the crime? What in fact are the builders doing? The city of Babel seems actually more important than the Tower.

Judy Klitsner, author of “Subversive Sequels in the Bible: How Biblical Stories Mine and Undermine Each Other” suggests that “In tyrannizing one another by extinguishing the divine spark of individuality, the tower builders made standing before God impossible.” Is this, as she says, a story about a “coercively conformist society,” or about genuine explorers? How big a part is played by the fact that city building then required slavery?

This will be a lively discussion, light on text, geared to everyone who has ever puzzled over the Tower of Babel. Will we find any answers? ABSOLUTELY NOT! Will we have fun trying? YES!

Picture is Tower of Babel by Pieter Bruegel the Elder (1573). Yellow and orange two tone stair step edifice with doors and windows towering over a plain of green. On the side of the plain to the right is a green river with small sailing craft. In front of tower on the plain to the left is a knot of men – perhaps engaged in discussing the building of the tower.

Penina Weinberg is an independent Hebrew bible scholar whose study and teaching focus on the intersection of power, politics and gender in the Hebrew Bible. She has run workshops for Nehirim and Keshet and has been teaching Hebrew bible for 10 years. She has written in Tikkun and HBI blog, and is the leader and founder of Ruach HaYam.

*** Ruach HaYam https://www.facebook.com/groups/Ruach.HaYam/ study sessions provide a queer Jewish look at text, and are welcoming to LGBTQ+ and allies, to any learning or faith background, to all bodies, and friendly to beginners***