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

by Vanessa L Ochs (Author) "I went to Jerusalem to study Torah..." (more)
Key Phrases: barukh hashem, parashat hashavua, bet midrash, New York, Rabbi Lauer, Rabbi Meir (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly
Believing she was living an "unsanctified life" that might be the underlying cause of her numerous physical ailments, Ochs went to Jerusalem to study sacred Jewish texts. A feminist who had taught writing at Yale, she approached her odyssey with ambivalence, troubled by the sexist bias in traditional, male-dominated Torah studies. But female scholars and seekers became her role models in Israel, making her realize that women can play an active role in Jewish learning and observance if they "open Torah wide and seize it for themselves." As Ochs forged an emotional connection to the Torah and the Talmud, her illnesses vanished and her faith deepened. Her observations on Israel's nascent feminist movement, and the personal narratives of the women she encountered, are interwoven into this deeply felt spiritual journey.
Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Library Journal
Ochs's spiritual odyssey into the study of Jewish sacred texts with other women in Jerusalem provides the framework of this extraordinary book. Accompanying her husband and two young children on a sabbatical year in Jerusalem, the author--an academic from New York--decided to explore the written teachings of her religion. Her scholarly investigations led to her becoming part of the learning process, taking on a study partner, and grappling with the "Portion of the Week" (the section read in the synagogue from the Torah on a given week). She then ascended to the more difficult Talmud or biblical commentary study. Ochs presents a "hands-on" approach to learning, mixing textual exegesis with colorful portraits of her mentors. How does she reconcile her feminist views with a learning system that is male-dominated? Ochs does some strenuous wrestling on her journey into the sacred. A powerful and important book.
- Molly Abramowitz, Silver Spring, Md.
Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 368 pages
• Publisher: Westview Press; Revised edition (July 15, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0813367182
• ISBN-13: 978-0813367187
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 6 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,165,815 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Life changing, November 17, 1999

By A Customer

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.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A well written and enjoyable book about Women's Torah study, May 12, 2003

By	Michael B. Zand (New York, NY United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Words on Fire: One Woman's Journey into the Sacred (Paperback)

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).

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An Education for a Christian , February 4, 2006

By	ckp (New Jersey) - See all my reviews

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.