Lifecycles: Vol.1; Jewish Women on Life Passages and Personal Milestones [Hardcover]

Debra Orenstein (Editor)

Book Description

Series: Lifecycles Vol. 1 | Publication Date: June 1994

Recent years have seen an explosion of interest in personal ritual and spirituality, as well as an exciting expansion of womens participation and leadership in Jewish life. This unique three-volume collaboration brings together over fifty women writers, rabbis, and scholars to create the first comprehensive work on Jewish life cycle that fully includes womens perspectives.

Lifecycles, V.1 covers the entire spectrum of lifes passages and presents the best and latest thinking on ritual, life cycle, and the way Jewish women see the world, in a style that is intelligent and insightful, passionate and personal.

Topics Covered:
Childbirth
Infertility & Early Losses
Welcoming Children into Name & Covenant
Adolescence
Invisible Life Passages
Coming Out
Marriage
Divorce
Intermarriage
Choosing Judaism
Parenting
Mid-life
Aging
Death and Mourning

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Few rabbis two millennia ago, or even two decades ago, would have cited childbirth, menstruation, coming out or menopause as life passages to be marked by prayer and ceremony. As this powerful compendium illustrates, however, feminism has transformed the definition of Jewish lifecycle events, imbuing ritual with innovation and creativity. The 50 Jewish women-scholars, rabbis, thinkers and poets-who have contributed provocative essays and moving ceremonies to this rich collection do so with a passion for molding Judaism and feminism. Every possiblity within feminine lifecycles is explored with openness. The contributors' sincerity, coupled with depth of knowledge, moves this volume past faddishness to resonance with the women of all ages.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

While traditional Judaism has special ceremonies to commemorate some of the personal milestones people experience-e.g., coming of age, marriage, and death-many life passages, particularly those affecting women, remain unheralded-e.g., menstruation, miscarriage, childbirth, menopause, and divorce. This book, a result of conferences that brought together (mostly women) rabbis, scholars, writers, and others, provides suggested prayers, rituals, poems, and other readings for these and other experiences. Together with Rabbi Orenstein's thoughtful introductory essays, they make a unique compendium of helpful, meaningful, and certainly thought-provoking material useful to all Jewish women and the libraries that serve them. This is the first in a projected three-volume set that will cover life themes and Jewish holidays and festivals. Highly recommended.
Marcia Welsh, Guilford Free Lib., Ct.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 480 pages
• Publisher: Jewish Lights Publishing; 1st edition (June 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1879045141
• ISBN-13: 978-1879045149
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.4 x 1.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.9 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #812,132 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #32 in Books > Religion & Spirituality > Judaism > Women and Judaism

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Absorbing, fresh approach. Required reading!, February 14, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Lifecycles: Vol.1; Jewish Women on Life Passages and Personal Milestones (Hardcover)

Rabbi Orenstein's book is a gem. She has looked at ritual with a fresh light, and collected essays that are fascinating and useful for those of us who want to integrate Jewishness into the pivotal moments of our lives. The essays are down-to-eath and not pedantic. It's hard to put the book down! The best book on the topic ever!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fresh and inspiring, April 15, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Lifecycles: Jewish Women on Life Passages and Personal Milestones (Lifecycles, Vol 1) (Paperback)

A treasure. Rabbi Orenstein has not only put together a wonderful, informative, and inspiring book, she has opened up a fresh dialogue within Judaic studies. Surely, this volume of learned women's voices will effect a new and inexhaustable discipline of study. I find myself refering to "Lifecycle's" often.

5.0 out of 5 stars A valuable read, December 5, 2011

By 

Joan K White, Ph.D - See all my reviews

This review is from: Lifecycles: Jewish Women on Life Passages and Personal Milestones (Lifecycles, Vol 1) (Paperback)

Rabbi Dera Orenstein's book is a remarkable collection that melds traditonal Jewish values with women's life experiences. It is a valuable resource for negotiating life's blessings and difficulties, being both inspiring and enlightening.