“Gendering the Eunuch: Talmudic Discourse and Trans/Queer Temporalities” Jay Michaelson

Gendering the Eunuch:
Talmudic Discourse and Trans/Queer Temporalities
Jay Michaelson
Caroline Zelaznik Gruss and Joseph S. Gruss
Visiting Professor in Talmudic Civil Law
Moderated by
Noah Feldman, Director, Julis-Rabinowitz Program on Jewish and Israeli Law
Contrary to some recent claims, there are ample records of gender non-conformity — and individuals who might today be classified as transgender — throughout history. While it would be inaccurate to project present-day categories onto past gendered realities, the records of these non-normative identities refute claims that gender is identical to sex; that the categories of male and female are exhaustive and universal; and that religious traditions, in particular, are unaware of deviations from gender norms.
Talmudic discourse of the saris, usually translated as “eunuch,” is one such record. Building on (and diverging from) the pioneering work of Max Strassfeld, this presentation explores the salient features of the saris that might inform contemporary contestations of gender. As Strassfeld notes, the Talmudic rabbis are not “affirming” in a contemporary sense. Yet the visibility, agency, and personality of these gender-nonconforming persons in the context of Talmudic law demonstrates that forms of gender non-conformity exist throughout history, along with concerted efforts to repress them.