Musician Explores Feminism in Scripture
by Janis Greenbaum,
Diocesan Communications Director
Feb. 23, 2024
Musician, writer, and feminist Torah teacher Alicia Jo Rabins says it's an act of love to push back on the traditional stories of our faith. Rabins brought her unique creative response to those stories to the Diocese of Missouri on February 11, as she led an adult forum at Holy Communion Episcopal Church in University City.
"It all begins with reading the texts carefully and then asking questions," said Rabins to the class at Holy Communion. She helped the group explore the layers involved in scripture readings about women. Following the discussion, Rabins shared her creative interpretations of the stories through song.
One of her songs is titled, "I'm Done Dressing Up for You." The song was inspired by a story in the book of Esther, where Vashti refused to obey her husband (the king):
I'm done dressing up for you, I'm done dressing up for you...
so long I'm done, I'm done dressing up for you.
The Rev. Julie Graham, Associate Rector at Holy Communion, helped arrange Rabins' visit to Holy Communion as part of an ongoing series on women in the bible. "In our mission to expand not only our understanding, but our community of the varied voices and lives in which God is made manifest, a feminist take on these women was a piece we wanted to explore as a community, Graham said.
Graham describes Rabins' creative take on the scriptures as modern midrash. "This was the rich gift of Alicia Jo, a feminist Torah teacher who uses song, music, and poetry as midrash which can only encourage our own deepening of our encounter with the scripture."
Bringing Rabins to Missouri from her home in Portland, Oregon required an interfaith effort. Holy Communion, the Episcopal Diocese of Missouri, Shaare Emeth in Creve Coeur, Kol Rinah in Clayton, and the Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC) all provided funding for a weekend of interfaith events in the St. Louis area.
After visiting Holy Communion, Rabins performed a concert at the Jewish Community Center in St. Louis. The Rev. Erin Pickersgill was one of several people from the Diocese of Missouri who attended the concert. "The concert was phenomenal," said Pickersgill. "It felt incredibly special to have my daughters under my arms during that experience."
Learn more about Alicia Jo Rabins, listen to her music, and purchase her books on her website: https://www.aliciajo.com/
See more pictures of Alicia Jo Rabins' visit to Holy Communion and her concert at the JCC:
Alicia Jo Rabins: February 11, 2024
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