On Women & Judaism

Rating:
Summary: Excellent and thought provoking
Review: I bought this book after reading Blu Greenbergs How to Run a Traditional Jewish Household. In reading On Women And Judaism the book of Proverbs chapter 31 kept coming to mind where we are told that a strong Jewish woman is hard working, has her own money, business, servants, is physically and mentally fit which denotes she isn't a wimp or uneducated. She is altruistic and according to Jewish custom takes care of her family as well as those who work for her. In essence she is a feminist.

Which is what Ms. Greenberg discusses in depth in her chapter titled The Theoretical Basis of Women's Equality in Judaism. In section three she shares what the working principles of Halakhah or the collection of Jewish laws are and how they relate to Jewish women and how they are in line with what a Proverbs 31 woman is: observing the Sabbath, kashrut, giving to charity, having a family, being part of the community, teaching children, studying Torah, loving God.

She also writes how Judaism isn't a stagnant belief system but is a system that allows change. In Jewish Women;Coming of Age she notes that the role of the Jewish woman today is defined by ancient and deeply rooted historical precedents which is why contemporary social forces have a much different impact on Jewish women than on women in general.

The later part of the book where she discusses issues like divorce, abortion and other intimate subjects was enlightening and very informative. Just to bad so few Christian women will know of or read the book because it would be an eye opener to what Judaism really is and what it has always taught.

Rating:
Summary: Enlightening & Evokative
Review: I had the privilege of hearing and meeting Mrs. Greenberg while in my undergraduate studies and found her lecture presentation to be the most intellectually and religiously stimulating event of those years. With this experience, I eagerly pore over virtually everything she publishes, and *On Women and Judaism* was no exception. I read and re-read the book over several months: sometimes wanting to toss it into the waste basket as it angered me so; other times wondering how I'd survived as a traditionally religious woman without it.

Mrs. Greenberg weaves her own experiences into her vast knowledge of scripture and history. The result enlightens the reader and bridges the chasm between tradition and feminism without compromising either side--a nearly impossible feat.

Highly recommended.

Rating:
Summary: check it out of the library
Review: I really enjoyed this book, in which Blu Greenberg discusses the ways that she reconciles feminism and traditional Judaism. Her thoughts were very influential for me, and still affect the way that I see many issues.

Unfortunately, the book is not meaty enough. She speaks in generalities rather than tackling the texts. Books providing more textual details are those of Judith Hauptman, Joel Wolowelsky, Avi Weiss, and Eliezer Berkovits.