Bind These Words
Bind These Words
Parashat Ekev (Deuteronomy 7:12–11:25)
This chapter discusses the practice of wearing Tallit Katan—an undergarment traditionally worn daily by observant Jewish men—in relation to patriarchy and queerness. The undergarment is considered a marker of masculinity and Jewish authenticity. In light of this fact, wearing these clothes is not inherently sexist. The rituals themselves are not problematic, but rather the culture and customs that surround as well as sustain them. Just as femme-identified women have reclaimed and “queered” many traditional markers of femininity (such as lipstick and high heels), trans people have the potential to liberate rituals and traditions from their oppressive boundaries and binaries.
Keywords: Tallit Katan, Jewish men, masculinity, Jewish authenticity, femme-identified women, femininity, queerness
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