{"title":"Novels by Jewish Women","description":null,"products":[{"product_id":"yahrzeit","title":"Yahrzeit","description":"\u003cp\u003eFour generations of strong, dedicated women live through one of the greatest, most intriguing and dangerous times in Jewish history – 120 years of Zionism. Spinning a web of struggle, joy, tragedy and love, Yahrzeit uncovers the dramatic journey of a family and the rebirth of a nation. In Yahrzeit (memorial days), the family matriarchs take us on a dramatic journey through time, during the most important events of modern history in Israel. These women are fortified through troubled times by the spirits and traditions of the past, and create their own tradition – the 'Yahrzeit candle lighting ceremony.' By perpetuating this ritual, started in Russia by one of the two matriarchs in 1880, the women of the family transform the days of the ancient holiday of Hannukah, the Jewish holiday celebrating independence and victory, into days of personal remembrance of the journey of a remarkable family during remarkable times. Continued in Jerusalem, Lebanon, Palestine, the United States and Israel, the Yahrzeit candle-lighting ceremony becomes a symbol of the love and inescapable commitment of these women toward their people and family alike.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Liat Taiber Ben David","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54336240615734,"sku":"333-4","price":12.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0993\/2092\/2422\/files\/i27559.40777.jpg?v=1785305524"},{"product_id":"the-gilboa-iris","title":"The Gilboa Iris","description":"\u003cp\u003eDara Harow, the daughter of a rocket physicist for the US department of defense, sends her parents into a tailspin of dual-loyalty anxiety when she plans to wed Roni Ben-Ari, an Israeli officer in an elite counter-terrorist unit. When the Harows are targeted by a terror cell in hot pursuit of technology not yet found in any country’s arsenal, Dara finds herself at the center of a hierarchy of terror that threatens her life and the lives of those she loves. The Gilboa Iris is a blazing tale of romance, deceit and international intrigue. Its rich characters and explosive plot take readers from Israel’s Gilboa Mountains to the streets of New York, to Germany’s Zehlendorf Forest, and back to Israel amid seminal events that rocked the world between 1983 and 2002. Reviews: Riveting – breathless action – a rousing story of romance!… The Gilboa Iris weaves together the timeless love story of Dara and Roni, a feisty American student and a brilliant Israeli commando, against the backdrop of global terror involving the infiltration of the US’s defense stratum and a double homicide on American soil. Zahava D. Englard merges wit, history, adventure and the triumph of the human spirit into a sensational read! Grace Bennett Inside Chappaqua Magazine It was tough to tear my eyes away from The Gilboa Iris…. While the main character is not family(!) I did relate to her story and its incorporation of the very real tensions, terrorism fears and other issues that so many of us in the Western world must deal with today. A fast-paced, exciting read that has you praying for a happy ending. Eve Harow Israel National Radio Show host Hard to believe The Gilboa Iris is Zahava Englard's first novel – it sizzles, oozing passion of all kinds. Great plot, fascinating characters and, best of all, it’s brimming with local lore. Don’t miss this one! Yocheved Miriam Russo Freelance journalist, Israel This moving story of love, death, rebirth and survival…a great read. Ruthie Blum American-Israeli author and social critic\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Zahava D Englard","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54336603717942,"sku":"9789652295743","price":12.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0993\/2092\/2422\/files\/i94511.21445.jpg?v=1785309470"},{"product_id":"the-orchard","title":"The Orchard","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe Orchard by Yochi Brandes is as of 1 July 2024 out of print and unavailable. The original Hebrew edition of this book is available here “The Orchard mines ancient Jewish sources to tell the story of a singular period in the history of our people through the all-too-rare female point of view.” Reuven Rivlin, President of the State of Israel This spellbinding historical novel by celebrated Israeli author Yochi Brandes tells the story of the venerated yet enigmatic Rabbi Akiva, placing him in the context of his contemporaries, the Sages of Jewish tradition and of early Christianity. Rabbi Eliezer, Rabbi Ishmael, Rabban Gamaliel, Paul of Tarsus, and many others become flesh and blood in this stunning interweaving of biblical and Talmudic lore into a page-turning read. At the heart of the novel is Rabbi Akiva and his complicated relationship with his wife Rachel, who meets him as a forty-year-old illiterate shepherd, marries him against her father’s wishes, and compels him to study until he becomes the nation of Israel’s greatest sage. Rabbi Akiva’s innovative method of interpreting Scripture provides his people with a life-giving elixir after Rome's destruction of the Second Temple, but also fuels the lethal Bar Kokhba Revolt, with disastrous consequences. The Orchard offers a brilliant narrative solution to the fascinating story of four sages who entered a metaphysical orchard: one died, one lost his mind, one became a hater of God, and one – Rabbi Akiva – made it out unscathed. Or did he? Reviews: “The Orchard mines ancient Jewish sources to tell the story of a singular period in the history of our people through the all-too-rare female point of view.” – Reuven Rivlin, President of the State of Israel “I read this marvelous book by Yochi Brandes in a single weekend. It swept me into the orchard and into the sources of our tradition.” – Benjamin Netanyahu, Prime Minister of the State of Israel “A fascinating, beautiful book about the roots of the Judaism we inhabit today.” – Peter Beinart, journalist and author of The Crisis of Zionism “Yochi Brandes takes Rabbi Akiva out of the world of history books and places him into the realm of the familiar in this Israeli classic.” – A. B. Yehoshua, best-selling author of The Lover and Mr. Mani “The Orchard exposed Judaism to me in such a different way than I had known it as an Israeli Arab. Required reading for each and every one of us – Jews, Christians, and Muslims alike.” – Lucy Aharish, news anchor, Israel’s Channel 2 television network “In this riveting one-of-a-kind novel, Yochi Brandes channels her vast knowledge of the Bible, Rabbinic teachings, and Jewish history into exquisitely crafted characters and a powerful story…supremely relevant to the questions we struggle with as we face our future.” – Rick Jacobs, President of the Union for Reform Judaism\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Yochi Brandes and Daniel Libenson","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54336751796534,"sku":"930-7","price":24.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0993\/2092\/2422\/files\/i228398.48902.jpg?v=1785311783"},{"product_id":"dona-gracias-secret","title":"Doña Gracia’s Secret","description":"\u003cp\u003eThis narrative biography for young adults brings to life the dramatic story of Doña Gracia Nasi, born in Portugal in 1510 into a Sephardic Jewish family forced to pose as Christians to survive the brutal Inquisition. She discovered her family was secretly Jewish in her teens, promising her dying mother that she would live according to Judaic traditions and do all she could to help other secret Jews escape persecution. She kept that perilous promise for the rest of her life. After being widowed by her wealthy husband, Don Francisco Mendes, Doña Gracia achieved success as an internationally prominent business tycoon in an era when almost all women were confined to domesticity. Her life became a dangerous game of hide and seek as she escaped from country to country, one step ahead of the Inquisition and the kings, queens, and popes who coveted her wealth. All along, she operated an underground railroad to help Jews. In her final years, she struggled to establish a permanent home for endangered Jews in Tiberias, Israel, and almost succeeded. Doña Gracia died in 1569, a surreptitiously beloved heroine. Almost forgotten for five hundred years, she is today an inspiration for her spiritual and feminist legacy.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Marilyn Froggatt","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54337019183414,"sku":"7023-08 \/ g7308","price":9.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0993\/2092\/2422\/files\/i281950.62653.jpg?v=1785315171"},{"product_id":"the-antiphonary-of-love","title":"The Antiphonary of Love","description":"\u003cp\u003eA story of a young Tunisian girl who, despite a life filled with family, education, and diversity, is challenged by the events of the world around her. A secret discovery follows her through her young adult life and guides her toward something that proves to be stronger: Love. “A beautiful, soulful story of friendship and sisterhood, depth and meaning; an adventure filled with cultural and historic lessons that will uplift and speak to the hearts of readers of all backgrounds. This inspiring book is not to be missed!” —Neshama Carlebach Award winning singer\/songwriter “A charming love story of diverse cultures blending and a young girl maturing, all wrapped up in an exotic adventure tale with a surprise ending. Not only will you be entertained, you’ll learn about so many things, from Sephardic history and culture to modern archeology.” —Stuart M. Matlins Founder and Former Editor in Chief and Publisher of Jewish Lights Publishing “Love and history, and the history of love, from the eyes of a woman who can rightfully compare worlds, having lived in disparate cultures. Well, here they are merged for a story of life and meaning.” —Yael Noémie Gmach Artist, daughter of Jacqueline Gmach\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Jacqueline Semha Gmach and Stephanie Johnstone Steinberg","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54337042809142,"sku":"7023-64","price":16.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0993\/2092\/2422\/files\/i288986.8935.jpg?v=1785315634"}],"url":"https:\/\/www.gefenpublishing.com\/collections\/novels-by-jewish-women.oembed","provider":"Gefen Publishing House","version":"1.0","type":"link"}