Every year on Purim, Jews around the world stage shpiels, or plays, that not only feature people in costumes, but cross-dressing as well. These Purim events have allowed Jews to participate in drag throughout history, and have opened the door for other traditions like cross-casting in theater.
In this episode, you'll hear from scholars Golan Moskowitz and Naomi Seidman, former drag queen Rabbi Amichai Lau-Lavie, and host Erin Phillips about Jewish historical examples of drag, Jewish contributions to the art and culture of drag, and how Jews have used drag to explore trauma, identity, and belonging.
The Adventures in Jewish Studies podcast was created to fulfill the AJS mission of fostering greater understanding of Jewish Studies scholarship among the wider public. Podcast episodes are designed take listeners on exciting journeys while exploring a wide range of topics, from the contemporary to the ancient, in ways that are informative, engaging, and fun.Launched in 2018, the Adventures in Jewish Studies series produces five episodes annually. Each episode features the voices of AJS members as they share their expertise and research with listeners.
