Misogynist misinterpretations of the mythic fall of humankind in Genesis 3 led to the vilification of Ḥavvā (Eve), which fit with the disparaging of Adam’s first wife, Lilith, in the rabbinical tradition. The ensuing denigration of women throughout Christian history climaxed with the Inquisition’s torture and murder of thousands of women accused of witchcraft. Dr. Pamela Milne writes, “The story of Eve in the book of Genesis has had a more profoundly negative impact on women throughout history than any other biblical story.”

In this episode, Father Jayme explores contemporary reinterpretations of the heroic Ḥavvā, with the hope that she might experience the same vindication as Lilith. Drawing largely from the defense of Ḥavvā in an article in the Yale Journal of Law & Feminism by Jewish feminist lawyer Sally Frank, he concurs with Dr. Phyllis Trible that Ḥavvā might be better viewed as “an intelligent, informed, perceptive…theologian, ethicist, hermeneut and rabbi.” Father Jayme concludes that extraordinary Catholics, understanding human nature and seeking not to use the Hebrew scriptures to perpetuate centuries-old systems of sexism and misogyny in the Church, might esteem Ḥavvā as a model of courage who took seriously her call to be a coworker of God and to help complete God’s good creation!

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