Sisters at Sinai

Book excerpt: In this marvelous anthology of 24 stories about women in the Bible, Rabbi Jill Hammer draws from the ancient tradition of Midrash -- creative interpretation that elaborates upon the sparse details of the biblical text -- and brings to life the inner world and experiences of these unforget-table characters. The stories reintroduce Lilith, Sarah, Leah, Miriam, and many other notable women of the Bible as the author weaves together the rabbinic legends and her own vivid imagination. Hammer's commentary includes a list of biblical texts and an explanation of how each story came to be written and why. Praised for its originality and expressiveness, this book gives biblical women the honor they deserve -- an honor due them as prophets, rulers, and teachers. Book jacket.