In this episode we continue to study modern midrashim written by women in the wake of October 7 with Tamar Biala, editor of the "Dirshuni" series.

Tamar Biala has been collecting and editing modern women’s midrashim for over 20 years and published them as part of the “Dirshuni” series, with two volumes in Hebrew and one in English. The first Hebrew volume was co-edited with Nehama Weingarten-Mintz.

Since October 7, Biala has received many texts relating to the Hamas attack and its aftermath. In this two-part session we will study these powerful texts written by women about grieving mothers and angry grandmothers, faith and doubt, the Jewish present and past and how they interact with one another.

To learn more about women's midrashim and Dirshuni, listen to this 2002 interview with Tamar Biala:

https://newbooksnetwork.com/dirshuni

Texts discussed in part 2:

1. All Your Brothers’ and Sisters’ Bloods are Crying to Me from the Soil
   Gili Mivtzari Zivan
   https://docs.google.com/document/d/1aNGyHlWLSoPh-tIzkJfnit4iaG4sEcdYpAvO1sNDzzA/edit?usp=sharing
2. Redeeming Captive Women
   Oshrat Shoham https://docs.google.com/document/d/1130ptM6jQPTRuUT47bGrWLcOJD-70A00nWiuGifleXM/edit?usp=sharing
3. Sleeps and Slumbers, The Guardian of Israel
   Rivkah Lubitch
   https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Wr5hn_P0zmtrByKMZq4LOC7lwZzCe5uVGthg4AFl-LQ/edit?usp=sharing
4. Midrash One People to Another
   Rabbi Yael Vurgan
   https://docs.google.com/document/d/1NmgwsUUv8mC33mawGrM_rhH8d8jcLNDg8outpF_TjCg/edit?usp=sharing

Support and amplify women's voices by contributing to the making of this podcast: Donate now to the Center for Women’s Justice.

Tamar Biala has been collecting and editing modern women’s midrashim for over 20 years and published them as part of the “Dirshuni” series, with two volumes in Hebrew and one in English. The first Hebrew volume was co-edited with Nehama Weingarten-Mintz.

Since October 7, Biala has received many texts relating to the Hamas attack and its aftermath. In this two-part session we will study these powerful texts written by women about grieving mothers and angry grandmothers, faith and doubt, the Jewish present and past and how they interact with one another.

In the introduction to this episode, Rivkah explains the background behind women’s midrashim. If you’d like to learn more, please listen to this 2022 interview with Tamar Biala about Dirshuni:

https://newbooksnetwork.com/dirshuni

See a video about Leora Ayalon’s granddaughter:

https://www.mako.co.il/mako-vod-keshet/heroes-s1/VOD-78a0c38dde9ec81027.htm

Texts discussed in Part 1:

1. Liora Ayalon’s midrash: “The Power of a Community to Diminish Suffering in the World”
   https://docs.google.com/document/d/1niJjmDMmEUCFaegsMxc_X5dJSU_nQadnL_wDO7TMv-8/edit?usp=sharing

2. Nurit Hirschfeld-Skupinsky’s midrash “Midrashim of Destruction”
   https://docs.google.com/document/d/1m71SJkROg-lNBez6bfIAbOfxKjOPlagmIRmiedfoKpQ/edit?usp=sharing

Support and amplify women's voices by contributing to the making of this podcast: Donate now to the Center for Women’s Justice.

Thousands of Lone Soldiers come from all over the world to serve in the Israeli army. What caused these brave youngsters to leave everything and come to Israel? Where do they live? Who does their laundry when they get out for weekends? How do they pay rent?

Arlene Abrams is a mother of a lone soldier, Efraim. She talks about her son’s experience in the Gaza War. Ellen Tuggle is the mother of Zack, a lone soldier who finished his army service. She tells us about her work with Big Brother/Sister Organization.

Efraim Abrams at Yom Hazikaron Ceremony 2024

Big Brother/Sister organization

Support and amplify women's voices by contributing to the making of this podcast: Donate now to the Center for Women’s Justice.