Today I Am a Woman: Stories of Bat Mitzvah Around the WorldBarbara Vinick, Shulamit Reinharz “The amazing tales of Jewish girls on six different continents who celebrate the Jewish ritual of becoming a woman.” —The Jewish Journal Winner, Spirituality Category, New England Festival Best Books of the Holiday Season Divided into nine regions—Africa; Asia; Australia and New Zealand; the Caribbean, Europe; the former Soviet Union, former Yugoslavia and Eastern Europe; Latin America; the Middle East and North Africa; and North America—this book tells the story of each girl’s unique journey and introduction into womanhood. Gorgeously illustrated with more than 100 black and white family photographs, Today I Am a Woman also captures each area’s unique customs and how they affect the lives of Jewish girls and the local Jewish community’s traditions. “The editors scoured the globe to find powerful, varied, and moving depictions of bat mitzvah in the contemporary Jewish world. This is a rich resource for anyone interested in understanding religious diversity, folk practices, and cultural creativity through the lens of gender.” —Deborah Dash Moore, former Director of the Frankel Center for Judaic Studies and a Frederick G.L. Huetwell Professor of History and Judaic Studies, University of Michigan “The stories speak for themselves, putting Jewish girls and women on the center of the stage, into the limelight, and at the pulpit. By showcasing ritual innovation, they make a point about Judaism’s elasticity and women’s agency.” —Hasia R. Diner, coeditor of Remembering the Lower East Side |
Contents
1 | |
10 | |
Asia | 27 |
Australia and New Zealand | 53 |
Caribbean | 63 |
Europe | 80 |
Former Soviet Union Former Yugoslavia and Eastern Europe | 137 |
Latin America | 175 |
Middle East and North Africa | 217 |
North America | 248 |
Glossary | 273 |
279 | |
Other editions - View all
Today I Am a Woman: Stories of Bat Mitzvah Around the World Barbara H. Vinick,Shulamit Reinharz No preview available - 2012 |
Common terms and phrases
Abayudaya adult Africa aliyah arrived Ashkenazi attended b’nai b’not mitzvah bat mitz bat mitzvah celebration bat mitzvah ceremony bat mitzvah girl beautiful became become a bat began Bene Israel bima bimah blessing boys brother cantor century Chabad chant coming-of-age congregation countries Croatia culture dancing daughter dress event father feel girl’s gogue grandmother haftorah Havdalah Hebrew holiday Holocaust husband invited Israel Israeli Jewish community Jewish day school Jewish population Jewish women Jews Judaism Kaplan kashrut kosher lived mitzvot morning mother munity never nity ofJewish Orthodox parasha parents participate party prayer Progressive Judaism proud rabbi read the Torah read Torah religious remember ritual Rosh Chodesh Sephardic Shabbat Shalom Shavuot shul siddur sing sister songs Soviet Union speech story syna synagogue teacher tefillin theJewish tion Torah portion Torah reading Tozeur traditional twelve United wanted WIZO woman young