Overview

A unique compilation of contemporary women’s midrashim.   Dirshuni: Contemporary Women’s Midrash, is the first-ever English edition of a historic collection of midrashim composed by Israeli women, which has been long-anticipated by multiple American audiences, including synagogues, rabbinical seminaries, adult learning programs, Jewish educators, and scholars of gender and religion. Using the classical forms developed by the ancient rabbis, the contributors express their religious and moral thought and experience through innovative interpretations of scripture. The women writers, from all denominations and beyond, of all political stripes and ethnic backgrounds, contribute their Torah to fill the missing half of the sacred Jewish bookshelf. This book reflects dramatic changes in the agency of women in the world of religious writings. The volume features a comprehensive introduction to Midrash for the uninitiated reader by the distinguished scholar Tamar Kadari and extensive annotation and commentary by Tamar Biala.  

Full Product Details

Author:   Tamar Biala ,  Tamar Kadari
Publisher:   Brandeis University Press
Imprint:   Brandeis University Press
Dimensions:   Width: 16.40cm , Height: 2.50cm , Length: 24.30cm
Weight:   0.630kg
ISBN:  

9781684580958

ISBN 10:   1684580951
Pages:   304
Publication Date:   28 June 2022
Audience:   Professional and scholarly ,  Professional & Vocational
Format:   Hardback
Publisher's Status:   Active
Availability:   In stock  
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Table of Contents

The Enchanted World of Midrash and its Unexpected Return in Recent Generations – Tamar Kadari The Road to Women’s Midrash – Tamar Biala Translators’ Notes Part I: Creation of the World Miscarriage and Creation – Tamar Biala This One Will Be Called Woman – Miri Westreich And Your Desire Will Be for Your Man – Rivkah Lubitch And He Will Rule Over You – Dana Pulver Why Was it Given to Her – Tamar Bitton The Ever-Turning Sword – Tamar Biala Part II: Matriarchs and Patriarchs The Tears of Salt – Ruti Timor Sarah’s Trials – Naama Eldar Sarah and the Sacrifice of Isaac – Rivkah Lubitch Stirrings – Bilha Kritzer Ariha And Where Was Sarah? – Tamar Biala In the Presence of His Wife – Hagit Rappel And Dinah Went Out – Rivkah Lubitch The Daughter of Dinah – Ayala Tzruya Let Your House Be Open Wide – Hagit Bartov Part III: Exodus The Midwives Saw and Feared – Orna Pilz Bitya, The Daughter of God – Gili Zivan The Giving of the Ten Commandments – Tamar Biala Part IV: Israel in the Desert Daughters of Tzelophchad – Rivkah Lubitch Death by a Kiss: Miriam's Passing – Tamar Biala Part V: Prophets and Writings Tanot, Jephthah’s Daughter – Rivkah Lubitch I Will Build You Up Again – Yael Levin A Woman of Valor – Adi Blut Part VI: Sexuality, Love, and Marriage More Bitter than Death – Rivkah Lubitch After Twenty-Four Years – Rivkah Lubitch For Love is as Fierce as Death – Tamar Biala The Ways of Marriage – Avital Hochstein One Who Did Not Find a Wife – Yael Unterman And Eve Knew – Efrat Garber-Aran Part VII: Fertility and Parenthood Seven Clean Days – Etti Romm He Supports the Fallen – Nehama Weingarten-Mintz The Blessing for Breastfeeding – Efrat Garber-Aran All the Mitzvot for the Son and the Daughter – Naama Shaked Daughters of The Place – Hila Unna Part VIII: Rape and Incest And Now be Silent – Tirza Barmatz-Stein The Father’s Scream: Concealing and Revealing – Oshrat Shoham The Mother’s Scream: Uncovering and Expulsion – Oshrat Shoham The Woman’s Scream: Cover-Up and Tikkun – Oshrat Shoham Part IX: Inequality in Jewish Law and in the Rabbinic Court The Assembly of God – Rivka Lubitch Rachel, A Mother of Mamzerim – Rivka Lubitch Moses Visits Beruriah’s Beit Midrash – Rivka Lubitch The Refused Woman – Rivkah Lubitch Jamila the Objector – Rivka Lubitch Vows – Rivkah Lubitch Part XI: Post-Holocaust Theology A Raven and a Dove – Tamar Biala The Shepherd in the Lilies – Dini Deutsch Frankel Part XII: Holidays Sukkot Prayer for Rain (Tefillat HaGeshem) – Ruth Gan Kagan Pesach The Four Daughters – Einat Ramon Shavu’ot The Love of Ruth and Naomi – Yael Oryan and Ziva Ofek Ruth, Who Interpreted – Yael Unterman Contributors Acknowledgments Index

Reviews

How thrilling to have this rich collection of women's midrashim in our hands. The melding of scholarship, deep insight, and creativity in this brilliantly edited volume yields fresh new feminist perspectives on classical Jewish tradition. We are truly blessed to have this resource for understanding biblical texts and rabbinic commentaries. -- Marcia Falk, author of Night of Beginnings: A Passover Haggadah Opinions regarding the practical conclusions to be drawn from the innovative readings of sacred history offered here will no doubt differ widely, ranging from demand for inclusion in the canon to dismissal as heresy. Either way, the jolt that these feminist midrashim present to traditional sensibilities, highlighting and imaginatively amplifying upon the lacunae of distinctly male perspectives, will leave readers with much food for thought. -- Tamar Ross, author of Expanding the Palace of Torah: Orthodoxy and Feminism Those familiar with feminist midrash primarily in the U.S. context will be surprised and delighted with the richness, range, and erudition of this collection by Israeli women. The conversations with and reworkings of traditional texts are consistently thought-provoking, sometimes brilliant, and always carefully explained. This is an exciting addition to the body of feminist commentary available in English. -- Judith Plaskow, author of Standing Again at Sinai: Judaism from a Feminist Perspective Part classical midrash, short story, poetry and social commentary, these midrashim are a new genre, a treasure to cherish. These voices and texts are bound to leave each student moved and changed. -- Rabbi Avi Killip, Hadar A long-overdue expansion of the sacred Jewish library following centuries of patriarchal hegemony, exclusion and injustice. The texts' profound insights result from the encounter between the authors' lived experience, their creativity, and Torah study. This volume belongs in every Jewish library, in our homes, our schools, and our synagogues. -- Rabbi J. Rolando Matalon, Congregation B'nai Jeshurun, NYC In its 2 slim Hebrew volumes, Dirshuni changed the study of Rabbinic midrash for those fortunate enough to grasp the brilliance, expert knowledge and exquisite language that pays homage to while shattering traditional midrash. Now the English reader has the opportunity to study these masterpieces and to find their own voice in our tradition. -- Rabbanit Devorah Zlochower, Yeshivat Maharat

Dirshu ni is a step for ward; it carves out a place for con tem po rary women to see them selves in the sacred texts. It focus es on the courage, the heart break, and the fight of bib li cal women - and it brings them to life. ... What would Judaism look like if women had been read ing, study ing, inter pret ing, and com ment ing on our sacred texts all this time? Dirshu ni gives us a glimpse of that, and the view is spectacular. * Jewish Book Council * Biala's anthology together puts the writers in conversation across time. Dirshuni (Amos 5: 4) means seek me and this book fulfills its title's promise. * Association of Jewish Libraries * How thrilling to have this rich collection of women's midrashim in our hands. The melding of scholarship, deep insight, and creativity in this brilliantly edited volume yields fresh new feminist perspectives on classical Jewish tradition. We are truly blessed to have this resource for understanding biblical texts and rabbinic commentaries. -- Marcia Falk, author of Night of Beginnings: A Passover Haggadah Opinions regarding the practical conclusions to be drawn from the innovative readings of sacred history offered here will no doubt differ widely, ranging from demand for inclusion in the canon to dismissal as heresy. Either way, the jolt that these feminist midrashim present to traditional sensibilities, highlighting and imaginatively amplifying upon the lacunae of distinctly male perspectives, will leave readers with much food for thought. -- Tamar Ross, author of Expanding the Palace of Torah: Orthodoxy and Feminism Those familiar with feminist midrash primarily in the U.S. context will be surprised and delighted with the richness, range, and erudition of this collection by Israeli women. The conversations with and reworkings of traditional texts are consistently thought-provoking, sometimes brilliant, and always carefully explained. This is an exciting addition to the body of feminist commentary available in English. -- Judith Plaskow, author of Standing Again at Sinai: Judaism from a Feminist Perspective Part classical midrash, short story, poetry and social commentary, these midrashim are a new genre, a treasure to cherish. These voices and texts are bound to leave each student moved and changed. -- Rabbi Avi Killip, Hadar A long-overdue expansion of the sacred Jewish library following centuries of patriarchal hegemony, exclusion and injustice. The texts' profound insights result from the encounter between the authors' lived experience, their creativity, and Torah study. This volume belongs in every Jewish library, in our homes, our schools, and our synagogues. -- Rabbi J. Rolando Matalon, Congregation B'nai Jeshurun, NYC In its 2 slim Hebrew volumes, Dirshuni changed the study of Rabbinic midrash for those fortunate enough to grasp the brilliance, expert knowledge and exquisite language that pays homage to while shattering traditional midrash. Now the English reader has the opportunity to study these masterpieces and to find their own voice in our tradition. -- Rabbanit Devorah Zlochower, Yeshivat Maharat

Author Information

Tamar Biala teaches in various batei midrash, rabbinical schools, and adult education programs in the United States and Israel. She coedited volume one of the Hebrew-language edition of Dirshuni with Nehama Weingarten-Mintz and, in 2018, published volume two.   

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