Study Guides
The Girls in Trouble Curriculum is a series of in-depth study guides about women in Torah through art, created by musician and Jewish educator Alicia Jo Rabins. These study guides focus on how stories of women in Torah reflect the complexity of our own lives, and how art can help us deepen our connections to these ancient texts.
Each unit follows a woman character through Biblical story, Rabbinic interpretations, visual art, and a Girls in Trouble song. These materials are geared towards teens and adults, but many can be adapted for younger learners. Whether you are looking to go deep on your own, in a small group, or to lead a class, come join us on a journey into the world of women in Torah!
Study guides come as a packaged download in individual, small group, or institution versions. “Individual” includes a beautifully designed PDF with sources, annotations, and guiding questions, a PowerPoint of visual art, and an mp3 of the Girls in Trouble song. “Small group” and “institution” downloads are identical, but priced differently to reflect the number of users projected. They include a student copy which omits the teacher’s notes.
Girls in Trouble Curriculum Sample
Download this free curriculum sample to get a sense of what each unit contains. Curriculum study guides, when purchased, also include a powerpoint of images and an mp3 of the Girls in Trouble song.
Miriam in the Desert
Miriam is celebrated for her leadership throughout Exodus. But later in the Torah, she is stricken with leprosy and sent away for seven days. How can this story guide us through challenging moments in our own lives?
Sarah’s Sacrifice
The Binding of Isaac, one of the most challenging stories in Judaism, is even more complex when imagined from his mother Sarah’s perspective. Focusing on rabbinic commentary, song, visual art and poetry about Sarah’s experience, we invite the mother in.
Rachel & Leah: Being Sisters
Sisterhood is powerful; it’s also powerfully complicated. This unit considers the stunningly complex relationship between two of the most famous sisters in Torah, Rachel and Leah.
Ruth’s Journey
Ruth reinvents herself through a series of brave choices, risking failure and rejection to build a new life. What bold choices might we make to transform our own lives?
Hannah Raises Her Voice
What do we do when we want something we can’t have? Should we accept our life for what it is, or try to change it? And how should we approach the Divine – with humility or chutzpah?
Eve the Mother
Famous for her role as the first woman, Eve is less often considered as the very first mother. What might her complicated experience teach us about the nature of parenthood and love itself?
Lilith: Demoness or Heroine?
Lilith’s story does not appear in the Torah, and yet she has been part of Jewish lore for over three thousand years. Mysterious, powerful, her story evokes passionate responses. Demoness or heroine: which Lilith will you choose?
Judith in the Enemy’s Tent
Tamar at the Crossroads
Deception, sexuality, and a surprising move for power by a woman who seems to have none at all: Tamar’s tale is as dramatic and gripping as the best television.
Yiftach’s Daughter at Stake
This is a story of faith, danger, and sacrifice, in which a young girl loses her future because of a few careless words spoken by her father. Yet a careful reading seems to reveal that Yiftach’s Daughter has more agency than appears at first glance.