Some error occured while loading the Quick View. Please close the Quick View and try reloading the page.
Recent years have seen an explosion of interest in spirituality and religious texts, as well as an exciting expansion of women's participation and leadership in Jewish life. This unique multi-volume collaboration brings together women writers, rabbis and scholars to create the first comprehensive work on Jewish lifecycle that fully includes women's perspectives.
Lifecycles, Volume 2 explores the impact that biblical texts have on our lives—and the impact our lives have on those texts. It delves into the human themes found both in the first five books of the Bible, and in women’s lives today, themes of:
- Genesis—Our roots and beginnings, family and home
- Exodus—Transformations to freedom, holiness and Torah
- Leviticus—Food and sacrifice, health and the body, sexuality, the power of words
- Numbers—Creating community in times of transition
- Deuteronomy—Leadership, law and revisioning the future
With a rich diversity of voices, the contributors show us how to understand the power of biblical texts, and then how to use those texts to find our own connections of self, spirit and community.
Introductions by Orenstein and Litman offer a broader context for the concepts explored in each section, and an afterword provides further advice on "Engaging with Torah," including a section on how to create a midrash. In a personal, insightful and creative style, Lifecycles, Volume 2 opens opportunities for us to grow from the intersection of the texts of our heritage and the lessons of our lives.
"An extraordinary collection...illuminates the Bible through the prism of the experience of Jewish women.... A 'must' for all who cherish serious Torah scholarship as it relates to the life experience of contemporary Jewish women and men."
—Dr. Rela Mintz Geffen, professor of sociology, Gratz College; editor, Celebration and Renewal: Rites of Passage in Judaism
“A marvelous anthology of essays, poetry, text interpretation and challenging insights which provides all readers, male and female alike, with a wealth of material to fortify us on our own spiritual journeys.”
—Norman J. Cohen, provost, Hebrew Union College; author, Self, Struggle & Change: Family Conflict Stories in Genesis
“An indispensable resource for all people for whom the Hebrew Bible remains a privileged place to meet the Living God.”
—Dr. Rosemary Radford Ruether, Garrett Theological Seminary
“Both the process and content are extraordinary and transformative.... I did, and I imagine most people will, emerge richer as a human being.”
—Rabbi Arthur Waskow, pathfinder of ALEPH: Alliance for Jewish Renewal; author, Down-to-Earth Judaism and Godwrestling—Round 2
“This magnificent collection opens the Torah to women’s experience and opens women’s lives through the Torah.”
—Ann Swidler, professor of sociology, University of California at Berkeley; author, Talk of Love; coauthor, Habits of the Heart and Inequality by Design
Editors' Notes: The Wilstein Institute; Translation,
Transliteration, and Abbreviations; Using This Book as a Resource for Study
Acknowledgments
Introductions
1. Themes of Genesis/Bereshit Rabbah: Roots and Beginnings, Family and Tribe
History, Myth, and Memory
Home and Homeland
Clan and Kin
2. Themes of Exodus/Shemot Rabbah: Transformations to Freedom, Holiness, and Torah
Liberation
Revelation
3. Themes of Leviticus/Vayikra Rabbah: The Sacred Body of Israel
Powers of Speech
Food and Sacrifice
Health and the Body
4. Themes of Numbers/Bemidbar Rabbah: Creating Community in Times of Transition
Wilderness
Definitions and Ideals of Community
The Process of Building Community
5. Themes of Deuteronomy/Devarim Rabbah: Second Law, New Visions
Leadership
Transmitting the Law
Afterword: Engaging with Torah
Suggested Readings on Women, Bible, Midrash, and Life Themes
Glossary
Notes
Index