Lifecycles, Vol. 1
Recent years have seen an explosion of
interest in personal ritual and spirituality, as well as an
exciting expansion of women’s participation and
leadership in Jewish life. The three volumes of Lifecycles
bring together over 100 leading thinkers to create the first
comprehensive work on Jewish lifecycle that features
women’s perspectives.
In a style that is perceptive, insightful
and personal, Lifecycles, V. 1 covers the spectrum of life’s passages and
personal milestones: Childbirth, Conversion, Marriage,
Singlehood, Coming Out, Mid-Life, Divorce, Aging, and more.
Included are personal narratives, traditional concepts, new
approaches, practical insights, and rituals and ceremonies to
study and use. The contributors explore tradition and
innovation with passion and self-awareness, expressing the way
Jewish women see—and affect—the world.
Introductions by Rabbi Debra Orenstein
provide readers with a broader context for the ideas shared in
each section. Complete with an afterword guide to creating
rituals, this landmark volume gives women a resource for
recognizing and marking their own life passages and personal
milestones.
“An invaluable resource for women
who want to connect Jewish feminism to the actual occasions of
their lives.”
—Judith
Plaskow, author of Standing Again at Sinai: Judaism from a Feminist
Perspective
“Nothing is missing from this
marvelous collection. You will turn to it for rituals and
inspiration, prayer and poetry, comfort and community. Lifecycles is a
gift to the Jewish woman in America.”
—Letty
Cottin Pogrebin, author of Deborah, Golda, and Me: Being Female and Jewish
in America
“This compendium is wonderful,
useful, and necessary as a companion in one’s
life.”
—E.M.
Broner, author of A Weave of Women and The Telling
“Both a moving collection of
personal experiences and an excellent resource for
study.”
—Body
Mind Spirit Magazine
“A wonderful book of Jewish wisdom
that weaves together women’s personal experiences and
traditional sources to reflect upon, and create rituals for,
life’s passages. Essential reading for all who seek to
infuse their life with Jewish meaning.”
—Paula E.
Hyman, Lucy Moss Professor of
Modern Jewish History, Yale University
