Queer Midrashim

I have started a series of Queer Midrashim on the Tanakh (Hebrew Bible). A Midrash is a commentary, an exposition. It seeks to answer questions that remain unanswered, to fill in the blanks in the text.  In Queer Midrash, we seek to explore the text in a way that rights wrongs from Queer, Feminist and Disability perspectives.  As the Midrashim are completed, they will be made available.

It is my hope to eventually write enough to publish them in printed form, but I have been repeatedly asked to make them available on my website, so I am doing that here.

Please remember that these are copyrighted material. I hold legal and Torah rights to these original works. You may share them with others freely as long as proper attribution is given.

I hope you enjoy them.  As always, I welcome feedback if you have questions or comments on the stories, through the contact form on my website or through my Facebook Page @ Rabbah Rona.

I Ruled an Empire on my Knees 

Description of above link: This midrash tells the Jacob story, with the reading that he is a genderqueer bottom. It is written in a modern style, with many malapropisms and anachronisms to make it fun and interesting. Anyone who knows the Torah story will recognize the Torah in this Midrash.  Revised 2/14/24.

A Queer Creation Midrash 

Description of above link: This Midrash explores the possibility of other existences besides ours, based on the classical Midrash. It includes social commentary relevant to the times and political situation.

A Queer Reading of Judge Devorah and Yael 
Edited 7/7/19

Description of this Midrash. This is a retelling of Judges Chapter 4, a very well known story, reading Devorah and Yael as queer women. It explores a large number of puns and word play based on the Hebrew of the original text in the Tanakh.

Yehudit bat Yiftah

Description of this link: This tells the well known story from Judges chapter 11, of the unnamed daughter of Yiftah, who presumably becomes a sacrifice by her father in honor of his victory in battle. This Midrash gives her a name, and explores how she might have spent her last days.

The Original Pride Parade 
Edited 7/7/19

Description of this Midrash. In this Midrash, we explore King David dancing with the recovered Aron Kodesh, or Holy Ark, as the original Pride Parade, based on the reading that King David was gay.

Rahav – A Queer Woman of Color, Who was a Sex Worker
Content warning:  Rape 

Description of this link: This retells the story of Joshua chapter 2, with Rahav being a queer woman of color. It is political satire lampooning the actions of the President at the time. It also includes text from Megillat Esther.

A Queer Midrash - Women Taken Captive 
Content warning: War; Rape
Updated 8/4/19 

Content Description: In this Midrash, we explore a possible story of the captive war bride, bringing in social/political commentary of the time, when refugees from the Middle East were not allowed to emigrate to the US.

Hallel Gadol

Content Description: This is a very negative reading of Psalm 136, based on the difficulties trans and other people were facing at the time this was written. I have also written a much more positive adaptation of Hallel Gadol. It is available at Positive Hallel Gadol.

Queer Midrash - Kriat Sh'Ma and Climate Change 

Content Description: In this Midrash, I show how the second paragraph of the Sh'ma, from Deuteronomy chapter 11, is predictive of climate change.