The Womens Passover Companion

A powerful--and empowering--gathering of women's voices transmitting Judaism's Passover legacy to the next generation. The Women's Passover Companion offers an in-depth examination of women's relationships to Passover as well as the roots and meanings of women's seders. This groundbreaking collection captures the voices of Jewish women--rabbis, scholars, activists, political leaders and artists--who engage in a provocative conversation about the themes of the Exodus and exile, oppression and liberation, history and memory, as they relate to contemporary women's lives. Whether seeking new insights into the text and traditions of Passover or learning about women's seders for the first time, both women and men will find this collection an inspiring introduction to the Passover season and an eye-opening exploration of questions central to Jewish women, to Passover and to Judaism itself.

A powerful—and empowering—gathering of women’s voices transmitting Judaism’s Passover legacy to the next generation. The Women’s Passover Companion offers an in-depth examination of women’s relationships to Passover as well as the roots and meanings of women’s seders. This groundbreaking collection captures the voices of Jewish women—rabbis, scholars, activists, political leaders and artists—who engage in a provocative conversation about the themes of the Exodus and exile, oppression and liberation, history and memory, as they relate to contemporary women’s lives. Whether seeking new insights into the text and traditions of Passover or learning about women’s seders for the first time, both women and men will find this collection an inspiring introduction to the Passover season and an eye-opening exploration of questions central to Jewish women, to Passover and to Judaism itself.

With diverse and robust voices, women are reclaiming their place at the seder table. This complete sourcebook and guide shows you how to do it, too. For the first time, contemporary Jewish women's writings on the Passover seder are gathered in one comprehensive and compelling sourcebook--an unprecedented and powerful resource for those planning a women's seder and those seeking to infuse their Passover celebration with the creative and courageous voices of Jewish women. Arranged according to the order of the seder, this practical guide gathers the voices of more than one hundred women in readings, personal and creative reflections, commentaries, blessings and ritual suggestions that can be incorporated into your Passover celebration as supplements to or substitutes for traditional passages of the haggadah. It also includes a detailed guide to planning a women's seder, based on information from successful seder organizers around the world. Whether you are organizing a women's seder in your community or planning a family seder in your home, this inspiring and accessible resource will help you take an active role in re-creating the educational and spiritual experience of Passover--and in shaping Judaism's future. Contributors include: Dr. Rachel Adler * Dr. Rebecca T. Alpert * Rabbi Renni S. Altman * Zoe Baird Dr. Evelyn Torton Beck * Susan Berrin * Senator Barbara Boxer * Dr. Esther Broner Rabbi Nina Beth Cardin * Tamara Cohen * Anita Diamant * Dr. Carol Diament Rabbi Sue Levi Elwell, PhD * Eve Ensler * Dr. Marcia Falk * Merle Feld Rabbi Susan P. Fendrick * Rabbi Tirzah Firestone * Dr. Ellen Frankel * Nan Fink Gefen Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg * Rabbi Lynn Gottlieb * Dr. Susannah Heschel Rabbi Karyn D. Kedar * Rabbi Naamah Kelman * Naomi Klein * Irena Klepfisz Maxine Kumin * Rabbi Noa Rachel Kushner * Rabbi Joy Levitt * Hadassah Lieberman Ruth W. Messinger * Dr. Faye Moskowitz * Joan Nathan * Dr. Alicia Suskin Ostriker Dr. Judith Plaskow * Marge Piercy * Dr. Rachel Naomi Remen * Anne Roiphe Danya Ruttenberg * Rabbi Sandy Eisenberg Sasso * The Honorable Jan Schakowsky Rabbi Susan Schnur * Rabbi Susan Silverman * Dr. Ellen M. Umansky Rabbi Sheila Peltz Weinberg * Dr. Chava Weissler * Cantor Lorel Zar-Kessler

"Women at the Seder is a traditional "Passover Haggadah whose commentary celebrates of one of the great transformations of the Torah community during this past century: the emergence of women from the privacy of their home "tents" to the public arena of the synagogue and Torah study halls, without abandoning in any way their central traditional role as the cornerstone of the home and family. The Rabbis had long ago acknowledged that it was in the merit of our righteous women that Israel was redeemed from slavery. The Passover "seder--the home celebration of our national liberation--is an appropriate place to acknowledge and honor women's expanded role in our public as well as private religious life. The commentary includes rabbinic comments on women associated with the Exodus, a discussion of those relevant aspects of Jewish law that apply to women, and homilies--"divrei Torah by women for the "seder, many written especially for this volume. In a generation, it should seem quaint that it was noteworthy that women's "divrei Torah constituted a significant part of a Haggadah commentary. That will be cause for yet additional rejoicing, as women's contributions on all levels of Torah scholarship will have become even more commonplace.

Written in honor of Dr. Judith Kates, represents a unique collaboration among faculty, staff, alumni, and friends of Hebrew College. Following after the Hebrew College High Holiday Companion, it offers a pathway into another of our central ritual moments-the Passover seder.

"Although the idea of 'keeping Passover' has too often come to mean the strict observance of an unending string of ordinances, decrees, rules, regulations, testimonies, precepts, laws, and statutes, it can as well mean the safekeeping of something precious and worth preserving. Tradition should be like the ballast that keeps a ship steady in an ocean of constant stormy change." From one of the nation's leading Haggadah experts comes the ultimate guide to creating a faithful and personal seder celebration. Emphasizing "thou may" instead of "thou shalt," Steingroot presents all the traditional and alternative options. Keeping Passover explores: the meaning of the Passover symbols how to choose the right Haggadah food, cookbooks, and table arrangements music, recordings, and learning to sing the songs ways to involve children the art of keeping Passover fresh every year Keeping Passover is a much needed and highly accessible resource offering a rich assortment of methods -- from simple to elaborate, traditional to innovative -- to enhance, preserve, and celebrate the seder.

With diverse and robust voices, women are reclaiming their place at the seder table. This complete sourcebook and guide shows you how to do it, too. For the first time, contemporary Jewish women's writings on the Passover seder are gathered in one comprehensive and compelling sourcebook—an unprecedented and powerful resource for those planning a women’s seder and those seeking to infuse their Passover celebration with the creative and courageous voices of Jewish women. Arranged according to the order of the seder, this practical guide gathers the voices of more than one hundred women in readings, personal and creative reflections, commentaries, blessings and ritual suggestions that can be incorporated into your Passover celebration as supplements to or substitutes for traditional passages of the haggadah. It also includes a detailed guide to planning a women’s seder, based on information from successful seder organizers around the world. Whether you are organizing a women’s seder in your community or planning a family seder in your home, this inspiring and accessible resource will help you take an active role in re-creating the educational and spiritual experience of Passover—and in shaping Judaism’s future. Contributors include: Dr. Rachel Adler • Dr. Rebecca T. Alpert • Rabbi Renni S. Altman • Zoe Baird Dr. Evelyn Torton Beck • Susan Berrin • Senator Barbara Boxer • Dr. Esther Broner Rabbi Nina Beth Cardin • Tamara Cohen • Anita Diamant • Dr. Carol Diament Rabbi Sue Levi Elwell, PhD • Eve Ensler • Dr. Marcia Falk • Merle Feld Rabbi Susan P. Fendrick • Rabbi Tirzah Firestone • Dr. Ellen Frankel • Nan Fink Gefen Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg • Rabbi Lynn Gottlieb • Dr. Susannah Heschel Rabbi Karyn D. Kedar • Rabbi Naamah Kelman • Naomi Klein • Irena Klepfisz Maxine Kumin • Rabbi Noa Rachel Kushner • Rabbi Joy Levitt • Hadassah Lieberman Ruth W. Messinger • Dr. Faye Moskowitz • Joan Nathan • Dr. Alicia Suskin Ostriker Dr. Judith Plaskow • Marge Piercy • Dr. Rachel Naomi Remen • Anne Roiphe Danya Ruttenberg • Rabbi Sandy Eisenberg Sasso • The Honorable Jan Schakowsky Rabbi Susan Schnur • Rabbi Susan Silverman • Dr. Ellen M. Umansky Rabbi Sheila Peltz Weinberg • Dr. Chava Weissler • Cantor Lorel Zar-Kessler

The JGirls Guide is an inspirational, interactive book designed to help pre-teen Jewish girls address the spiritual, educational, and psychological issues surrounding coming of age in today's society. Topics include: - Ideals of beauty- Friendship- Sexuality- Dealing with parents- Attitudes toward eating- Coping with stress and indentity