Customer Reviews

Engendering Judaism: An Inclusive Theology and Ethics

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I assigned this book as one of the seminar readings for my Jewish Studies class at the Evergreen State College. While the book was suitably demanding of my undergraduate readers due to its erudition and scholarship, it rewarded them with well argued, respectful and deeply engaging feminist solutions to the challenges of looking at Jewish beliefs, texts, and traditions, from a contemporary point of view. The author begins with a beautifully structured critical look at the patriarchal impact on Jewish culture and religion. It follows with useful and well researched arguments for re-engaging an ancient tradition in the building of inclusive, egalitarian and relevant Jewish communities. It is a breath of fresh air and possibly the best book on Judaism you will read on worthwhile contemporary issues. It addresses feminist concerns, queer issues and other important questions, and offers scholarly, wise, and compasionate tools to re-evaluate how to build the Judaism of the future . My students (Jewish and non-Jewish) loved it!!!

Scholarly, yet readable, this book marks a promising beginning for those who wish to create a Jewish feminist theology and identity without compromising Jewish or feminist values. I would encourage anyone who is concerned about making Judaism more equitable for women and men alike and ensuring that the religion will continue to grow and thrive to read this book!

While Adler's book is on the scholarly side, it's eminently readable, and incredibly important. This offers excellently-reasoned and wittily-presented arguments neatly pinpointing some of the fundamental issues facing Judaism today, and among other things, unveiling the first reasonable and equitably halachic solution to the Jewish marriage problems. By far the very best work of any Jewish feminist to date, and easily stands beside any of the great and venerable works of modern Jewish thought, feminist or not. No Jew should get married before reading this.