What is women's empowerment and how is it relevant to society today?
1. Why are the repercussions of poverty more serious for daughters than for sons in this time period?
2. Why is it shameful for the daughters to be without support? Is it shameful for the sons not to be supported?
3. What can we learn from this text about the distribution of tzedakah in today's society?
1. Cain's sin was two-fold. What exactly did he do wrong?
2. What was God's response to Cain's actions? Did Cain internalize the message?
3. Cain's answer to God at the end of the text is troubling. In what ways are we "keepers" of each other? To what extent does that responsibility remain?
1. What leadership qualities did Miriam display in these verses?
2. What is the role of the women, and a female prophetess, in this turning point in biblical history (after crossing the Red Sea)?
1. What model does Queen Vashti provide for feminism and activism? What precedence did she set by refusing the king?
2. As a result of her refusal, Queen Vashti was banned from the palace. To what extent must we gauge consequences before acting to defend our own sense of justice?
3. How is this story viewed in the Jewish tradition? Is Vashti a heroine? A traitor? A feminist?