To Life!

Biblical Heroines

Day of Learning focuses on learning from a women's perspective.

Robin Schwartz
Special to the Jewish News

F

Author Naomi Harris Rosenblatt speaks about women in the Bible.

ew modern-day women
looking for heroines and
role models turn to the
Bible for inspiration.
Washington, D.C.- based author
and psychotherapist Naomi
Harris Rosenblatt wants to
change that.
Her new book, After The Apple:
Women in the Bible — Timeless
Stories of Love, Lust and Longing,
analyzes the struggles of several
biblical heroines and holds them
up as figures to emulate in the
21st century.
"They are leaders, each one in
her own way," said Rosenblatt.
The author, who also teaches
Bible classes on Capitol Hill, was
the keynote speaker for the fifth
annual Women's Day of Learning
Sept. 25 at Yeshivat Akiva in
Southfield.
"It's incumbent upon you to
know what your origins are
Rosenblatt told the group of
about 150 women. "Learn every-
thing you can ... so we know
what to transmit to the next gen-
eration:'
The day of learning was spon-
sored by the Jewish Federation of
Metropolitan Detroit, the

Hermelin-Davidson Center for
Congregation Excellence, the
William Davidson Graduate
School of Jewish Education and
the Jewish Theological Seminary
of America.
"I love the idea of women
coming together for a whole day
— it's very powerful learning
together and learning from a
woman's perspective said
Jordana Weiss of Southfield.
After the keynote address, par-
ticipants attended several differ-
ent workshops — all with the
theme "Women Who Dare."
Presenters included JET
Theatre Artistic Director Eveyln
Orbach, Jewish Academy of
Metropolitan Detroit teacher
Ruth Bergman, Michigan State
University professor Ilana
Blumberg, Hillel Day School
teacher Clara Gaba, Rabbi Rachel
Lawson Shere of Adat Shalom
Synagogue in Farmington Hills
and Rabbi Jennifer Tisdale of
Temple Israel in West
Bloomfield.
Rosenblatt also led a workshop
called "How to Raise a Jewish
Child in a Secular Culture."
"Teach your children they have
an obligation to be sure their
children and your grandchildren
are Jewish," she said. "Don't be

Jennifer Bernstein of Troy, Alysa Kornfeld of Oak Park and Lisa Wolfe

of West Bloomfield take their seats at the Women's Day of Learning

program.

Women's Day of Learning co-chairs Baylee Shulman of Franklin and

Arline Gould West Bloomfield

32

September 29 2005

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