The Woman Who Laughed at God: The Untold History of the Jewish People

by Jonathan Kirsch

Book Overview

Who is a Jew? In this colorful, eye-opening work, bestselling author and lecturer Jonathan Kirsch takes us on a three-thousand-year tour of Jewish identity and diversity and offers answers to this complex and difficult question. Kirsch reveals that Judaism has never been a religion of strict and narrow orthodoxy. For every accepted tradition in Jewish faith there are countertraditions rooted in biblical antiquity: the Maccabee freedom fighters who...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0142196118
• ISBN13: 9780142196113
• Release Date: October 2002
• Publisher: Penguin Books
• Length: 336 Pages
• Weight: 1.00 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 6.0" x 9.0"
• Age Range: 18 years and up
• Grade Range: Postsecondary and higher

Customer Reviews

A Wonderful Introduction to the History of a People

When I undertook a study of Judasim, I plowed through dozens of dense, dry books until I came upon this book. It's a delightful, light read that left me knowing far more than when I started. I'm ready to read it again.

nothing but good things to say...

great writer, great overview of jewish history, great book overall! for anyone looking to start learning about the history of jewish people, this book is a great primer. i truly enjoyed reading this book and finished it over a single weekend. after reading THE WOMAN WHO LAUGHED... i feel competent and confident in picking up other books that delve deeper into more specific aspects of history. i highly recommend this book...

If there is a "true" Judaism, it is as diverse as Judaism itself.

Kirsch succeeds in provoking the reader to consider both the historical uncertainties of the Biblical texts' mosaic and their historical and contemporary interpretations. At first glance, Kirsch appears to rely on alternative, "out-of-the-box" analysts, but his arguments are more than well founded on contemporary and historical notions within Judaism's main traditions. The book succeeds in sparking discussion and engaging the reader in alternative perspectives on less-than-settled issues that normative trends would have us think otherwise.

The Woman Who Laughed...Laughed Last? Not Necessarily!

Approximately the first third of the book is devoted to the author's fearless exposition of Hebrew Bible's ideas and personalities. Fearless in the sense that Kirsch unfailingly reveals what is omitted in most Bible study and Jewish or Christian Sunday Schools. Many of us in Protestant and Catholic traditions recall without insight that we were part of something called the "Judeo-Christian tradition" which meant we were Christians and very little else. Here is the "rest of the story!"Kirsch is an American treasure for telling us what we should have learned if we were paying attention and if those teaching us knew themselves. "The essential point" as Mr. Kirsch states, is that "Jewish can be defined only through its richness and diversity." His exposition of the many "Judaisms" plus the Holocaust/Shoah, Zionism, nationalism, racialism is encompassed in his rich expression of Jewish "counter traditions." He even dares to speak of "secular" Jews and those that are...can you believe it...atheists! How shocking it would have been to have heard in Sunday School that Judaism is so fragmented. He also mentions "self hating Jews" which troubles this reviewer with its implication that those very Jews who push the envelope of diversity are not as free as the rest of us to do so without being complete traitors to tradition and somehow are implicitly intellectually/psychologically challenged! Especially revealing is the author's discussion of Zionism. Most American church people think of Zionism only in terms of "Zion Baptist Church and/or a hymnal phrase 'city on a hill.' They should read this book. Kirsch states, "That is why the Jewish fundamentalists, (he might have included Christians here)then and now, regard the ultimate sin of Zionism as 'the transformation of the Divine and Holy people into merely one of the peoples of the earth'."Thus, Kirsch exposes the core issue still troubling the Middle East...claims to exclusivity of a single people however diversely defined from a unique American intellect. What Kirsch reveals may undermine the picture carefully drawn of Jews by American evangelicals for more than two hundred years. However, "The Untold History of Jewish People" if read and understood by others of us in the Judeo-Christian tradition may cause drastic revision of some basic ideas. The Jews exist, even flourish, due to an expansive and dynamic adaptiveness. Others in the Judeo-Christian tradition continue to fragment and feel threatened in a changing world while preaching an unchanging "Word" which may have never been the intent of the people who authored the book in which it is contained! Yes, Mr. Kirsch, so very much of history is indeed "untold." Thanks for telling us in such a lucid manner.

Religious Questions Explored

I enjoy reading Jonathan Kirsch. Previously, I have read his book on Moses and The Harlot by the Side of the Road. I find his books to be intriguing, informative and entertaining. Very few books on religious subjects can be described by all three of these terms. But Kirsch has a non-pretentious style that draws the reader in and makes it easier to consider some of the astounding things he brings out.Without beating you over the head with it, Kirsch is clearly writing from a Jewish perspective. As a Christian, I find Kirsch's books great background for what is the basis of Christian theology. In this book, he takes for his theme the changing shape of Judaism over the millennia. He points out how many sects of modern Judaism try to enforce a traditional religion based on the ancient practices of the Jewish people, forgetting that one of the hallmarks of the Jewish faith is how it has been able to adapt over the years and ensure the survival of both faith and people. All religions could take to heart the idea developed in this book; namely that, despite what hard-liners want to believe, religious practice evolves through time in any religion. Jews and Christians alike should search harder for what is right as opposed to falling back on what we've always done because it's what we've always done.Kirsch offers many wonderful stories and descriptions in this book but one of my favorites is the one that is referenced in the title of the book. What happened to the days when human beings weren't afraid to question God and God wasn't offended to be questioned? Sarah laughs at God's promise of a son, Abraham debates with God over the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah and Moses doubts and questions the burning bush. And these are just a few examples of challenges from people beloved by God. But these days the thought of questioning religious leaders, let alone God himself, are beyond the pale. Has this weakened us spiritually? I don't know the answer but it's one of the many questions inspired by this book.Over time, I have come to the conclusion that books on religion are the best to read and the hardest to review. The reviewer is almost certainly to offend someone who holds passionate beliefs contrary to the author and/or the review. There is no way around this and I am sorry for it because I have no wish to offend anyone. Yet, as a person who doesn't have all the answers but considers himself to be in a state of constant exploration for the Truth, I enjoy reading nearly anything on philosophy and theology. I think any religious explorer with an open mind would enjoy this book.