Jewish woman in the Middle ages

In the last fifteen years, especially in the USA, the methods of Gender Studies were transferred into the field of Jewish Studies and a few important articles on the history of Jewish women in the Middle Ages were published. German speaking research is not yet really into this topic, perhaps because it inquires the ability to read and interpret medieval Hebrew sources. Therefore this research project is representing the rare combination of methods of Jewish and Gender History. Out of many subjects of female conditions of life I chose business life and the attached topics, particularly in Austria and the neighbouring German, Hungarian, Bohemian and Moravian cities. From the middle of the 13th century onwards, business activities of women increased and in consequence their legal situation improved. In reaction to this - this is my thesis - the Rabbis and the male society tried to edge them out of the Synagogue, the services and the rites. This thesis is the basis of my planned habilitation work "Respected in Business -- unnoticed in the Synagogue - Jewish Women in the late Middle Ages." According to records, around one quarter of Jewish lending businesses in medieval Vienna were run by women, who demonstrated extraordinary mobility and skill in this work. With a few notable exceptions, the amounts handled by these women were a good third less than those managed by their male colleagues. Even servants, who made up by far the largest working group, earned small amounts on the side through money-lending. This led to contacts with all classes of Christian society, from noblemen to prostitutes. Business activity required the ability to possess own money and property and to take legal responsibility.The Rabbis, and the Christian authorities as well, had to react on this activity and allow the women to got to a court as plaintiff and witness, and to swear an oath. In reaction to the increased liberty , from the middle of the 13th century onwards women were more and more edged out of synagogue activities and public rites, like circumcision and holiday ceremonies. Although women were generally excluded from education and erudition, we find some medieval women - mostly daughters of Rabbis - who had an extraordinary knowledge of ritual law. Most of the moneylending women knew to read and write German and to a certain amount also Hebrew. The comparision with developments in the Christian society will show the interreligious influences, which were normally not noticed by the contemporaries; a process which is called nowadays "inward-acculturation".