The ancient practice of midrash inserts fictional narrative where actual scripture is silent, giving details to characters that are otherwise footnotes. This presentation explores the historical context and current spiritual relevance of midrash. We will examine criticism of its practice, from accusations of cultural appropriation to the hubris of trying to add to scriptural record, and then discuss the power of focusing on female characters and stories. We will look at examples of midrash, including the process of publishing the midrash issue of Exponent II and how the experience helped us think differently about women in the scriptures.

Margaret Olsen Hemming
Pandora Brewer