The Torah: A Women's Commentary (Hardcover)

~ Edited by Dr. Tamara Cohn Eskenazi and Rabbi Andrea Weiss (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Review

For generations, the task of interpreting the texts of Torah has been almost exclusively the province of men. In our generation, this has changed and the voices of women and their understandings of the Torah have enriched our people. This commentary will be a valuable addition to every synagogue, Torah study group, and Jewish home." --Rabbi David Ellenson, President Hebrew Union College

This is wonderful rendition of our most sacred text, the Women's Commentary will bring a fresh perspective to our people's story. It will be an extraordinary resource that will prove both useful and meaningful to all - men and women alike - who delve into its pages." --Rabbi Eric H. Yoffie, President Union for Reform Judaism

Product Description

"The five daughters of Zelophehad in the Book of Numbers approach Moses, the leaders of the people, and the entire community. They draw near because they see a problem that needs a solution: they have not been given an inheritance that they believe is due to them. They refuse to be left out and demand their rightful share. And so they dare speak to Moses, the priest Eleazar, all the other leaders, and the entire edah (congregation or formally constituted assembly). They say: 'Give us a holding among our father's kin. Give us a share of our heritage, why should we be left out?' They get what they want a share, a large share I should add. Moreover, as a result of their courage, a new Torah law is created, one that intends to benefit future generations long after them. Their story is the story of the WRJ's The Torah: A Women's Commentary. The Women of Reform Judaism said: 'Give us a share among our brothers. We are no longer willing to be left out.' Instead of land, WRJ asks for something even more enduring - 'Give us a share of our Torah.' The result is a Torah commentary that we trust will benefit all of us. With this commentary we will continue as sisters to empower the women - and men - who come after us for generations to come." Dr. Tamara Cohn Eskenazi Professor of Bible, HUC-JIR/LA The Torah: A Women's Commentary will incorporate these perspectives:

Product Details

• Hardcover: 1416 pages
• Publisher: URJ Press (December 10, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0807410810
• ISBN-13: 978-0807410813
• Product Dimensions: 10.2 x 7.7 x 1.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.5 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (22 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #28,367 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

36 of 37 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Worth the Wait and More, January 12, 2008

By	Amos Lassen (Little Rock, Arkansas) - See all my reviews (TOP 100 REVIEWER)

Eskenazi, Tamara Cohn and Andrea L. Weiss, editors. "The Torah: A Women's Commentary", Union of Reform Judaism Press and Women of Reform Judaism, 2008.

Worth the Wait and More

Amos Lassen

I just received my review copy of "The Torah: A Women's Commentary" and I could not wait to have a good look at it. It is one of those books that one look is not quite enough. This is commentary to be cherished--beautiful in every aspect. Physically this is a gorgeous book and if I have anything negative to say it is that I wish the cover would match the beauty of what is inside The cover is fine and I applaud the green color. I just wish that it was a bit more luxurious, maybe leather.
The Torah is the Jewish religion's most sacred text and it has brought forth numerous commentaries through the ages. Some of these are almost as respected as the text itself, even though up until now commentaries have been "somewhat" misogynistic. Those days are over with this volume which will, in my mind, find its place among the other commentaries. And let me say from the start--this is not a commentary for just women; it is a commentary for all of us. In the past and for generations, men have written the commentaries. Now we have fresh new voices which bring new ideas and new ways of thinking.
I recently brought my commentary with me to my weekly Torah study at Temple B'nai Israel in Little Rock, Arkansas and as we read the book of Deuteronomy, chapter 12, I followed along with an open mind and was amazed to see how much this commentary gave answers to some of the questions we discussed.
The women's commentary has been in the making for 15 years and it was worth the wait. The writing is scholarly and provides post-Biblical discussions and interpretations of the Five Books of Moses. To reflect on the Torah in contemporary terms brings new ideas to the fore and here is a book filled with new ideas on a text that dates back some 5000 years. The commentary is easy to use (I did not want to use the term user-friendly) and provides wonderful insight. The design is beautiful (have I used that word before? It is probably because I am so taken with it) and it is destined to become a great asset to the field of scholarship on Biblical thought.
I recently wrote my own commentary of the portion "Eikev" and I was anxious to see how much, or how little, the women and I were aligned. I felt that if I had had this at the time I wrote mine it would have been so much fuller and meaningful. (Remember that song from "Hello Dolly!", "It Takes a Women"? Believe me the women that worked on this commentary have given us a lot to think about.
Of course there is no commentary on the Torah that will answer all of the questions that might arise. The beauty of the Torah is that it allows us to draw our own conclusions. It is always good to have a guide to work within and I found the women's commentary to provide such a guide. It is quite simply a wonderful source for study. One of the new aspects of this work also is the section entitled "Voices" that accompanies each Torah portion. The poetry included in this section is exceptional and a pleasure to read. In short, the entire book is a pleasure to read and great fun too.

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A "must-have" for all serious Torah students!, January 6, 2008

By	Virginia Keller (Phoenix, AZ USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Almost 15 years in the creation, "The Torah: A Women's Commentary" is a scholarly commentary on the Five Books of Moses, including post-biblical interpretations and contemporary reflections. It is structured in a "user-friendly" way to enable the reader to access the richness of the Jewish Text. It is a beautifully designed, scholarly work that will be, I'm sure, a source for study and learning for many years to come.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A treasure, February 24, 2008

By	Carol L. Ziegler (Brooklyn, New York) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This awesome labor of love combines Torah text, commentary, contemporary reflections, poetry (and more.) Because it focuses on the role of women (or their absence) in Torah, it provides a long needed pathway for women to enter into the biblical world and the teachings of a text that has played so great a part in shaping our views of our relationship with the Divine, and each other. Inside it is beautiful in every sense. It deserved a cover more commensurate with that beauty, but why quibble.

Buy it for every Jewish woman and girl you love. (What an extraordinary Bat Mitzvah present!)