CCAR Taskforce on the Experience of Women in the Rabbinate: Resources and Bibliography

  • The Sacred Calling: Four Decades of Women in the Rabbinate
    Winner of the 2016 National Jewish Book Award in Women’s Studies, this pioneering anthology paints an illuminating and necessary picture of the past while laying the groundwork for important work yet to be done.  For further reading, be sure to also check out the bibliography.
  • The Torah: A Women’s Commentary
    The groundbreaking volume The Torah: A Women’s Commentary, originally published by URJ Press and Women of Reform Judaism, has been awarded the top prize in the oldest Jewish literary award program, the 2008 National Jewish Book Awards. The Torah: A Women’s Commentary gives dimension to the women’s voices in our tradition. Under the skillful leadership of editors Dr. Tamara Cohn Eskenazi and Rabbi Andrea Weiss, PhD, this commentary provides insight and inspiration for all who study Torah: men and women, Jew and non-Jew.

From Sacred Calling’s Bibliography

  • Jewish History through a Feminist Lens
    • Balin, Carole B., Dana Herman, Jonathan D. Sarna, and Gary P. Zola, eds. Sisterhood: A Centennial History of Women of Reform Judaism. Cincinnati: Hebrew Union College Press, 2013.
    • Bar-Ilan, M. Some Jewish Women in Antiquity. Atlanta: Scholars Press, 1998.
    • Baskin, Judith. Jewish Women in Historical Perspective. Detroit: Wayne State University Press, 1998.
    • Bird, Phyllis A. Missing Persons and Mistaken Identities: Women and Gender in Ancient Israel. Philadelphia: Fortress Press, 1997.
    • Goldstein, Elyse. Seek Her Out: A Textual Approach to the Study of Women and Judaism. New York: URJ Press, 2003.
    • Henry, Sondra, and Emily Taitz. Written Out of History: Our Jewish Foremothers. Fresh Meadows, NY: Biblio Press, 1996.
    • Ilan, Tal. Integrating Women into Second Temple History. Peabody, MA: Hendrickson Publishers, 2001.
    • Ilan, Tal. Jewish Women in Greco-Roman Palestine. Tübingen: J. C. B. Mohr, 1995.
    • Ingall, Carol K. The Women Who Reconstructed American Jewish Education, 1910–1965.Hanover, NH: University Press of New England / Brandeis University Press, 2010.
    • Meyers, Carol. Rediscovering Eve: Ancient Israelite Women in Context. New York: Oxford University Press, 1988.
    • Nadell, Pamela S., and Jonathan D. Sarna. Women and American Judaism: Historical Perspectives. Hanover, NH: University Press of New England / Brandeis University Press, 2001.
    • Prell, Riv-Ellen. Fighting to Become Americans: Assimilation and the Trouble between Jewish Women and Jewish Men. Boston: Beacon Press, 1999.
    • Prell, Riv-Ellen, and David Weinberg, eds. Women Remaking American Judaism. Detroit: Wayne State University Press, 2007.
    • Shepherd, Naomi. A Price below Rubies: Jewish Women as Rebels and Radicals. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 1993.
  • Jewish Feminist Theology
    • Adler, Rachel. Engendering Judaism: An Inclusive Theology and Ethics. Boston: Beacon Press, 1999.
    • Christ, Carol P., and Judith Plaskow, eds. Womanspirit Rising: A Feminist Reader in Religion. HarperCollins: San Francisco, 2004.
    • Firestone, Tirzah. The Receiving: Reclaiming Jewish Women’s Wisdom. San Francisco: HarperCollins, 2003.
    • Goldman, Karla. Beyond the Synagogue Gallery: Finding a Place for Women in American Judaism. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 2000.
    • Goldstein, Elyse, ed. New Jewish Feminism: Probing the Past, Forging the Future. Woodstock, VT: Jewish Lights, 2009.
    • Grossman, Susan, and Rivka Haut, eds. Daughters of the King: Women and the Synagogue.Philadelphia: Jewish Publication Society, 1992.
    • Heschel, Susannah. On Being a Jewish Feminist: A Reader. New York: Schocken Books, 1995.
    • Plaskow, Judith. The Coming of Lilith: Essays on Feminism, Judaism, and Sexual Ethics, 1972–2003. Boston: Beacon Press, 2005.
    • Plaskow, Judith. Standing Again at Sinai: Judaism from a Feminist Perspective. New York: HarperCollins, 1991.
    • Plaskow, Judith, and Carol P. Christ. Weaving the Visions: New Patterns in Feminist Spirituality.San Francisco: Harper & Row, 1989.
    • Ruttenberg, Danya, ed. Yentl’s Revenge: The Next Wave of Jewish Feminism. Seattle: Seal Press, 2001.
  • Biblical Interpretation through a Feminist Lens
    • Adelman, Penina, ed. Praise Her Works: Conversations with Biblical Women. Philadelphia: Jewish Publication Society, 1995.
    • Bach, Alice, ed. Women in the Hebrew Bible: A Reader. New York: Routledge, 1999.
    • Diamont, Anita. The Red Tent. New York: St. Martin’s Press, 1997.
    • Eskenazi, Tamara Cohn, and Andrea L. Weiss. The Torah: A Women’s Commentary. New York: Women of Reform Judaism / URJ Press, 2007.
    • Exum, J. Cheryl. Fragmented Women: Feminist Subversions of Biblical Narratives. Harrisburg, PA: Trinity Press International, 1993.
    • Frankel, Ellen. The Five Books of Miriam: A Women’s Commentary on the Torah. New York: HarperCollins, 1998.
    • Frymer-Kensky, Tikva. Reading the Women of the Bible: A New Interpretation of Their Stories. New York: Schocken Books, 2002.
    • Goldstein, Elyse. ReVisions: Seeing Torah through a Feminist Lens. Woodstock, VT: Jewish Lights, 2001.
    • Goldstein, Elyse, ed. The Women’s Haftarah Commentary: New Insights from Women Rabbis on the 54 Haftarah Portions, the 5 Megillot and Special Shabbatot. Woodstock, VT: Jewish Lights, 2004.
    • Goldstein, Elyse. The Women’s Torah Commentary: New Insights from Women Rabbis on the 54 Weekly Torah Portions. Woodstock, VT: Jewish Lights, 2000.
    • Graetz, Naomi. Unlocking the Garden: A Feminist Jewish Look at the Bible, Midrash, and God.Piscataway, NJ: Gorgias Press, 1994.
    • Hammer, Jill. Sisters at Sinai: The Tales of Biblical Women. Philadelphia: Jewish Publication Society, 2001.
    • Hyman, Naomi M. Biblical Women in the Midrash: A Sourcebook. New York: Jason Aronson, 1997.
    • Kates, Judith A., and Gail Twersky Reimer. Reading Ruth: Contemporary Women Reclaim a Sacred Story. New York: Ballantine Books, 1994.
    • Koltuv, Barbara Black. The Book of Lilith. York Beach, ME: Nicolas-Hays, 1987.
    • Labowitz, Shoni. God, Sex, and Women of the Bible: Discovering Our Sensual, Spiritual Selves.New York: Simon and Schuster, 1998.
    • Pardes, Ilana. Countertraditions in the Bible: A Feminist Approach. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 1992.
    • Schussler Fiorenza, Elisabeth. Bread Not Stone: The Challenge of Feminist Biblical Interpretation. Boston: Beacon Press, 1995.
    • Trible, Phyllis. Texts of Terror: Literary-Feminist Readings of Biblical Narratives. Philadelphia: Fortress Press, 1984.
  • Women as Rabbis
    • Greenberg, Simon, ed. The Ordination of Women as Rabbis: Studies and Responsa. New York: Jewish Theological Seminary of America, 1988.
    • Klapheck, Elisa. Fraulein Rabbiner Jonas: The Story of the First Woman Rabbi. Translated by Toby Axelrod. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass, 2004.
    • Nadell, Pamela, S. Women Who Would Be Rabbis: A History of Women’s Ordination 1889–1985. Boston: Beacon Press, 1998.
    • Ner-David, Haviva. Life on the Fringes: A Feminist Journey towards Traditional Rabbinic Ordination. Needham, MA: JFL Books, 2000.
    • Priesand, Sally. Judaism and the New Woman. Springfield, NJ: Behrman House, 1975.
    • Sheridan, Sybil. Hear Our Voices: Women in the British Rabbinate. Columbia, SC: University of South Carolina Press, 1998.
    • “Wisdom You Are My Sister: Twenty-Five Years of Women in the Rabbinate.” Special issue, CCAR Journal, Summer 1997.
    • Zola, Gary P., ed. Women Rabbis: Exploration and Celebration. Cincinnati: HUC-JIR Rabbinic Alumni Association Press, 1996.
  • Sexuality
    • Alpert, Rebecca T., Sue Levi Elwell, and Shirley Idelson, eds. Lesbian Rabbis: The First Generation. Piscataway, NJ: Rutgers University Press, 2001.
    • Aviv, Caryn, and David Schneer. Queer Jews. New York: Routledge, 2002.
    • Beck, Evelyn Torton, ed. Nice Jewish Girls: A Lesbian Anthology. Boston: Beacon Press, 1989.
    • Grushcow, Lisa J., ed. The Sacred Encounter: Jewish Perspectives on Sexuality. New York: CCAR Press, 2014.
  • Jewish Law, Rabbinics, and the Female Voice
    • Abrams, Judith. The Women of the Talmud. Northvale, NJ: Jason Aronson, 1995.
    • Baskin, Judith. Midrashic Women: Formations of the Feminine in Rabbinic Literature. Hanover, NH: University Press of New England / Brandeis University Press, 2002.
    • Biale, Rachel. Women and Jewish Law: The Essential Texts, Their History, and Their Relevance for Today. New York: Schocken Books, 1995.
    • Calderon, Ruth. A Bride for One Night: Talmud Tales. Philadelphia: Jewish Publication Society, 2014.
    • Hauptman, Judith. Rereading the Rabbis: A Woman’s Voice. Boulder, CO: Westview Press, 1998.
    • Peskowitz, Miriam B. Spinning Fantasies: Rabbis, Gender, and History. Berkeley: University of California Press, 1997.
    • Suskin, Alana. “A Feminist Theory of Jewish Law.” In The Unfolding Tradition: Jewish Law after Sinai, edited by Elliot Dorff. New York: Aviv Press, 2005.
    • Wegner, Judith Romney. Chattel or Person? The Status of Women in the Mishnah. London: Oxford University Press, 1988.
  • Ritual and Language
    • Anisfeld, Sharon Cohen, Tara Mohr, and Catherine Spector, eds. The Women’s Passover Companion: Women’s Reflections on the Festival of Freedom. Woodstock, VT: Jewish Lights, 2003.
    • Anisfeld, Sharon Cohen, Tara Mohr, and Catherine Spector, eds. The Women’s Seder Sourcebook: Rituals and Readings for use at the Passover Seder. Woodstock, VT: Jewish Lights, 2003.
    • Falk, Marcia. The Book of Blessings: A New Prayer Book for the Weekdays, the Sabbath and the New Moon Festival. San Francisco: HarperSanFrancisco, 1991.
    • Frymer-Kensky, Tikva. In the Wake of the Goddess: Woman, Culture and the Biblical Transformation of Pagan Myth. New York: Macmillan, 1992.
    • Hammer, Jill. “An Alter of Earth: Reflections on Jews, Goddesses, and the Zohar.” Zeek, Fall/Winter 2004, 7–20.
    • Hammer, Jill. The Jewish Book of Days: A Companion for All Seasons. Philadelphia: Jewish Publication Society, 2006.
    • Orenstein, Debra, ed. Vol.1, Jewish Women on Life Passages and Personal Milestones. Woodstock, VT: Jewish Lights, 1994.
    • Orenstein, Debra, and Jane Rachel Litman, eds. Vol. 2, Jewish Women on Biblical Themes in Contemporary Life. Woodstock, VT: Jewish Lights, 1997.
    • Sasso, Sandy Eisenberg. “Unwrapping the Gift.” In Women and Religious Ritual: An Interdisciplinary Investigation, edited by Dr. Lesley A. Northrup. Washington, DC: Pastoral Press, 1993.
  • Other Torah Commentaries and Texts by Women
    • Hellner-Eshed, Melila. A River Flows from Eden: The Language of Mystical Experience in the Zohar. Stanford, CA: Stanford University Press, 2009.
    • Leibowitz, Nehama. Studies in Bereshit, Shemot, Vayikra, Bamidbar, Devarim. 6 vols. Jerusalem: World Zionist Organization, 1980.
    • Zakon, Miriam Stark, trans. Tzenah U’Renah: The Classic Anthology of Torah Lore and Midrashic Comment. Jerusalem: Mesorah, 1983.
    • Zornberg, Aviva. Bewilderments: Reflections on the Book of Numbers. New York: Schocken Books, 2015.
    • Zornberg, Aviva. Genesis: The Beginning of Desire. Philadelphia: Jewish Publication Society, 1995.
    • Zornberg, Aviva. The Particulars of Rapture, Reflections on Exodus. New York: Schocken Books, 2001.

Other book suggestions

  • Bomhoff, Hartmut, Eger, Denise L., Ehrensperger, Kathy, and Homolka, Water, eds. Gender and Religious Leadership: Women Rabbis, Pastors, and Ministers. Lexington Books, 2019.
  • Brandes, Yochi. The Orchard. Daniel Libensen, trans. Edinson, NJ: Gefen Books, 2017.
  • Brandes, Yochi. The Secret Book of Kings. Greenspan, Yardenne, trans. New York, NY: St. Martin’s Press, 2016.
  • Christ, Carol and Plaskow, Judith. Goddess and God in the World: Conversations in Embodied Theology. Minneapolis, MN: Fortress Press, 2016.
  • Kantor, Jodi and Twohey, Megan. She Said: Breaking the Sexual Harassment Story that Helped Ignite a Movement. Penguin Press, 2019.
  • Ochs, Vanessa. Inventing Jewish Ritual. Jewish Publication Society, Philadelphia PA. 2007.
  • Zamore, Mary, ed. The Sacred Exchange: Creating a Jewish Money Ethic. New York, NY: CCAR Press, 2019.

 

Other Formats of Resources

  • Webinars through the Safety, Respect, Equity Coalition on sexual harassment and gender disparity in Jewish workplaces.
  • Krista Tippet podcast interview with Harvard psychologist, Mahzarine Bajani on implicit bias and author of this book. Bajani has also developed a scientifically validated online instrument related to gender bias.
  • Ta’amod, under the leadership of National Director Nicole Nevarez, has launched the long-awaited searchable resource bank for individuals and organizations looking for information and referrals related to creating safe, respectful, equitable workplaces.

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