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The Torah: A Women's Commentary
Each Torah portion in The Torah: A Women’s Commentary features:
* A central commentary written by a biblical scholar.
* A second, shorter commentary from another biblical scholar that compliments, supplements, or challenges the primary interpretation.
* A compendium of post-biblical interpretations highlighting issues related to women.
* A contemporary commentary reflecting social, philosophical, and theological concerns that link the Torah portion to current issues.
* Creative responses in the form of poems, prose, or modern midrash.
Free study guides for each parashah can be found in the sidebar.
-from http://www.wrj.org/torah-womens-comme...
* A central commentary written by a biblical scholar.
* A second, shorter commentary from another biblical scholar that compliments, supplements, or challenges the primary interpretation.
* A compendium of post-biblical interpretations highlighting issues related to women.
* A contemporary commentary reflecting social, philosophical, and theological concerns that link the Torah portion to current issues.
* Creative responses in the form of poems, prose, or modern midrash.
Free study guides for each parashah can be found in the sidebar.
-from http://www.wrj.org/torah-womens-comme...
1350 pages, Hardcover
First published December 10, 2007
90 people are currently reading
271 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
October 31, 2012
Received a free copy courtesy of my mother (Bonnie Lyons) who has several poems featured in this collection and translation of the Torah - and it is both of those things. It is a brilliant new translation plus commentary of the Torah, through feminist eyes, and it includes poetry at the end of each parsha, which often offer the most interesting interpretations of all.
A must read and own for all Jewish women.
A must read and own for all Jewish women.
March 13, 2013
This is a landmark and a groundbreaking volume that is a must read for all serious students of the Bible. Most significant is the multiple voices of interpretation since the commentary includes and highlights five perspectives on each Torah portion: 1) a central commentary with an overview followed by 2) another view to supplement or challenge the central commentary then 3) post-biblical interpretations, 4) contemporary reflections and finally 5) voices, particularly poetry. The whole work, which took decades, could not have happened until recently since there are now a critical number of women scholars from each branch of Judaism. The tone of the work is forthright in its claim for the meanings to include women, and women's perspectives and the language for God to be inclusive. It is also gracious in that the volume came into being as the result of collaborative reflection by including the voices of seasoned scholars and the newest rabbis.
August 7, 2017
I quite like the women-oriented commentaries, although I do wish that the commentaries had better citations, as I never know who actually said what when I read them, and it would be helpful to know in order to find out in what exact years the particular commentator lived (as with Rashi, ibn Ezra, Soforno, etc).
Obviously I will never be entirely finished with reading this sefer, but I do not need to have it up continually on my goodreads book shelf.
I must say that in comparing the translations in this Chumash against the translations in the JPS and the Artscroll, I tend to find the translation in this Women's version clearer and more readable (as well as in context).
Obviously I will never be entirely finished with reading this sefer, but I do not need to have it up continually on my goodreads book shelf.
I must say that in comparing the translations in this Chumash against the translations in the JPS and the Artscroll, I tend to find the translation in this Women's version clearer and more readable (as well as in context).
August 7, 2008
According to Judith Plaskow, this book is the most important thing to happen to Judaism since the ordination of women. But ok, I am not impartial.
May 26, 2009
My Rosh Chodesh group is currently reading.
March 24, 2024
This is truly what the title says.
It’s produced by female scholars who are focused on female centered topics. It’s not woke. It’s covering an ancient history and civilization that shaped the world and continues to shape the world… addressing the women of the ancient text. Because of this angle it covers women’s concerns in the ancient world as well.
It’s a detailed resource and response to many women (including myself) who feel that a lot was left unsaid and because we don’t know the cultural context women are misrepresented or the text is filtered through stereotypes and male based misunderstandings. This book clears a lot of that. Highly informative. Much loved.
I ended up using a lot of the information from it to write my series The Mist Walker.
It’s produced by female scholars who are focused on female centered topics. It’s not woke. It’s covering an ancient history and civilization that shaped the world and continues to shape the world… addressing the women of the ancient text. Because of this angle it covers women’s concerns in the ancient world as well.
It’s a detailed resource and response to many women (including myself) who feel that a lot was left unsaid and because we don’t know the cultural context women are misrepresented or the text is filtered through stereotypes and male based misunderstandings. This book clears a lot of that. Highly informative. Much loved.
I ended up using a lot of the information from it to write my series The Mist Walker.
July 4, 2020
An interesting look at the Torah in order to give voice to the women of the Torah. I had the pleasure of hearing some of the female scholars who were part of this monumental work. It is amazing how different the text can be with a new perspective. This work is based not just on women’s ideas but on deep scholarship in analyzing the translations, etc.
January 2, 2023
Amazing Commentary on the Torah portions.
It has a vast quantity of extra information from various sources like the Talmud and Rabbis
It gives a different perspective on each portion and verses I hadn't noticed before giving me more understanding about the women and men in Scripture.
Thank you for the work that has gone into enabling us to see further
It has a vast quantity of extra information from various sources like the Talmud and Rabbis
It gives a different perspective on each portion and verses I hadn't noticed before giving me more understanding about the women and men in Scripture.
Thank you for the work that has gone into enabling us to see further
April 11, 2012
Amazingly ambitious project.
Checked it out of the library, started it too late to finish.
Excellent work of scholarship, as a UU it's too much to undertake right now.
May come back to it later.
Checked it out of the library, started it too late to finish.
Excellent work of scholarship, as a UU it's too much to undertake right now.
May come back to it later.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews