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International Handbook of Jewish Education pp 785–803Cite as

Gender: Shifting from “Evading” to “Engaging”––Gender Issues and Jewish Adolescents

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Part of the book series: International Handbooks of Religion and Education ((IHRE,volume 5))

Abstract

In recent years, “gender” has emerged as a prism through which North American Jewish educators discuss adolescents and Jewish identity, communal participation, and programming. Jewish organizations have developed a range of youth and professional development initiatives that foster open discussion with adolescents on intimate relationships, sexuality, gender identity, and body image. The initiatives utilize Jewish texts, themes, and values as frames for exploration of gender issues within formal and informal Jewish educational programming. This chapter highlights recently developed curricula, professional development, educator training, and Participatory Action Research, suggesting a shift from “evasion” to “engagement” of gender issues within Jewish education.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Jewish Theological Seminary, New York, NY, USA

    Shira D. Epstein

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  1. Shira D. Epstein
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Correspondence to Shira D. Epstein .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. United Jewish Israel Appeal (UJIA), Kentish Town Road 37, London, NW1 8NX, United Kingdom

    Helena Miller

  2. Jewish Inst. Religion, Brookdale Center, Hebrew Union College, West 4th St. 1, New York, 10012, New York, USA

    Lisa Grant

  3. Melton Centre for Jewish Education, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, 91905, Israel

    Alex Pomson

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Epstein, S.D. (2011). Gender: Shifting from “Evading” to “Engaging”––Gender Issues and Jewish Adolescents. In: Miller, H., Grant, L., Pomson, A. (eds) International Handbook of Jewish Education. International Handbooks of Religion and Education, vol 5. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-0354-4_44

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