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Title: The Woman Who Laughed at God : The Untold History of the Jewish People by Jonathan Kirsch ISBN: 0-670-03009-0 Publisher: Viking Press Pub. Date: 11 October, 2001 Format: Hardcover Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $24.95 |
Average Customer Rating: 5 (3 reviews)
Rating: 5
Summary: Religious Questions Explored!
Comment: This mishmash of history and biblical scholarship attempts to counter current prevalent stereotypes of Jews and assumptions about Judaism. In the face of the dogged stereotype of the "pious and prayerful" Jew, Kirsch (King David, 2000, etc.) contends that there never has been a single "correct" Jewish faith, practice, or race. Although he frames the whole argument using the example of Sarah, a woman who dared to laugh at a vengeful God, the enormity of the topic keeps overflowing this frame, and the chapters jerk along from topic to topic and century to century with either too much or too little explication. Kirsch's enthusiasm never flags. From the discovery of abundant ancient fertility figurines ("teraphim") in sites all over Israel, Kirsch extrapolates the existence of a people who were "bold, curious, and daring." When it comes to toughness, too, the Jews got there first; according to Kirsch, the Sicarii, Jewish assassins who operated during the Roman rule of Judea, "literally invented the art of political terrorism." More frustrating than this boosterism is the fact that Kirsch's "untold history" has in fact been told countless times and will be familiar to anyone with a passing interest in Jewish culture. Some of the author's revelations include the fact that the Bible had many authors over a long period of time; that those authors may have included one or more women; that some of the patriarchs married non-Jews; and that false messiahs appearing through the ages have often enjoyed great success. Kirsch's breathless tone as he whips aside curtain after curtain to reveal the obvious is grating, and the labor needed to follow his logic exhausting. Good for entirely ignorant souls seeking a shallow survey of piquant Jewish historical moments and characters. Serious readers should look elsewhere.
Rating: 5
Summary: Religious Questions Explored
Comment: I enjoy reading Jonathan Kirsch. Previously, I have read his book on Moses and The Harlot by the Side of the Road. I find his books to be intriguing, informative and entertaining. Very few books on religious subjects can be described by all three of these terms. But Kirsch has a non-pretentious style that draws the reader in and makes it easier to consider some of the astounding things he brings out.
Without beating you over the head with it, Kirsch is clearly writing from a Jewish perspective. As a Christian, I find Kirsch's books great background for what is the basis of Christian theology. In this book, he takes for his theme the changing shape of Judaism over the millennia. He points out how many sects of modern Judaism try to enforce a traditional religion based on the ancient practices of the Jewish people, forgetting that one of the hallmarks of the Jewish faith is how it has been able to adapt over the years and ensure the survival of both faith and people. All religions could take to heart the idea developed in this book; namely that, despite what hard-liners want to believe, religious practice evolves through time in any religion. Jews and Christians alike should search harder for what is right as opposed to falling back on what we've always done because it's what we've always done.
Kirsch offers many wonderful stories and descriptions in this book but one of my favorites is the one that is referenced in the title of the book. What happened to the days when human beings weren't afraid to question God and God wasn't offended to be questioned? Sarah laughs at God's promise of a son, Abraham debates with God over the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah and Moses doubts and questions the burning bush. And these are just a few examples of challenges from people beloved by God. But these days the thought of questioning religious leaders, let alone God himself, are beyond the pale. Has this weakened us spiritually? I don't know the answer but it's one of the many questions inspired by this book.
Over time, I have come to the conclusion that books on religion are the best to read and the hardest to review. The reviewer is almost certainly to offend someone who holds passionate beliefs contrary to the author and/or the review. There is no way around this and I am sorry for it because I have no wish to offend anyone. Yet, as a person who doesn't have all the answers but considers himself to be in a state of constant exploration for the Truth, I enjoy reading nearly anything on philosophy and theology. I think any religious explorer with an open mind would enjoy this book.
Rating: 5
Summary: a rich, informative read
Comment: I found this book to cover exactly what it promised- the fact that judaism has evolved through tradition and counter-tradition, that rabbinical judaism is one of many "judaisms" and that this process has been occurring since biblical times. I have read the author's other books on biblical topics and enjoyed them. But this book surpassed them for me. The last three chapters were very rich- thought-provoking and informative. If you are on a quest to know more, at the same time that you are questioning much, about Judaism, you will get a lot out of this book.
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Title: Harlot by the Side of the Road by Jonathan Kirsch ISBN: 0345418824 Publisher: Ballantine Books Pub. Date: 03 March, 1998 List Price(USD): $15.95 |
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Title: Moses : A Life by Jonathan Kirsch ISBN: 0345412702 Publisher: Ballantine Books Pub. Date: 02 November, 1999 List Price(USD): $15.95 |
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Title: King David : The Real Life of the Man Who Ruled Israel by Jonathan Kirsch ISBN: 0345435052 Publisher: Ballantine Books Pub. Date: 28 August, 2001 List Price(USD): $15.95 |
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Title: God Against the Gods: The History of the War Between Monotheism and Polytheism by Jonathan Kirsch ISBN: 0670032867 Publisher: Viking Press Pub. Date: 08 March, 2004 List Price(USD): $25.95 |
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Title: Back To The Sources: Reading the Classic Jewish Texts by Barry W. Holtz ISBN: 0671605968 Publisher: Touchstone Books Pub. Date: 02 January, 1986 List Price(USD): $15.00 |
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