A unique compilation of contemporary women’s midrashim.
 
Dirshuni: Contemporary Women’s Midrash, is the first-ever English edition of a historic collection of midrashim composed by Israeli women, which has been long-anticipated by multiple American audiences, including synagogues, rabbinical seminaries, adult learning programs, Jewish educators, and scholars of gender and religion. Using the classical forms developed by the ancient rabbis, the contributors express their religious and moral thought and experience through innovative interpretations of scripture. The women writers, from all denominations and beyond, of all political stripes and ethnic backgrounds, contribute their Torah to fill the missing half of the sacred Jewish bookshelf. This book reflects dramatic changes in the agency of women in the world of religious writings. The volume features a comprehensive introduction to Midrash for the uninitiated reader by the distinguished scholar Tamar Kadari and extensive annotation and commentary by Tamar Biala.
 

"Dirshu­ni is a step for­ward; it carves out a place for con­tem­po­rary women to see them­selves in the sacred texts. It focus­es on the courage, the heart­break, and the fight of bib­li­cal women — and it brings them to life. ... What would Judaism look like if women had been read­ing, study­ing, inter­pret­ing, and com­ment­ing on our sacred texts all this time? Dirshu­ni gives us a glimpse of that, and the view is spectacular." - Jewish Book Council

"Biala’s anthology together puts the writers in conversation across time. “Dirshuni” (Amos 5: 4) means “seek me” and this book fulfills its title’s promise." - Association of Jewish Libraries

"Jerusalem-based author and teacher Tamar Biala birthed a contemporary oeuvre of midrashim that could legitimately stand alongside those of the ancient rabbis in their canon of Midrash. With a capital M. Biala... collected contemporary midrashim written by a group of exceptional Israeli women. Curated in anthology form, unadorned, these luminous pieces addressed the needs and truths of the female half of the world....Not only is the world of Dirshuni now available to English-language readers, but there is a new twist: Biala has added framing and commentaries to each piece." - Jerusalem Post

"Dirshuni is the long-anticipated English edition of a collection of midrash composed by Israeli women. Scholars will relish the book’s nuances, it is the less experienced Torah student who will learn most from this wealth of new insights into the tradition." - Moment Magazine

"“Dirshuni is powerful, playful, joyful and sometimes painful. Its words and insights will be making many ‘guest appearances’ in my sermons and teaching in the coming year. . . . Get a copy of Dirshuni. As we begin a new cycle of Torah for the year, it should be at your side—for your own learning and teaching. It will yield numerous insights. With a solemn caveat: Don’t lend it out. You might never see it again.”" - Religion News Service

"“. . . . Anyone interested in midrash or contemporary Israeli women’s thought should find this work intriguing and stimulating.”" - The Reporter

"“I hope that the writings in this collection will be part of our conversation, and that we will be better able to ‘listen to her voice.’” " - The Jewish News of Northern California

"“As the first anthology of Midrashim written by women in English, Dirshuni offers valuable insights into midrashic feminist interpretation. . . . Biala’s commentary. . . . sparks further questions and insights. Her remarks are a testament to the effort, thought, consideration, and time that not only went into writing the commentary, but also into the midrashim themselves.” " - Reading Religion

"“This text is a gift—a profound exploration of both ancient text and the modern world all through the lives of women and their experiences. . . . This volume should be required reading.” " - CCAR Journal