Rabbi Jill Hammer
Rabbi Jill Hammer, Ph.D., is an author, educator, midrashist and ritualist. She is the Director of Spiritual Education at the Academy for Jewish Religion, a pluralistic Jewish seminary, and the co-founder of the Kohenet Institute, a program in Jewish women's spiritual leadership. She is the author of "Sisters at Sinai: New Tales of Biblical Women," "The Jewish Book of Days: A Companion for All Seasons" and "The Omer Calendar of Biblical Women." She lives in Manhattan with her spouse and daughter.
Articles by Rabbi Jill Hammer
Sefer Yetzirah: The Book of Creation
This ancient mystical text introduced many concepts that would be more fully developed by the tradition of Kabbalah.
Running and Returning
The maze-like path of the labyrinth, leading in and out of a sacred center, echoes an ancient kabbalistic idea.
The Earth as a Source of Wonder
The Jewish practice of blessing natural phenomena awakens us to the fact that the earth is a wonder, a witness, and a spiritual mystery.
Remembering Our Oppression With Sweetness
The haroset paste eaten at the Passover Seder recalls the mortar the Israelite slaves used to build in Egypt. So why is it so sweet?
Parashat Chukkat: Clean/Unclean
Jews read sections of the Torah each week, and these sections, known as parshiyot, inspire endless examination year after year. Each ...
Parashiyot Vayakhel and Pekudei: The Power of Embodied Love
Jews read sections of the Torah each week, and these sections, known as parshiyot, inspire endless examination year after year. Each ...
Parashat Vayechi: Uncovering Joseph’s Bones
Jews read sections of the Torah each week, and these sections, known as parshiyot, inspire endless examination year after year. ...
Lilith: Lady Flying in Darkness
The most notorious demon of Jewish tradition becomes a feminist hero.
Jewish Childbirth Protection
The dangers of childbirth, and fear of Lilith the temptress, led to the development of various Jewish practices designed to help women give birth safely.
Dreams in Jewish Tradition
Dreaming was a major source of prophetic insight in the Torah, but Jewish texts also betray a certain anxiety about dreaming.