Delivering Knowledge - Stanford Studies in Jewish History and Culture by Jordan R Katz

Book Synopsis

This book offers a new perspective on the history of early modern Jewish communities by centering the experiences of Jewish midwives. In the wake of the Thirty Years' War, as cities and towns across northern and central Europe placed new emphasis on the regulation of healthcare and childbirth, Jewish midwives stood at the crossroads of tremendous changes in both Jewish communities and the surrounding Christian municipalities. Drawing on previously untapped archival sources, Jordan Katz reveals that Jewish midwives were integral to the expansion of medical bureaucracies, crossing boundaries between genders, between religious communities, and across classes through their work caring for pregnant women and newborn babies.

Grounded in rich historical evidence, the book shows how a focus on Jewish midwives illuminates the complex relationships between Jewish communities and local municipalities, showcasing a level of engagement between Jews and Christian civic authorities that has gone unstudied. Through the lens of midwives, this book opens up new understandings of Jewish communal history, the history of women's healing practices, Jewish-Christian relations, and cultures of record in the early modern period.

Review Quotes

"By following the work of Jewish midwives, Delivering Knowledge uncovers liminal spaces and negotiated cases, providing fresh insights into the operations of Jewish communal life, well-being, and self-governance in early modern Europe. Katz has produced a deeply researched and expertly investigated study of these remarkable figures."--Joshua Teplitsky, University of Pennsylvania

"In this fascinating and erudite study, Jordan Katz takes the reader deep into the history of Jewish women's experience in early modern Western and Central Europe. Katz's outstanding research shows how Jewish midwives, who gave their services to Jewish women of all social levels, used their knowledge of the female body and the secrets of the birthing chamber to navigate the difficult terrain of a highly patriarchal society."--Adam Teller, Brown University

About the Author

Jordan R. Katz is Assistant Professor in the Department of Judaic and Near Eastern Studies at the University of Massachusetts Amherst.