The Women's Torah Commentary

Description

Women rabbis are changing the face of Judaism. Discover how their interpretations of the Torah can enrich your perspective. "Rich and engaging…makes available to a wide readership the collective wisdom of women who have changed the face of Judaism." —Judith Plaskow, author, Standing Again at Sinai: Judaism from a Feminist Perspective; Professor of Religious Studies, Manhattan College Here, for the first time, women's unique experiences and perspectives are applied to the entire Five Books of Moses, offering all of us the first comprehensive commentary by women. In this groundbreaking book, more than 50 women rabbis come together to offer us inspiring insights on the Torah, in a week-by-week format. Included are commentaries by the first women ever ordained in the Reform, Reconstructionist and Conservative movements, and by many other women across these denominations who serve in the rabbinate in a variety of ways. This rich resource offers new perspectives to inspire all of us to gain deeper meaning from the Torah and a heightened appreciation of Judaism. A major contribution to modern biblical commentary. The gift of choice for every young woman’s bat mitzvah, and for anyone wanting a new, exciting view of Torah. Contributing Rabbis: Rebecca T. Alpert • Lia Bass • Miriam Carey Berkowitz • Elizabeth Bolton • Analia Bortz • Sharon Brous • Judith Gary Brown • Nina Beth Cardin • Diane Aronson Cohen • Sandra J. Cohen • Cynthia A. Culpeper • Lucy H.F. Dinner • Lisa A. Edwards • Amy Eilberg • Sue Levi Elwell • Rachel Esserman • Helaine Ettinger • Susan Fendrick • Lori Forman • Dayle A. Friedman • Elyse D. Frishman • Nancy Fuchs-Kreimer • Shoshana Gelfand • Laura Geller • Elyse M. Goldstein • Julie K. Gordon • Claire Magidovitch Green • Rosette Barron Haim • Jill Hammer • Karyn D. Kedar • Sarra Levine • Valerie Lieber • Ellen Lippmann • Sheryl Nosan • Stacy K. Offner • Sara Paasche-Orlow • Barbara Rosman Penzner • Hara E. Person • Audrey S. Pollack • Sally J. Priesand • Geela-Rayzel Raphael • Laura M. Rappaport • Debra Judith Robbins • Rochelle Robins • Gila Colman Ruskin • Sandy Eisenberg Sasso • Ilene Schneider • Rona Shapiro • Michal Shekel • Beth J. Singer • Sharon L. Sobel • Ruth H. Sohn • Julie Ringold Spitzer z”l • Shira Stern • Pamela Wax • Nancy Wechsler-Azen • Nancy H. Wiener • Elana Zaiman

Sujets

• Biblical Studies
• Philosophie et théologie
• Torá
• Jewish philosophy
• Old Testament
• Religion
• Torah

Informations

• Publié par: Turner Publishing Company
• Date de parution: 24 juin 2011
• Nombre de lectures: 1
• EAN13: 9781580234740
• Langue: English

Extrait

The Women s Torah Commentary

New Insights from Women Rabbis on the 54 Weekly Torah Portions
EDITED BY RABBI ELYSE GOLDSTEIN
JEWISH LIGHTS Publishing
Woodstock, Vermont
Jewish Lights books by Rabbi Elyse Goldstein
ReVisions: Seeing Torah through a Feminist Lens
The Women s Haftarah Commentary: New Insights from Women Rabbis on the 54 Weekly Haftarah Portions, the 5 Megillot Special Shabbatot
New Jewish Feminism: Probing the Past, Forging the Future
The Women s Torah Commentary: New Insights from Women Rabbis on the 54 Weekly Torah Portions
2008 Quality Paperback Edition, First Printing 2006 Hardcover Edition, Fourth Printing 2003 Hardcover Edition, Third Printing 2001 Hardcover Edition, Second Printing 2000 Hardcover Edition, First Printing 2000 by Elyse Goldstein
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.
For information regarding permission to reprint material from this book, please mail or fax your request in writing to Jewish Lights Publishing, Permissions Department, at the address/fax number listed below, or e-mail your request to [e-mail] .
Grateful acknowledgment is given for permission to reprint Shechina Makor Hayenu from Kavanat Ha Lev Israel Movement for Progressive Judaism.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Goldstein, Elyse. The women s Torah commentary: new insights from women rabbis on the 54 weekly Torah portions / Elyse Goldstein.
p. cm. Includes bibliographical references (p. ). ISBN-13: 978-1-58023-076-6 (Hardcover) ISBN-10: 1-58023-076-8 (Hardcover) 1. Bible. O.T. Pentateuch-Commentaries. 2. Bible. O.T. Pentateuch-Feminist criticism. 3. Feminism-Religious aspects-Judaism. I. Title. BS1225.3 .G578 2000 222 .107 082-dc21 00-008694 ISBN-13: 978-1-58023-370-5 (quality pbk.) ISBN-10: 1-58023-370-8 (quality pbk.)
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
Manufactured in the United States of America Printed on recycled paper.
Cover Art: Tree of Life Torah mantle courtesy of Yael Lurie and Jean Pierre Larochette, Lurie-Larochette Tapestries
Cover Design: Stacey Hood, BigEyedea Visual Design
Published by Jewish Lights Publishing A Division of LongHill Partners, Inc. Sunset Farm Offices, Route 4, P.O. Box 237 Woodstock, VT 05091 Tel: [phone] Fax: [phone] www.jewishlights.com
Dedicated to the memory of my friend Shira Shelley Duke, 1952-1998, teacher of the Torah of life .
May her memory be a blessing .
Say to Wisdom, You are my sister, and call Understanding a kinswoman.
-Proverbs 7:4
I am a slow unlearner. But I love my unteachers.
-Ursula K. LeGuin
CONTENTS
Index by Author
Foreword: The Different Voice of Jewish Women Rabbi Amy Eilberg
Acknowledgments
Introduction
What You Need to Know to Use This Book
Rabbinic Commentators and Midrashic Collections Noted in This Book
Bereshit /Genesis

Bereshit (1:1-6:8): The Untold Story of Eve Rabbi Lori Forman
Noach (6:9-11:32): Mrs. Noah Rabbi Julie Ringold Spitzer
Lech Lecha (12:1-17:27): What s in a Name? Rabbi Michal Shekel
Vayera (18:1-22:24): Positive Pillars Rabbi Cynthia A. Culpeper
Chaye Sarah (23:1-25:18): Woman s Life, Woman s Truth Rabbi Rona Shapiro
Toldot (25:19-28:9): Rebecca s Birth Stories Rabbi Beth J. Singer
Vayetze (28:10-32:3): Wrestling on the Other Side of the River Rabbi Sandy Eisenberg Sasso
Vayishlach (32:4-36:43): No Means No Rabbi Lia Bass
Vayeshev (37:1-40:23): Power, Sex, and Deception Rabbi Geela-Rayzel Raphael
Miketz (41:1-44:17): In Search of Dreamers Rabbi Debra Judith Robbins
Vayigash (44:18-47:27): Daddy s Girl Rabbi Shira Stern
Vayechi (47:28-50:26): Serach Bat Asher-the Woman Who Enabled the Exodus Rabbi Barbara Rosman Penzner
Shmot /Exodus

Shmot (1:1-6:1): Rediscovering Tziporah Rabbi Rebecca T. Alpert
Va-era (6:2-9:35): The Many Names of God Rabbi Karyn D. Kedar
Bo (10:1-13:16): Power and Liberation Rabbi Lucy H.F. Dinner
Beshalach (13:17-17:16): Miriam s Song, Miriam s Silence Rabbi Sue Levi Elwell
Yitro (18:1-20:26): We All Stood at Sinai Rabbi Julie K. Gordon
Mishpatim (21:1-24:18): What Must We Do? Rabbi Nancy Fuchs-Kreimer
Terumah (25:1-27:19): Community as Sacred Space Rabbi Sharon L. Sobel
Tetzaveh (27:20-30:10): Finding Our Home in the Temple and the Temple in Our Homes Rabbi Sara Paasche-Orlow
Ki Tissa (30:11-34:35): The Women Didn t Build the Golden Calf-or Did They? Rabbi Ellen Lippmann
Vayakhel (35:1-38:20): Of Women and Mirrors Rabbi Nancy H. Wiener
Pekudei (38:21-40:38): The Birthing of the Mishkan (Tabernacle) Rabbi Elana Zaiman
Vayikra /Leviticus

Vayikra (1:1-5:26): The Book of Relationships Rabbi Shoshana Gelfand
Tzav (6:1-8:36): Message and Messenger Rabbi Claire Magidovitch Green
Shemini (9:1-11:47): Kashrut, Food, and Women Rabbi Ilene Schneider
Tazria (12:1-13:59): Our Children/God s Children Rabbi Helaine Ettinger
Metzorah (14:1-15:33): Reclaiming the Torah of Our Lives Rabbi Laura Geller
Acharei Mot (16:1-18:30): After a Death Then What? Rabbi Dayle A. Friedman
Kedoshim (19:1-20:27): Who Shall Be Holy? Rabbi Rachel Esserman
Emor (21:1-24:23): Elitism in the Levitical Priesthood Rabbi Valerie Lieber
Behar (25:1-26:2): Proclaiming Liberty throughout the Land Rabbinical Students Sharon Brous and Jill Hammer
Bechukotai (26:3-27:34): Mir Zaynen Do -We Are Here Rabbi Elizabeth Bolton
Bamidbar /Numbers

Bamidbar (1:1-4:20): Beyond Pidyon Ha-ben: Blessings for Giving Life Rabbi Sheryl Nosan
Naso (4:21-7:89): Inscribing Jealousy on the Bodies of Women Rabbi Sarra Levine
Beha alotecha (8:1-12:16): The Silencing of Miriam Rabbi Ruth H. Sohn
Shelach-Lecha (13:1-15:41): The Grasshoppers and the Giants Rabbi Lisa A. Edwards
Korach (16:1-18:32): Authority, Status, Power Rabbi Elyse D. Frishman
Chukkat (19:1-22:1): Blood and Water, Death and Life Rabbi Audrey S. Pollack
Balak (22:2-25:9): The End of Abuse Rabbi Diane Aronson Cohen
Pinchas (25:10-30:1): Daughters and Inheritance Law Rabbi Pamela Wax
Matot (30:2-32:42): Women Speak Louder Than Words Rabbi Stacy K. Offner
Masa ei (33:1-36:13): Boundaries and Limits Rabbi Hara E. Person
Devarim /Deuteronomy

Devarim (1:1-3:22): Essence and Transcendence Rabbi Analia Bortz
Va etchanan (3:23-7:11): A Land Flowing with Milk and Honey : Sexualizing the Land Rabbi Rochelle Robins
Ekev (7:12-11:25): Circumcision, Womb, and Spiritual Intimacy Rabbi Gila Colman Ruskin
Re eh (11:26-16:17): A Time to Tear Down, a Time to Build Up Rabbi Laura M. Rappaport
Shoftim (16:18-21:9): Principles for Feminist Approaches to Torah Rabbi Susan Fendrick
Ki Tetzey (21:10-25:19): The Accused Woman Rabbi Judith Gary Brown
Ki Tavo (26:1-29:8): The Basket Ceremony of Gratitude and Hope Rabbi Nancy Wechsler-Azen
Nitzavim (29:9-30:20): Women and the Covenant Rabbi Miriam Carey Berkowitz
Vayelech (31:1-30): Guardians of the Tradition Rabbi Rosette Barron Haim
Ha azinu (32:1-52): Understanding the Anger Rabbi Nina Beth Cardin
V zot Habrachah (33:1-34:12): The Loss of Moses Rabbi Sandra J. Cohen
Epilogue: Looking Backward and Ahead Rabbi Sally J. Priesand
Notes
Glossary
Bibliography and Suggested Further Reading
About the Contributors
About Jewish Lights
Copyright
Index by Author Alpert, Rebecca T Shmot Bass, Lia Vayishlach Berkowitz, Miriam Carey Nitzavim Bolton, Elizabeth Bechukotai Bortz, Analia Devarim Brous, Sharon Behar Brown, Judith Gary Ki Tetzey Cardin, Nina Beth Ha azinu Cohen, Diane Aronson Balak Cohen, Sandra J V zot Habrachah Culpeper, Cynthia A Vayera Dinner, Lucy H.F Bo Edwards, Lisa A Shelach-Lecha Eilberg, Amy Foreword Elwell, Sue Levi Beshalach Esserman, Rachel Kedoshim Ettinger, Helaine Tazria Fendrick, Susan Shoftim Forman, Lori Bereshit Friedman, Dayle A Acharei Mot Frishman, Elyse D Korach Fuchs-Kreimer, Nancy Mishpatim Gelfand, Shoshana Vayikra Geller, Laura Metzorah Goldstein, Elyse M Introduction Gordon, Julie K Yitro Green, Claire Magidovitch Tzav Haim, Rosette Barron Vayelech Hammer, Jill Behar Kedar, Karyn D Va-era Levine, Sarra Naso Lieber, Valerie Emor Lippmann, Ellen Ki Tissa Nosan, Sheryl Bamidbar Offner, Stacy K Matot Paasche-Orlow, Sara Tetzaveh Penzner, Barbara Rosman Vayechi Person, Hara E Masa ei Pollack, Audrey S Chukkat Priesand, Sally J Epilogue Raphael, Geela-Rayzel Vayeshev Rappaport, Laura M Re eh Robbins, Debra Judith Miketz Robins, Rochelle Va etchanan Ruskin, Gila Colman Ekev Sasso, Sandy Eisenberg Vayetze Schneider, Ilene Shemini Shapiro, Rona Chaye Sarah Shekel, Michal Lech Lecha Singer, Beth J Toldot Sobel, Sharon L Terumah Sohn, Ruth H Beha alotecha Spitzer, Julie Ringold Noach Stern, Shira Vayigash Wax, Pamela Pinchas Wechsler-Azen, Nancy Ki Tavo Wiener, Nancy H Vayakhel Zaiman, Elana Pekudei
RABBI AMY EILBERG
Foreword

The Different Voice of Jewish Women
IN RECENT YEARS , I have had the privilege of moving around the country, addressing a variety of groups of people in a variety of communities. It has been a wonderful experience, a chance to meet many lovely people, to extend the network of those concerned with Jewish feminist issues, and, most of all, to learn from the questions that others would raise. As I think back over the kinds of questions that I have been asked over the years, I realize that one question recurs, cropping up wherever I go, inevitably arising in different intonations and moods, sometimes in jest and sometimes in puzzlement-but it is always asked: What do you call the husband of a woman rabbi?
I answer the question differently in different contexts, depending on my understanding of what it is the questioner really wants to know. Sometimes it satisfies the questioner to know that this particular woman rabbi s husband carries his own academic title. Sometimes I respond with paradoxical humor of my o