Women in Hasidism: Hidden to Heroines?
Fall 2026

Women in Hasidism: Hidden to Heroine?

Program: Hebrew College Tamid                                                                                    Instructor: Dr. Alexandra Mandelbaum Kupeev                                                              Dates: 4 Mondays: 10/19, 10/26, 11/2 & 11/9
Time: 12 noon – 1:00pm ET
Course fee: $180, financial aid is available
Location: Zoom
Hosted by: Hebrew College
Registration: Click Here
Women have been an integral part of the Hasidic movement since its inception, yet how can we uncover their stories and map their spiritual worlds? This series embarks on a fascinating journey tracking the place of women in Hasidism through a close, critical reading of stories, parables, and homiletic sermons from the school of the Baal Shem Tov and his disciples. Together, we will peel back the layers of history and literature to recover the silenced female voice, dissect gendered motifs, and examine the evolution of Hasidic female leadership from the early modern period to the contemporary era.

Through text study and historical inquiry, we will wrestle with enduring questions: What was the actual status of women in the early Hasidic courts? Did certain women function as a Tzadikah or a pseudo-Rebbe? How did the movement venerate the mothers of dynastic leaders? Furthermore, how did male Hasidic masters borrow deeply maternal imagery—such as pregnancy, labor, and nursing—to heighten the spiritual impact of their teachings? The final segment of our journey will anchor these historical dynamics in the contemporary world, exploring female leadership and Orthodox feminism in post-modern Hasidic communities.

For additional information or questions, contact the Hebrew College Tamid Team

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