In the book of Genesis, Hagar is an Egyptian, an enslaved woman, a surrogate, a wife, and a mother. As the wife of Abraham and the mother of Ishmael, she is a recognized figure in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. At the request of Sarah, Abraham’s first wife and mother of Isaac, Abraham expels Hagar and Ishmael from his household. In this lecture, Nyasha Junior surveys how different religious and cultural traditions have understood Sarah’s motivations and actions. The lecture is based on Dr. Junior’s recent book Reimagining Hagar: Blackness and the Bible (Oxford University Press, 2019). Join us and follow the conversation on Twitter at #ReHagar.

There is both an accessible elevator and gender-neutral restroom on the first and second floor. If you have a disability that requires an accommodation, contact the Judaic Studies office at judaicstudies@umich.edu or 734-763-9047.