By Rabbi Rachel Esserman
I find the development of cultural ideas fascinating, which is one of the reasons I asked for a review copy of “Sons of Saviors: The Red Jews in Yiddish Culture” by Rebekka Voß (University of Pennsylvania Press). The other is that I’d never before heard the t…
By Rabbi Rachel Esserman
“Every other week, my rabbi and I would meet to read ancient Jewish texts that proscribe how to atone and reconcile after a harm has been committed, even and especially one that a person didn’t cause directly but did benefit from... [we learned] before you can f…
By Rabbi Rachel Esserman
When reviewing books by Orthodox and Conservative rabbis, I frequently comment that, while I may disagree with the author’s theology, his/her practical suggestions have a great deal to offer readers. What a pleasure, then, to feel differently about “Judaism Disr…
By Rabbi Rachel Esserman
“The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store”
It only took a few pages for me to realize I was in the hands of a master writer. James McBride’s “The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store” (Riverhead Books) is a funny, moving, wise work that will remain with readers lon…
By Rabbi Rachel Esserman
Academic study vs. memoir, objective analysis vs. subjective examination: these describe the difference between two recent works: “Queer Judaism: LGBT Activism and the Remaking of Jewish Orthodoxy in Israel” by Orit Avishai (New York University Press) and “Lat…
