Reading Ruth : Contemporary Women Reclaim A Sacred Story

Traditionally the Book of Ruth is read during the Jewish holiday, Shavuot — a holiday that celebrates the giving of the Torah (Old Testament) to the Jewish people. It is also a tradition during this holiday to spend the night studying the Old Testament (some people even stay up all night!). The year that I worked on the publicity for Reading Ruth, my sister and I decided to have our own study session during Shavuot and we read parts of this book together. We had a wonderful time reading the poems by Marge Piercy, Ruth Whitman, and Merle Feld and discussing the themes of the Book of Ruth — including loss, the relationship between sisters, and the bond between mother-in-law and daughter-in-law. In addition to poetry, Reading Ruth includes essays, fiction, and personal narrative by famous Jewish women who are novelists, poets, rabbis, psychologists, and scholars. If you enjoy women studies and/or Bible studies you will enjoy Reading Ruth — any time of the year!