5780 — Vayigash: The Unusual Persona of Serah, Daughter of Asher

Posted by Nechama Goldman Barash on December 29, 2019
Topics: Bereishit (Genesis), Torah, Pardes from Jerusalem, VaYigash

In parshat Vayigash there is a tantalizingly elusive reference to Serah the daughter of Asher. No other granddaughters of Jacob are mentioned and women in general are scarce from this point in the narrative until the end of the Torah. Why was she singled out? Midrashic narrative weaves together fascinating traditions to give us a rich portrait of an unusual woman.

Download the Source Sheet

Please let us know your comments and thoughts about the podcast, write us at: elmad@pardes.org.il. We appreciate you leaving us a review with 5-stars if you enjoy these podcasts.

For more information about Pardes, visit our website www.pardes.org.il.

Credits
Nechama Goldman Barash – Faculty Host for Pardes from Jerusalem
Larry Kluger – Creative Consultant
Arlene Harel – Production Coordinator
Adam Titcher – Executive Producer and Director of Digital Media

About Nechama Goldman Barash

Nechama Goldman Barash made aliyah from Philadelphia over 20 years ago after graduating from Stern College. She studied for three years in Matan’s Advanced Talmud Institute and finished a master’s degree in Talmud at Bar-Ilan University. She is a graduate of Nishmat’s Yoetzet Halacha program and has been certified to teach brides before their weddings, as well as qualifying as a sex educator through Yahel and the Eden Center. She also studied for three years in Matan's advanced halakha program, Hilkhata. She teaches contemporary halakha and Talmud at Matan and Pardes, as well as Talmud and women and halakha in Torah V'Avodah (TVA), a Bnei Akiva gap year program based in Matan. She is an active member of Beit Hillel and participates in interfaith dialogue through Roots, based in Gush Etzion, close to where she lives with her family. She is currently working on a book dealing with matters of gender and halakha. Contact: nechamabarash@gmail.com

Keep Learning