This book is well written and everything is clearly explained. At the same time, the author relegates the minutia to the footnotes so that the reader does not have to bother with it unless the reader is interested. Further, the footnotes are at the bottom of the page, so the reader doesn't have to flip back and forth to the end, where they are sometimes. This is true with the exception of the last article, where the footnotes are actually endnotes. On the whole, I greatly enjoyed the book, though you should factor in that I am obsessed with the subject matter. And that my philosophy is a very close match to the author's. That being said, he presents all sides of the issues (often a challenge in Jewish Law, where there are at least 3 sides to every issue) and endeavors to explain all the positions, even the ones he doesn't agree with. Basically what I'm trying to say is that you should buy this book and read it. But you may want to look at it with google books first if you want a preview.
A very useful book for men and women to read
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 25 years ago
If you have ever wondered what a woman's role in shul is, and questioned the seeming invisibility of women in the shul, or wanted to know what prayers observant women ultimately are or are not allowed to engage in according to tradition and why, please read this book before you draw your conclusions. "Women at Prayer" provides useful guidelines and information for women who wish to actively engage in Jewish prayer, and expand thier personal role and involvement in Jewish spiritual life within halakhic guildelines. Questions were answered for me in this book regarding the roles of women in prayer that Rabbi's have not answered clearly for me in the past. This book does not read like biased opinion, but as fact with cited traditional sources to back up it's assertions. I recommend that men also read this book because it will most certainly serve as a springboard for powerful discussion and understanding of what our tradition offers women who choose to immerse themselves more fully in ritual prayer.In the end, this book does not tell us what to think or what to do, it merely answers most common questions people have regarding women's roles in all kinds of prayer, while leaving room in the end for women to exercise their wisdom and creativity to halakhically forge new Jewish paths to spirituality.A very exciting and thought provoking book.
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