The Cohn-Haddow Center for Judaic Studies at Wayne State University will present the second in its Wayne State Authors series on Wednesday, May 1,at 7:30 p.m., at Congregation B'nai Moshe, 6800 Drake Rd., West Bloomfield. Dr. Nehama Aschkenasy will deliver The Pearl A. and George M. Zeltzer Annual Lecture on Women and Judaism. This year's lecture is titled "In the Footsteps of Job: Women Arguing with God in Judaic Literary Tradition."

On Thursday, May 2, Dr. Aschkenasy will discuss "Prayer, Diplomacy, and Silence: Women's Language in the Bible." The program will be held at noon in the Community Room of the David Adamany Undergraduate Library on the Wayne State campus.

Dr. Aschkenasy, a faculty member at the University of Connecticut-Stamford, argues that the language of the Bible is generally expressed in the male voice, was written from a man's point of view, and addresses men. The majority of Biblical women are nameless, faceless, and voiceless. However, according to Dr. Aschkenasy, when woman's voice is heard, it is impressive, inventive, and elegant.

The May 2 lecture will focus on Dinah's silence following her kidnap and rape, but will shift to several biblical examples of women's creative and successful use of language as a tool in helping them to counteract their legal and economic powerlessness.

Author of three books, including the award-winning Eve's Journey: Feminine Images in Hebraic Literary Tradition and Woman at the Window: Biblical Tales of Oppression and Escape (both published by Wayne State University Press), Dr. Aschkenasy is especially interested in the areas of biblical influences on Western Literature, Hebraic literary tradition, women in Bible and Judaic literature, and Israeli and Middle Eastern politics and culture. She is the Director of the Center for Judaic & Middle Eastern Studies at the University of Connecticut; Dr. Aschkenasy is also a television political commentator.

Both programs are free and open to the public. Light refreshments will follow each presentation. Co-sponsors in addition to the Cohn-Haddow Center are Congregation B'nai Moshe, Eilu v'Eilu, the Wayne State University Press, and the Women's Studies Program at Wayne State. For further information and reservations, please call the Cohn-Haddow Center (313) 577-2679 or Eilu v'Eilu (248) 593-3490.