Water from the well: Sarah, Rebekah, Rachel and Leah
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Sun, Jan. 23, 2011, 2:00PM-3:30PM
Water from the well: Sarah, Rebekah, Rachel and Leah by Anne Richardson Roiphe
Facilitated by Dr. Elaine Goodfriend In this lovely meditation on the innate power of women, critically acclaimed author Roiphe focuses on four biblical figures--Sarah, Rebekah, Rachel, and Leah--who to Roiphe constitute the backbone of humanity. "We can't forget these women because they belong to us, come with us, across seas in exile." Millions of words have been written about their stories, which Roiphe maintains are foundational for Jewish, Christian, and Muslim history, yet she manages fresh interpretations. The biblical world she re-creates is a lived-in, gritty place, where the women ride camels, feed donkeys, grind barley, weave wool--in short, are flesh and blood, with all the foibles and imperfections that implies. Drawing on a variety of prayer books, religious texts from all major religious groups, and folklore and legends, Roiphe brings these characters to full-blown, messy life and confirms that their stories of love, faith, death, deception, and betrayal are indeed timeless. Moreover, Roiphe brings all her literary art to bear on retelling this seminal lore with effortless grace.
ISBN
0060737964
Publication Date
Spring 1-23-2011
Keywords
women, biblical, religion
Disciplines
Biblical Studies | History of Religion
Recommended Citation
Roiphe, Anne Richardson, "Water from the well: Sarah, Rebekah, Rachel and Leah" (2011). Jewish Studies Sunday Book & Discussion Group. 25.
https://digitalcommons.lmu.edu/jewishbookgroup/25
