Customer Reviews

Words On Fire: One Woman's Journey Into The Sacred

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As a theology minor during university, I was assigned to teach this text for a women in northern american religion class. It so moved me, that not only did I go on to study Judaism, both on my own and with a rabbi, I also converted. Truly amazing.

A very well written and enjoyable account of a woman's experience trying to learn Torah in Jerusalem. The author portrays other women's attitudes towards Torah learning (which has traditionally been reserved for men throughout Jewish history) as she tries to formulate her own attitudes. The reader travels with Ms. Ochs as she goes from the highs of grasping a complicated Torah passage to the lows of realizing that some Torah ideas are just plain sexist (in her perception).

As a Christian I had very little understanding of the traditions of Judaism. I had difficulty understanding why contemporary, intelligent, independent women would follow such strict rituals. Bt weaving her interesting personal story and academic study into this story Vanessa Ochs provided me with a start of understanding. Very interesting, enjoyable and entertaining.

One woman's journey into Torah study as vehicle for touring the world of modern Torah study in the late 20th Century. Vanessa Ochs tells of her quest to discover on a very personal level if women have a place in Torah study. Nearly 20 years later, many of these issues seem dated. But Ochs' story is so intimate and so well told that I doubt one can read this book without coming away with a burning desire to study Torah for one's self. On another level this book is a treat simple for the people Ochs encounters in her journey. The book is worth reading for her portrait of Aviva Zornberg alone. Also featured are: Pardes Institute, Nehama Leibowitz, Matan, Malke Bina, Batya Miller, Chana Safrai, Judith Lieberman Institute. This book is a gem!