ladybusiness | (Reply)

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It did help to know who Lilit is. Lilit, or Lilith, is the mother of demons in mystical Jewish thought. She was Adam's first wife, but she wanted to be equal to him (or be on top when they were having sex!) and he didn't want that, so he put her aside to marry Eve. I'm pretty sure the cause of the legend is the difference between Genesis 1 and Genesis 2. But anyway, especially for contemporary feminist and queer mystical circles of Judaism, Lilit is seen less as an evil spirit (which she is in most older texts) and more as a foremother of the feminists and queer people and outliers who might not have a place in traditionally Jewish gender politics. So that history really fills in the story, I think. And it's a lovely story- thank you so much for bringing it to my attention!