Women and the Holy City

'Offering unique empirical research on the struggle over Jerusalem as a sacred site, this study adds a gender dimension to the existing literature which too often has focused solely on the male perspective. Lihi Ben Shitrit also overcomes intra-communal division by investigating, in an unprecedented way, the position of Jewish and Muslim women. In doing so, she shows a remarkable command of a vast array of disciplines from political science to gender studies. A must read.' Jocelyne Cesari, University of Birmingham and Georgetown University 'This adds greatly to our knowledge by telling the role of women in one of the most complex conflict of our days - the guardianship of the holy sites of Jerusalem. This highly recommended book makes important contributions to our understanding of the role of women in Jewish ritual and the Arab-Israeli conflict.' Motti Inbari, University of North Carolina, Pembroke 'A fascinating ethnographic study of the struggle over Jerusalem's sacred sites. Ben Shitrit closely studies and follows three women's groups, two Jewish, one Muslim, and her research reveals important, novel insights regarding religious-women movements, and their part in religious conflicts.' Nahshon Perez, Bar-Ilan University 'This sophisticated account of the gendered dimensions of contemporary conflict over Jerusalem's sacred esplanade is a must-read for scholars of religion and politics. Challenging the naïve assumption of women as 'do-gooders,' Ben Shitrit shows that women's religious freedom activism has entrenched the very divisions and hierarchies within and between communities that it is presumed to tame or transcend.' Elizabeth Shakman Hurd, Northwestern University