Women at the Crossroads: A Woman’s Perspective on the Weekly Torah Portion
by Rebbetzin Chana Bracha Siegelbaum
Publisher: Midreshet B’erot Bat Ayin
ISBN: 978-I-936068-09-8
262 pp, softcover
Cost: $18.95 plus shipping & handling
Available from Menorah Books
Read reviews, preview the book, watch lectures by the author and more . . .
WOMEN AT THE CROSSROADS: A WOMAN’S PERSPECTIVE ON THE WEEKLY TORAH PORTION addresses the single, most fundamental question defining Judaism today: What is the modern Jewish woman’s role – with all of her creative talents, intellectual capabilities, nurturing instincts and career interests – in a traditional Jewish society that seemingly restricts women to the home and, at best, menial workplace tasks? How can the dynamic woman in today’s world relate to the women of the Bible, who stand “in the tent,” behind their husbands, absorbed in family life?
Women today have more freedom than at any time in history. Yet, with this freedom, comes choices about how to balance family, work, community and self. A closer look at the women of the Torah – through the eyes of biblical commentators from past centuries until today – reveals the unique feminine qualities endowed to all women by G-d to help guide their daily decisions and relationships.
Placing traditional commentators, such as Rashi and the Ramban, side-by-side with Chassidic masters like the Meor V’shemesh and modern commentators including Rabbi Aryeh Kaplan, veteran Torah teacher and visionary Rebbetzin Chana Bracha Siegelbaum weaves together the strands that make up the tapestry of life for the Jewish woman – while showing how much she can learn from the Torah of the Mothers.
Rather than preaching the “feminist agenda,” the post-feminist author explains how Jewish women of today need to look inwards to the women in the Torah for guidance in choosing their priorities in life, rather than to the external, competitive, masculine world:
“. . . the highest achievements of Jewish femininity are accomplished specifically through fulfilling the traditional role of women in Judaism, rather than by attempting to imitate the more masculine Jewish rituals . . . the processes of pregnancy, birth, nurturing life, and personal prayer bring us much closer to Hashem than the experience of being in the spotlight by leading prayer services or officiating as rabbis.”
Women at the Crossroads: A Woman’s Perspective on the Weekly Torah Portion, published by Midreshet B’erot Bat Ayin and distributed by Urim Publications, is available for purchase at $18.95 online at https://www.berotbatayin.org/, by email at info@www.berotbatayin.org or by phone at (02) 993-4945.
The Seven Fruits of the Land of Israel with their Mystical & Medicinal Properties
The Wholesome Spirited Cookbook Nutrition & Health Series with Torah Teachings & Recipes
Published by MENORAH BOOKS
Copyright © September 2014
ISBN: 978-1-940516-03-5
440 pp, hard cover, full color
Cost: $44 (NIS 155) plus shipping & handling
Available from Menorah Books
Seven Fruits of the Land of Israel with their Mystical & Medicinal
Properties, by Rebbetzin Chana Bracha
Siegelbaum, is a book that every woman must own. I am so in awe of all what she
has put together in this book. It will be an enhancement to anyone’s library.
The book will also make a beautiful bat mitzvah or wedding gift.
resonates within as I read about each of the species. I can almost feel my
body responding to the nurturing within the species and the land. Not only does
Rebbetzin Chana Bracha go into each of the Seven Species, she also gives
Kabbalistic background and insight from Torah and the Talmud. The book is,
moreover, full of wonderful recipes for each of the Seven Species. It is even
more inclusive than I had hoped. It includes both food for the body and soul. I
cannot wait to get copies to give as gifts. All information is organized
wonderfully to flow easily from one topic to the next.
learning at Rebbetzin Chana Bracha’s Midreshet B’erot Bat Ayin, she
gave a weekly class about the land, herbology, nutrition and health. She would
patiently teach about each plant or herb and what they could be used for as
well as demonstrating how to use it. Her expertise was extensive as well
as informative. Reading The Seven Fruits of the Land of Israel and
looking at its beautiful artwork and photos transported me back to Rebbetzin’s
class and expanded her lessons. My heart and soul were dancing as I read
and put myself into the pictures. I could even feel myself transported back to
the time of our Matriarchs and imagine that this is what they did and how they
would use the various species.
appreciate the medicinal information in the book. I feel that the topic of
plants in the Torah is an important part of our heritage that comes alive
for us as Rebbetzin Siegelbaum discusses each of the seven special fruits
mentioned in the Torah. Almost 3000 years later these same special wheat,
barley, rye, oat, spelt, grapes; figs, pomegranates, olives or dates that
sustained our ancestors are sustaining us. When we learn about these
holy species as she discusses them, we can feel more in touch with our own
history and appreciate these gifts even more. We become aware of how we are
blessed through the Seven Fruits of the Land of Israel. I am wholeheartedly
convinced that this book is an awesome project that will bring us closer to
Moshiach! Thank you Rebbetzin Siegelbaum for such a treasure.
(Yehudit) Atkins RN, Atlanta, Georgia