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Was It Worth It?

A few years back I was asked if writing Rachel Sarai’s Vineyard was worth it. The question again came up twice, so I went back to what I answered then, since I still feel the same way about it. Was writing Rachel Sarai’s Vineyard worth it and will it serve a purpose? Good question, that one, but darn hard to answer. To begin with the last part: will it serve a purpose? I have no idea, but I desperately hope it will. I hope it will show people part of ‘what it was like’, especially what it was… Continue

Added by Deborah Rey on November 17, 2009 at 12:35pm — No Comments

Free Webinar on basic structure of Hebrew words

Shalom; There will be a webinar on Thursday 10:30 PM (US Eastern Time) discussing the basic structure of Hebrew words: How to extract the root (shoresh) of the word, and then how to add back in the other word components to understand the full meaning of the word. And it is totally free! To participate, please click here: https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/343674664 Reserve your spot NOW! Good Luck, Moshe B. Continue

Added by Moshe Burt on November 17, 2009 at 8:26am — No Comments

And they call it PTSD

An interesting thing about people who have been scarred by whatever kind of 'war' (mentally or physically), is that they hardly ever talk about it for a very long time and some never. I'm one of those. Do we have a hard time believing this happened to us? Are we ashamed? Do we feel people will not understand? Are we afraid to show our pain? All of it, I think, but a major factor remains the fact that people do not, can't understand many of the things we lived through and survived, most people ca… Continue

Added by Deborah Rey on November 13, 2009 at 7:30am — No Comments

Come, Let’s Toll That Bell

He was your Grandfather, he wasn’t mine. She was my Mother, she wasn’t yours. He survived, his soul in shreds, (so hard for him to live with), she died, her remains somewhere in Auschwitz (hard for me to live with). We never even heard of him, of that soldier, I mean, but his family was handed the telegram politely announcing his death in a bloody senseless war in a far-off land. The new captain on his country’s ship came just too late for this son brother friend lover husband father. Today, No… Continue

Added by Deborah Rey on November 10, 2009 at 3:52pm — No Comments

Bashert art exhibit at Miami JCC

My last speaking event in Miami was at the JCC in Davie, and having arrived early, I looked around for something to occupy myself. Turned out this was easy, since there was an art exhibit going on, not an uncommon occurrence at JCC's. I decided to check it out, especially after learning that this was opening night, so there would be a nice little reception. The artist, Jackie Olenick, was there as well. Most of her new work appeared to be… Continue

Added by Maggie Anton on November 8, 2009 at 11:55pm — No Comments

They Blow My Horn...

*This is a superb novel which should be receiving literary awards, not harassment from jealous and small-minded detractors. It is harrowing, passionate and unforgettable. I can see that Deborah is rightfully determined that it shall not be suppressed, by anybody. May it at last receive the recognition that it so richly deserves. David Gardiner (UK) *Last night, after everyone was in bed, I started to read RACHEL SARAI’S VINEYARD and couldn’t stop… it was already 1 o’clock in the morning when I… Continue

Added by Deborah Rey on November 8, 2009 at 7:57am — No Comments

Rashi's "feminist" commentary on Genesis 3

[continuation of previous post] It is in the third chapter of Genesis, where Eve succumbs to the snake's temptation and eats the forbidden fruit, that Rashi goes against the near universal tradition of blaming Eve. He knows these very well, because in Gen 3:8 he states that he's aware of many midrash about this, including Genesis Rabbah, but he's not concerned with them - only with peshat, the plain meaning of the text. Yet Rashi regularly quotes midrash in his other Torah commentaries, s… Continue

Added by Maggie Anton on November 6, 2009 at 2:43am — No Comments

Chapter Reading of Kristallnacht

Hello fellow members, On November 9, I'll be reading the chapter of my memoir, "The Winter's Journey of My Youth," that recalls my experience of that fateful night as a German Jew in Nazi Germany. The reading will take place at the Art Gallery of the 92nd Street Y in Manhattan, at 1:30 PM, followed by a discussion and book signing. I'd like to greet you and invite you to come. Warmest greetings, Helen Continue

Added by Helen Studley on November 4, 2009 at 11:09am — No Comments

What Others Say About My Book (and me)

November 3, 2009 *This is, quite simply, an astonishing book. It confronts the reader with truths that most will never see and all would choose to avoid. But it is so powerfully written, that it blazes. It burns. The style is unique. I can’t think of anyone who writes like this. And I cannot imagine what it must have been like writing it. Putting down on paper the manipulation, the child’s bewilderment, the pain, the hurt. I will be re-reading it, but not until it has worked through me and out… Continue

Added by Deborah Rey on November 3, 2009 at 12:15pm — No Comments

Rashi's "feminist" commentary on Genesis 1

This Sunday, November 8, I will be the keynote speaker at Bible by the Bay in Marin County, CA. My topic will be: "Rashi's Daughters as Torah commentators: fact, fiction or legend?" Which means I have to find some of Rashi's commentaries that show a feminist bent and teach them to my audience. I confess that I have not read all of Chumash with Rashi [shocking], nor have I memorized those parts I have studied. But I had a good idea where to start l… Continue

Added by Maggie Anton on November 3, 2009 at 2:51am — No Comments

Historical fiction vs historical romance

How about something that has nothing to do with Judaism [for a change], but is a big topic of discussion in women's historical fiction? What is the difference [assuming there is one] between historical romance, historical fiction with a romance plot, and historical fiction with romantic elements? Surely all have the basic plot: girl meets boy, girl gets boy, girl loses boy, girl gets boy. So what makes one novel a 'bodice-ripper' and another literary fiction? Is it the writing or merely the publ… Continue

Added by Maggie Anton on October 30, 2009 at 1:24am — No Comments

Oui, Madame Veil. You know all about it…

October 28, 2009 at 2:53 pm · “To be rooted is perhaps the most important and least recognized need of the human soul… To be able to give, one has to possess; and we possess no other life, no other living sap, than the treasures stored up from the past and digested, assimilated and created afresh by us. Of all the human soul’s needs, none is more vital than this one of the past”. 　 Simone Veil This beautiful and in connection with Rachel Sarai’s Vineyard so very to the point statement,… Continue

Added by Deborah Rey on October 29, 2009 at 9:15am — No Comments

why folks should read

Finally I'm home from my Florida book tour, which I consider a success despite some good news and some bad news. Good news: my programs at Jewish venues drew large audiences of over 100 attendees. Bad news: except for "Books & Books" in Miami, none of my independent bookstore events drew even half a minyan. Good news: Jewish venues often sold out of Books I and II, which means lots of readers are new to RASHI'S DAUGHTERS. Bad news: if they don't get a signed copy when I'm speaking, are they… Continue

Added by Maggie Anton on October 26, 2009 at 12:07am — No Comments

Maggie's speaking in Florida Oct 13-22

Let all your Florida friends know that I will be speaking everywhere in Florida from Oct 13-22: Jacksonville [10-13], Palm Coast [10-14], Sarasota [10-15 am], Tampa [10-15 pm], Dunedin [10-16], Orlando [10-18], Boca Raton [10-19], Miami [10-20 am], Bal Harbour [10-20 pm], Naples [10-21], Boynton Beach [10-22 am], and JCC at Davie [10-22 pm]. For more info, including exact times and locations, see my website schedule Continue

Added by Maggie Anton on October 12, 2009 at 2:19am — No Comments

How is Hanukah like Sukkot?

As we approach the end of Sukkot, I am reminded of the suspicion of a connection between Sukkot and Hanukah, since both festivals last 8 days. According to the Apocrypha, the Maccabees were celebrating a delayed Sukkot when they rededicated the Temple. "They [the Jews] celebrated it for eight days with gladness like Sukkot and recalled how a little while before, during S… Continue

Added by Maggie Anton on October 9, 2009 at 2:02pm — No Comments

Maggie Anton interview on NPR

Today I was interviewed by Ann Bocock of WXEL, the NPR station in West Palm Beach, Florida. The show, "Florida Forum," will broadcast on Sunday, Oct 4 at 11 am EST and again on Monday, Oct 5 at 7 pm EST. Those who live outside south Florida can listen live on their computer by going to either WXEL or RadioTime . Those who want to wait and download a… Continue

Added by Maggie Anton on October 2, 2009 at 12:58am — No Comments

Maggie Anton's Rosh Hashanah teaching on Tractate RH20a

Several folks asked for a copy of my Rosh Hashanah drash, which was actually a Talmud study session to show how Rashi's commentary is essential to deciphering the text. I will try to summarize my teaching, which focused on a short passage in Tractate Rosh Hashanah 20a. Keep in mind that the Talmud is written in a deliberately opaque fashion because this is the oral Torah that the reader should have already studied with a teacher. The shorthand version written down is supposed to jog the student'… Continue

Added by Maggie Anton on September 27, 2009 at 12:40am — No Comments

RASHI'S DAUGHTERS: BOOK III - RACHEL and Rosh Hashanah

With Rosh Hashanah upon us, I thought I'd connect BOOK III - RACHEL with the High Holy Days [aka High Holidays or, preferred usage, Days of Awe]. I don't think what I'm about to write is a spoiler, so even if you haven't read RACHEL, don't hesitate to read further. One of my goals in writing RASHI'S DAUGHTERS was to show how medieval French Jews celebrated holidays and life cycle events, and to that end I was determined that every Jewish holiday would be observed in at least one volume of the t… Continue

Added by Maggie Anton on September 17, 2009 at 8:08pm — No Comments

Learn the Tanakh in the original Hebrew?

There is a new online video course that helps even total beginners read and understand the Tanakh in the original Hebrew -- immediately. Please pass this along to the people you know that would benefit from it: http://www.tanakh.co.il/ Continue

Added by Moshe Burt on September 16, 2009 at 1:14pm — No Comments

Because of a Book

I recently saw a request for help posted on the Yahoo Jewish Book Marketing group that I couldn't turn down. Shelley B, who runs the blog Write for a Reader was asking for posts from authors, bloggers, and publishers describing books we read as children that had an impact on our lives. In other words, a book that sparked something inside us, created the reader we are now, inspired us to write, etc. T… Continue

Added by Maggie Anton on September 6, 2009 at 2:04am — No Comments

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