A unique compilation of contemporary women’s midrashim.
Dirshuni: Contemporary Women’s Midrash, is the first-ever English edition of a historic collection of midrashim composed by Israeli women, which has been long-anticipated by multiple American audiences, including synagogues, rabbinical seminaries, adult learning programs, Jewish educators, and scholars of gender and religion. Using the classical forms developed by the ancient rabbis, the contributors express their religious and moral thought and experience through innovative interpretations of scripture. The women writers, from all denominations and beyond, of all political stripes and ethnic backgrounds, contribute their Torah to fill the missing half of the sacred Jewish bookshelf. This book reflects dramatic changes in the agency of women in the world of religious writings. The volume features a comprehensive introduction to Midrash for the uninitiated reader by the distinguished scholar Tamar Kadari and extensive annotation and commentary by Tamar Biala.
Tamar Biala teaches in various batei midrash, rabbinical schools, and adult education programs in the United States and Israel. She coedited volume one of the Hebrew-language edition of Dirshuni with Nehama Weingarten-Mintz and, in 2018, published volume two.
Table of Contents
The Enchanted World of Midrash and its Unexpected Return in Recent Generations – Tamar Kadari
The Road to Women’s Midrash – Tamar Biala
Translators’ Notes
Part I: Creation of the World Miscarriage and Creation – Tamar Biala This One Will Be Called Woman – Miri Westreich And Your Desire Will Be for Your Man – Rivkah Lubitch And He Will Rule Over You – Dana Pulver Why Was it Given to Her – Tamar Bitton The Ever-Turning Sword – Tamar Biala
Part II: Matriarchs and Patriarchs The Tears of Salt – Ruti Timor Sarah’s Trials – Naama Eldar Sarah and the Sacrifice of Isaac – Rivkah Lubitch Stirrings – Bilha Kritzer Ariha And Where Was Sarah? – Tamar Biala In the Presence of His Wife – Hagit Rappel And Dinah Went Out – Rivkah Lubitch The Daughter of Dinah – Ayala Tzruya Let Your House Be Open Wide – Hagit Bartov
Part III: Exodus The Midwives Saw and Feared – Orna Pilz Bitya, The Daughter of God – Gili Zivan The Giving of the Ten Commandments – Tamar Biala
Part IV: Israel in the Desert Daughters of Tzelophchad – Rivkah Lubitch Death by a Kiss: Miriam's Passing – Tamar Biala
Part V: Prophets and Writings Tanot, Jephthah’s Daughter – Rivkah Lubitch I Will Build You Up Again – Yael Levin A Woman of Valor – Adi Blut
Part VI: Sexuality, Love, and Marriage More Bitter than Death – Rivkah Lubitch After Twenty-Four Years – Rivkah Lubitch For Love is as Fierce as Death – Tamar Biala The Ways of Marriage – Avital Hochstein One Who Did Not Find a Wife – Yael Unterman And Eve Knew – Efrat Garber-Aran
Part VII: Fertility and Parenthood Seven Clean Days – Etti Romm He Supports the Fallen – Nehama Weingarten-Mintz The Blessing for Breastfeeding – Efrat Garber-Aran All the Mitzvot for the Son and the Daughter – Naama Shaked Daughters of The Place – Hila Unna
Part VIII: Rape and Incest And Now be Silent – Tirza Barmatz-Stein The Father’s Scream: Concealing and Revealing – Oshrat Shoham The Mother’s Scream: Uncovering and Expulsion – Oshrat Shoham The Woman’s Scream: Cover-Up and Tikkun – Oshrat Shoham
Part IX: Inequality in Jewish Law and in the Rabbinic Court The Assembly of God – Rivka Lubitch Rachel, A Mother of Mamzerim – Rivka Lubitch Moses Visits Beruriah’s Beit Midrash – Rivka Lubitch The Refused Woman – Rivkah Lubitch Jamila the Objector – Rivka Lubitch Vows – Rivkah Lubitch
Part XI: Post-Holocaust Theology A Raven and a Dove – Tamar Biala The Shepherd in the Lilies – Dini Deutsch Frankel
Part XII: Holidays Sukkot Prayer for Rain (Tefillat HaGeshem) – Ruth Gan Kagan Pesach The Four Daughters – Einat Ramon Shavu’ot The Love of Ruth and Naomi – Yael Oryan and Ziva Ofek Ruth, Who Interpreted – Yael Unterman
