This is like an update of the book “The Chosen” by Chaim Potok, which our group also read, but with women as the primary characters. Group are Orthodo...moreThis is like an update of the book “The Chosen” by Chaim Potok, which our group also read, but with women as the primary characters. Group are Orthodox who are followers of Rav Elijah Kirshner who immigrated to Washington Heights from Frankfurt Germany in 1938 and in 1950 with reparation money bought summer homes in Kaaterskill Falls, New York. Group had many issues to discuss from this book. (less)
A fictional story about a young Jewish woman in an ultra-Orthodox Jewish community in Jerusalem. While classifiable as pop-culture rather than as “gre...moreA fictional story about a young Jewish woman in an ultra-Orthodox Jewish community in Jerusalem. While classifiable as pop-culture rather than as “great literature,” the book was a very compelling read, and it depicted well the demands, pressures and delights of living life according to Jewish law in a close-knit Orthodox Jewish community. The discussion that followed focused both on faith and on the social and life issues presented in the story. One edition contains excellent book group discussion questions at the back. Recommended.(less)
This is more Jewish-based collection of her work. Made a very good discussion. Themes of mother-daughter relationships and death and dying. (Review b...more This is more Jewish-based collection of her work. Made a very good discussion. Themes of mother-daughter relationships and death and dying. (Review by Cambridge 1)(less)
This book is a narrative about a Jewish family who migrate from Kurdistan to Israel. After feeling marginalized in Israel, they move to the United Sta...moreThis book is a narrative about a Jewish family who migrate from Kurdistan to Israel. After feeling marginalized in Israel, they move to the United States. The book is largely about the father-son relationship. There was nothing offensive.(less)
Memoir. Immigrant story in two generations. Title character is a Syrian Jew who grows up in Egypt. The author is his daughter who tells of their emigr...moreMemoir. Immigrant story in two generations. Title character is a Syrian Jew who grows up in Egypt. The author is his daughter who tells of their emigration to the United States. Made for a good discussion about father-daughter relationships, immigration and memoir writing. Not a lot about Jewish life. Some politics about Egypt in the 50s and 60s. (Review by Cambridge 1)(less)
This book had a lot of mixed reviews from our book group. It is a mystery novel that delves into several cultural and class issues which the author do...moreThis book had a lot of mixed reviews from our book group. It is a mystery novel that delves into several cultural and class issues which the author does not really appear to recognize and therefore does not resolve by the end of the novel. Many women were offended by the brutal rape and murder of the security guard. Our group did not find this to be a good book for a new chapter of Daughters. It did not delve into the spiritual aspect of observing the ritual of mikveh/ taharat ha-mishpachah/family purity, and The Orthodox way of life portrayed in the book was not easily discussed since our Jewish women are Reform and Reconstructionist and couldn’t speak to this from personal experience. (Deb’s note: I emailed a chapter from a book I read for my conversion to Judaism as a supplement to help explain ritual family purity. The book title is “How to Run a Traditional Jewish Household,” by Blu Greenberg, who is a Modern Orthodox Jew. Many women said they found it very helpful. Our group of Dawoodi Bohra Muslim women actually observe this practice in a very similar way, and we had a terrific discussion around this aspect of the book.) We would not recommend this book to other Daughters of Abraham groups. Review by Andover Group.(less)
Novel set in first-century Judea. It is fictionalized account of the Sanhedrin and specifically about the four Rabbis: Eliezer, Joshua, Elazar, Akeeba...moreNovel set in first-century Judea. It is fictionalized account of the Sanhedrin and specifically about the four Rabbis: Eliezer, Joshua, Elazar, Akeebah, and Tarphon. Made for a discussion about assimilation, sacred study and friendship. No offensive content.(less)
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