Rabbi Jill Hammer
Rabbi Jill Hammer, Ph.D., is an author, educator, midrashist and ritualist. She is the Director of Spiritual Education at the Academy for Jewish Religion, a pluralistic Jewish seminary, and the co-founder of the Kohenet Institute, a program in Jewish women's spiritual leadership. She is the author of "Sisters at Sinai: New Tales of Biblical Women," "The Jewish Book of Days: A Companion for All Seasons" and "The Omer Calendar of Biblical Women." She lives in Manhattan with her spouse and daughter.
Articles by Rabbi Jill Hammer
Remembering Our Oppression With Sweetness
The haroset paste eaten at the Passover Seder recalls the mortar the Israelite slaves used to build in Egypt. So why is it so sweet?
Parashat Chukkat: Clean/Unclean
Jews read sections of the Torah each week, and these sections, known as parshiyot, inspire endless examination year after year. Each ...
Parashiyot Vayakhel and Pekudei: The Power of Embodied Love
Jews read sections of the Torah each week, and these sections, known as parshiyot, inspire endless examination year after year. Each ...
Parashat Vayechi: Uncovering Joseph’s Bones
Jews read sections of the Torah each week, and these sections, known as parshiyot, inspire endless examination year after year. ...
Lilith: Lady Flying in Darkness
The most notorious demon of Jewish tradition becomes a feminist hero.
Jewish Childbirth Protection
The dangers of childbirth, and fear of Lilith the temptress, led to the development of various Jewish practices designed to help women give birth safely.
Dreams in Jewish Tradition
Dreaming was a major source of prophetic insight in the Torah, but Jewish texts also betray a certain anxiety about dreaming.
Feminist Perspectives on Niddah, the Laws of Separation
Acceptance versus rejection of the laws governing monthly mikveh visits.
Harmful & Helpful Gossip
A feminist exploration of traditional teachings on gossip