Beginning Anew: A Woman's Companion to the High Holy Days

by Gail Twersky Reimer, Judith A. Kates (Editor)

In fascinating commentaries on the biblical texts read on Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, contemporary women authors, scholars, theologians, and educators bring a new perspective to their spiritual, psychological and emotional meaning.

Genres: Judaica, Religion, Judaism, Nonfiction

364 pages, Paperback

First published September 15, 1997

Reviews

[Lisa Feld · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this during High Holidays this year, and really enjoyed the different directions the authors took these familiar texts. Not all of them were to my taste (true of pretty much any anthology!) but some of my favorites included Tikva Frymer-Kensky’s exploration of how child sacrifice in the ancient world shifts our understanding of the Akeda, Bonna Devora Haberman’s discussion of the Tabernacle and sacrifices as a metaphor for the female body, Judith Plaskow’s questioning of how modern readers deal with Leviticus 18, Devora Steinmetz’s comparison of Jonah with other noted prophets, and Rachel Adler’s delicious, fruitful linking of Yom Kippur and Purim.

[Sarah]

I may just be in a bad mood from working at a feminist dystopia, but my main reaction to this book is to wish that all these people would quit busting Sarah's chops over Hagar's exile already. Show me one damn woman who's never, ever exiled a Hagar. Criminy.

Which is to say that a lot of the essays in this book are demonstrative of feminism gone annoying. It's a plague we're heir to (why, just last night I unpacked the gendered language on a bottle of Fiji water).

[Lori Feldstein-gardner · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a wonderful collection of feminist ideas for the High Holy Days. I read the essays in this book throughout Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, and they really enhanced my text study on the two holidays. I recommend that everyone read this during the break in services on Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur at some point. It will change the way you see all of the texts you read. Most inspirational for me was reading about Rivka's tears. How beautiful!

[Daughters Of Abraham]

We read this woman’s companion to the Jewish High Holy Days in conjunction with the holidays. Good discussion about the biblical texts relating to Sarah, Hagar and Abraham. All three faiths could respond since all of us have these stories in our scripture in various forms. Nothing controversial.(Review by Merrimack Valley Group)

[Shana · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read parts of this during the high holidays and then had to return it to the library. Some interesting essays, some pretentious, but overall worth a second look to see what I missed.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am blessed to have helped Gail and Judith with this book.