Customer Reviews

Like Bread on the Seder Plate: Jewish Lesbians and the Transformation of Tradition

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Rabbi Alpert writes a moving and thought provoking discussion about the complexities and ironies of being a Jewish lesbian. Personal experience and scholarly intellect make for an enjoyable and informative read.

This book brilliantly describes how Judaism must evolve in order to continue to stay vibrant and relevant to Jews today. Well-written, insightful, and informative, Rabbi Alpert reclaims the voices of Jewish lesbians throughout history and brings them along as guides while she articulates a vision for the future. A must read for every Jewish lesbian and gay man, as well as our allies!

The title of this book is an adaptation of a practice among some feminists of putting an orange on the seder plate in protest, based on a certain rabbi's sexist statement that "a woman belongs on the pulpit like an orange on the seder plate." OK, I can understand that symbolism, and an orange, while not part of the seder ceremony, is a fruit and therefore not forbidden to be on the Passover table. But the title of this book, based on the absurd practice that some lesbians have developed of placing a slice of leavened bread (totally forbidden on Passover!) on the seder plate, crosses the line for me. This is exactly the type of flaunting of tradition that turns me off about the lesbian feminist movement. I support gay rights as human rights and have done so for over 30 years. I am aware that the Nazis forced gays to wear pink triangles and gassed them along with the Jews and was teaching this fact long before the pink triangle was even adopted by the movement. I tell you this, dear reader, so you will know I'm not a gay-basher.

But I am also deeply offended when ANY group attacks Jewish traditions in such a self-hating manner. Ceremonies have real power, and when you turn them upside down, it disturbs the spiritual energy. You cannot commit a sin to perform a mitzvah -- even a mitzvah of protest. To purposely own leaven during Passover (one of THE most serious of sins) and then put it on the seder plate turns the entire ceremony into a total travesty.

A lot of Jews will pass up this book on the title alone - I almost did. As it turns out, the contents are serious food for thought. Although I disagreed with a lot of things, I learned a great deal about how lesbian Jews feel, the deep alienation they have experienced in the Jewish community, etc. For those insights, I am thankful. But with such a blatant lack of respect for the integrity of Jewish ceremonies, this book is not going to convince (and will more likely turn off) those religious Jews who are not already in the gay rights camp. Ms. Alpert is preaching to the choir.