Overview

In the Jewish tradition, reading of the Torah follows a calendar cycle, with a specific portion assigned each week. Following on this ancient tradition, Torah Queeries brings together some of the worlds leading rabbis, scholars, and writers to interpret the Torah through a bent lens. This incredibly rich collection unites the voices of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and straight-allied writers, including some of the most central figures in contemporary American Judaism. All bring to the table unique methods of reading and interpreting that allow the Torah to speak to modern concerns of sexuality, identity, gender, and LGBT life. Torah Queeries offers cultural critique, social commentary, and a vision of community transformation, all done through biblical interpretation. Written to engage readers, draw them in, and at times provoke them, Torah Queeries charts a future of inclusion and social justice deeply rooted in the Jewish textual tradition. A labour of intellectual rigor, social justice, and personal passions, Torah Queeries is an exciting and important contribution to the project of democratizing Jewish communities, and an essential guide to understanding the intersection of queerness and Jewishness.

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9780814769775

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Reviews

The point of all these essays is to make us question ourselves and our assumptions and in this purpose, they succeed...these authors offer insights into the Torah text that can speak to everyone, regardless of their gender identity. The Reporter While queering of the Torah may not find favor with every reader, it should appeal to those who wish to read the Torah with an open mind and the willingness to look at the words from 3,000 years ago with new, often jarring, perspectives. The Jerusalem Post Torah Queeries attempts to be a broader study of the Five Books of Moses, with discussion of every Torah portion, rather than just those that might be particularly difficult or inspiring to LGBT Jews. Jewish Exponent While the CJM invites artists to interpret the week's Torah portions, Torah Queeries invites LGBT individuals and allies to do so. Both should be celebrated and embraced for their creativity, innovation, and depth. Jewish News Weekly of Northern California The Rabbinic oft-name for Torah (Learning) is (Reading) which carries the root (call), thus seeding the scriptural charge, (interpret me). Sixty briskly written, argumentative, apologetic, slightly political commentaries successfully do so in the spirit of religious freedom and equalitarian (sic)tolerance. CHOICE This book, an indispensable resource for all teachers and learners of Torah, in the best way possible makes queers of us all. Jewish Currents

The point of all these essays is to make us question ourselves and our assumptions and in this purpose, they succeed...these authors offer insights into the Torah text that can speak to everyone, regardless of their gender identity. The Reporter While queering of the Torah may not find favor with every reader, it should appeal to those who wish to read the Torah with an open mind and the willingness to look at the words from 3,000 years ago with new, often jarring, perspectives. The Jerusalem Post Torah Queeries attempts to be a broader study of the Five Books of Moses, with discussion of every Torah portion, rather than just those that might be particularly difficult or inspiring to LGBT Jews. Jewish Exponent While the CJM invites artists to interpret the week's Torah portions, Torah Queeries invites LGBT individuals and allies to do so. Both should be celebrated and embraced for their creativity, innovation, and depth. Jewish News Weekly of Northern California The Rabbinic oft-name for Torah (Learning) is (Reading) which carries the root (call), thus seeding the scriptural charge, (interpret me). Sixty briskly written, argumentative, apologetic, slightly political commentaries successfully do so in the spirit of religious freedom and equalitarian (sic)tolerance. CHOICE This book, an indispensable resource for all teachers and learners of Torah, in the best way possible makes queers of us all. Jewish Currents

Author Information

Gregg Drinkwater (Editor) Gregg Drinkwater is Director for Special Projects at Keshet, an organization working for the full inclusion of LGBT Jews in Jewish life. Joshua Lesser (Editor) Joshua Lesser is the rabbi of Bet Haverim in Atlanta, Georgia, and the founder of the Rainbow Center: A Jewish Response to LGBT people and their families. David Shneer (Editor) David Shneer is Director of the Program in Jewish Studies and Associate Professor of History at the University of Colorado at Boulder. Judith Plaskow (Foreword by) Judith Plaskow is Professor Emerita of Religious Studies at Manhattan College.

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