In Jewish tradition, we often honor matriarchs, Leah and Rachel, as the two mothers of the 12 Israelite tribes, when in fact there were four mothers! In this session we will reclaim and re-connect with the two forgotten matriarchs, Bilhah and Zilpah, through midrashic traces that offer insight, contradiction, and opportunity for constructive engagement. Come with openness and curiosity; be prepared for rigorous text study infused with playful interaction and powerful connection to modern issues. This session is designed to be accessible to a wide range of text study experience, interest, and confidence. Whether you are not sure you know how to do text study or see yourself as a Torah scholar, there is room for you in this tent.

erica riddick (she/they) is a passionate educator, ritualist, storyteller, network weaver, and founding director of Jews of Color Sanctuary, which centers Jewish people of color’s holistic creative connection to ritual and Torah. Feature projects include the Bilhah Zilpah Project (honoring these Jewish matriarchs), Modern Matriarchs (connecting the wisdom of biblical matriarchs with history and ourselves), and Parasha Play (exploring stories of the Torah through improvised character study). Collaborations include facilitating Dismantling Racism from the Inside Out (a social justice infused mussar project of Kirva), and Changemakers (a peer-supported social entrepreneur incubator of Realize Change). erica is a Cohort 11 Mandel Teacher Educator Institute Fellow, and has created custom rituals for mikvaot, organizations, and print publications such as BIMPOC & LGBTQIA+ Jews Shabbat & Havdalah Guide and Dreaming the World to Come Planner.