This text explores what it is like to be part of both the lesbian and Jewish communities, suggesting ways in which lesbians can reconcile these seemingly discordant elements of their identity. It advocates the acceptance of lesbians into the Jewish tradition by offering new interpretations of the Torah traditionally regarded as prohibitive of homosexuality. The book counters the millennia of "Midrashim" (scholarly comment on the Torah) condemning gays and lesbians, by examining the culture of biblical lawgivers and the culture of the commentators themselves. By examining passages from Scripture and by featuring texts that portray Jewish lesbians as role models in a new cultural canon, the author presents a case for the integration of the lesbian voice into Jewish experience.

One of the first women to be ordained as a rabbi explores how lesbians can shape Jewish tradition to resonate with their own experience.

About the Author
Rebecca Alpert is assistant professor of religion and women's studies at Temple University and is a codirector of the Women's Studies Program. She is the coauthor ofExploring Judaism: A Reconstructionist Approach.

Reviews
An excellent resource for scholars of both Jewish and lesbian cultures in the United States. American Studies International A solid contribution to both Jewish feminism and lesbian and gay studies, breaking new ground in its focus on transforming Jewish religious life from a lesbian perspective. Women's Review of Books An extremely valuable and visionary source for Jewish lesbians who long to be recognized and to participate fully in mainstream synagogue life... The author is to be congratulated for bravely taking on such an all-consuming topic and writing such an accessible, powerful and provocative book. Lambda Book Report



Book Information
ISBN 9780231096614
Author Rebecca Alpert
Format Paperback
Page Count 224
Imprint Columbia University Press
Publisher Columbia University Press