Beginning Anew [Paperback]

Gail Twersky Reimer (Author), Judith A. Kates (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 15, 1997

In illuminating commentaries on the biblical texts read on Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kipper, a number of contemporary female authors, scholars, theologians, and educators offer a fresh perspective on Jewish history, tradition, and religion. Original. 17,500 first printing."

Editorial Reviews

From Kirkus Reviews

Fascinating essays on Jewish women, holidays, and conception, as seen through the eyes of feminist thinkers. This elegant series of articles focuses on the relationships of the Jewish matriarchs to the women around them. The book opens with the Bible passage describing the events between Abraham, Sarah, Hagar (Sarah's handmaid and Abraham's concubine), and the sons both women bear. These writers go beyond the inherent cruelty of the story (Hagar is twice cast out into the desert) and try to grasp the feelings of the real women involved. Rosellen Brown beautifully describes a friendship between Sarah and Hagar, and envisions Ishmael and Isaac growing up as brothers. Others seek to understand Sarah's anger and imagine her fury at her barrenness, which is God's will, and at Abraham's willingness to conceive a child with another woman. Several writers point towards the concept of teshuva (repentance, or literally ``turning around'') to portray Sarah as a woman with passion and regret, not simply as a spiteful harridan, and point out that when God remembers Sarah, it implies that at some point she had been forgotten. Barren women give birth to heroes, writes Francine Klagsbrun in her brilliant essay on Hannah, and they always conceive on Rosh Hashana, the Jewish New Year. Hannah's strength is her ability to pray silently to God for a son. Her silent method of prayer becomes not only the standard for Jewish prayer but is answered by the opening of her womb by God. Hannah's sacrifice of her son, Samuel, to the temple priests is rendered both moving and awful by these writers. One even warns of Samuel's future nemesis by noting how closely his name is tred to the root for Saul's name. The essays are surprisingly modern given the subjects, and the writing is uniformly excellent. Insightful, thought-provoking, and wise--a treasure for all Jewish women seeking insights for the New Year. -- Copyright ©1997, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.

Product Details

• Paperback: 368 pages
• Publisher: Touchstone; Original edition (September 15, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0684826879
• ISBN-13: 978-0684826875
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.5 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.7 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,512,384 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fascinating for both women and men, September 8, 2000

By 

Rabbi Yonassan Gershom (Minnesota, USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Beginning Anew (Paperback)

This contemporary anthology features 33 essays by women from a variety of Jewish backgrounds, exploring the biblical passages and liturgical themes for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. The approach is modernist-feminist but with a deep, sincere respect for the tradition and what it can teach us today.

Both Jews and non-Jews will find insights here about two of the more troubling stories in the Bible --the casting out of Hagar, and the almost-sacrifice of Isaac -- both of which are read in the synagogue during the High Holy Days. The Torah tells us only the bare outlines of the story, but does not explore the feelings of the women involved with much depth. But the Bible is not the only sacred text available. Traditionally, Jews have "filled in the blanks" with a process called "midrash" (which means "from searching" in Hebrew) and there is a whole body of this type of literature, which forms an interpretive lens throough which Jews "see" these stories. This book uses both classical midrash and personal insiights to explore some serious questions: Was Sarah justified in demanding that Abraham send Hagar away? How could Abraham have even condidered sacrificing his son? How did this event affect his wife Sarah? Etc. Etc. You may not agree with the opinions offered in this book, but I guarantee it will make you think!