Mother and Harlot: Jerusalem as a Woman

Mother and Harlot: Jerusalem as a Woman. Eshkolot’s Festival of Jewish Texts and Ideas.
24-29 June 2015, Jerusalem

CONCEPT

One of the unique traits of Jerusalem is its very strong feminine identity. Any city in the Hebrew language is feminine, but Jerusalem has been personified as a woman from the times of early Biblical prophets to modern Zionist movement and Israeli literature. Actually, feminine images of Jerusalem have even been projected into the future Messianic and apocalyptic “end of days”. From the very start, Jerusalem’s feminine persona has been very complex, contradictory and provocative – the city has been depicted as a daughter, a bride, a wife, a mother, a female slave and a harlot. Mythological, historiosophical, mystical, literary and political aspects of Jerusalem’s feminine identity will be explored at the Festival through “slow reading” of classical Jewish texts from Antiquity to Modernity and through exclusive thematic city walks.

PROGRAM

With classes led by international and Israeli scholars of repute, carefully selected students and young professionals choose one of three tracks enabling an in-depth study and discussion. The readings are accompanied by plenary lectures, city walks, evening edutainment programs, all with a strong focus on community building and follow-up activities.