From Publishers Weekly
With warmth, erudition and a very contemporary sensibility, Ochs offers reflections on the lives of Old Testament matriarchs that should appeal to women across religious lines. Director of Jewish Studies at the University of Virginia, Ochs uses her own research with unobtrusive grace to shed light on gaps in the biblical stories. While focused on the narratives, she chooses to combine an inspirational self-help message with Jewish lore and the testimony of modern female friends. Most often, she is successful, as when she discusses well-known figures like Sarah, laughing in reaction to the news that she will bear a child in her old age. "Sarah's laughter gives us perspective on our yearning. We can hear her laughter when we hold on to our dreams and when we decide it's time to relinquish them." Even when she grapples with enigmatic or tragic women, like Jephthah's daughter, Ochs finds parallels between their stories and the dilemmas of her modern readers. Divided thematically by topics such as friendship, parenting and healing, the chapters include translations from the Hebrew, a "midrash-like" commentary on the story and practical rituals designed to bring home the diverse lessons of this appealing book. Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Book Description

Lessons and rituals from the women of the Bible, connecting contemporary women with their sacred stories

In this vivid collection, Judaic scholar Vanessa Ochs brings the legends of the biblical matriarchs to new life. Intimate, familiar, and wise, the heroines in Sarah Laughed are revealed to be inspiring role models for women today. From Eve's rebellious taste of wisdom to the righteous anger of Job's wife, each woman's story is retold in imaginative prose and accompanied by real-life rituals that you can perform at home, gaining insight into: Finding inner wisdom Speaking the true self Being a good friend Maintaining romantic partnerships Raising a family Letting go of children Feeling blessed with a life well lived And much more

From the Inside Flap
An inspiring reimagination of timeless stories Eve, Miriam, Esther. Naomi, Ruth, Rebecca. These names and those of the many other women of the Old Testament resonate in our imaginations. But how much do we really know about our biblical foremothers? Their stories are briefly told in the original text and are shrouded in questions. How did Eve navigate the journey to wisdom? What enabled Hagar to sustain herself and her son, Ishmael, in the wilderness? How did Miriam inspire hope in the refugees escaping from Egypt? Most importantly, what enduring lessons can these women share with us today? In this vivid collection, Judaic scholar Vanessa Ochs brings the legends of the biblical matriarchs to new life using her own form of midrash, a creative but scholarly reinterpretation of sacred works that puts flesh and bones on the original. Finding her own, distinctly female voice in this traditional art, Ochs retells the incredible stories of the biblical matriarchs, filling in the gaps and answering some of the key questions left behind by their original male writers. For each of the women in Sarah Laughed, the author first translates the Hebrew passage in which the woman appears and then presents an eloquent new rendition of the story, offering a creative way to connect to these heroines, making their trials and triumphs relevant for women today. Intimate, familiar, and wise, the mothers, wives, and maidservants you’ll find here are revealed to be uplifting role models, from Eve’s rebellious taste of wisdom to the righteous anger of Job’s wife. Each story is accompanied by real-life rituals that you can perform at home, including friendship meditations and original craft ideas. By learning about the gifts of these ancient women, you’ll discover exhilarating ways to embrace your own personal gifts and gain fresh insight into: Finding your inner wisdom Speaking your true self Being a good friend Maintaining romantic partnerships Raising a family Letting go of children Feeling blessed with a life well lived And much more Like never before, this unique book reveals the real people behind the immortal women of the Bible--gutsy, vulnerable, and ultimately inspiring. By consulting our ancient community of sisters, our own lives are illuminated and empowered by the experiences and lessons of these age-old and still vividly available women. Advance Praise for Sarah Laughed "The Bible provides just the barest of outlines about the lives of its great women. Vanessa Ochs fills in the details with laughter, conversation, and a sense of place. Ochs takes us into Eve's garden and Sarah's kitchen and Dina's tent and Esther's vanity. It is all so wonderfully imagined that it takes on a truth for our times. This is modern midrash at its best. In these pages, the women of the Bible come to life and leave us with some important lessons for our own lives." --Ari L. Goldman, author of The Search for God at Harvard "Vanessa Ochs's delicious retelling of the old tales is radiant with her affection for her subjects and, more importantly, with her respect for her readers. True to her promise, Ochs dances with the Bible in every one of these pages." --Phyllis Tickle, author of The Divine Hours and The Shaping of a Life "Sarah Laughed addresses contemporary female experience through insights from biblical women and wisdom. Ochs offers psychologically astute analyses and empowering rituals that will inspire her readers to find meaning in the joys and vicissitudes of their own lives." --Judith R. Baskin, Knight Professor of Humanities and Director of Judaic Studies, University of Oregon "Vanessa Ochs re-creates the lives of Biblical women and makes them achingly relevant to our own. If you liked The Red Tent--actually, if you like the Bible and want to get to know it better--Sarah Laughed is a must-read." --Lauren Winner, author of Girl Meets God and Mudhouse Sabbath Library Journal Ochs (Jewish & religious studies, Univ. of Virginia) has written an ardently and unstoppably upbeat reconsideration of some of the women who appear in Hebrew Scripture. Her approach blends semi-fictionalized retellings with her own contemporary reflections on the meanings of the "stories" she retells or elaborates from Scriptural sources. More traditionally minded Jews and Christians alike may be surprised to find, for instance, Jephthah's daughter celebrated for her self-sacrifice for her friends' sake, but Ochs's point has more to do with reshaping old interpretations to find uplifting models for contemporary women than pleasing conservative authorities. For most collections. Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.

From the Back Cover

An inspiring reimagination of timeless stories

Eve, Miriam, Esther. Naomi, Ruth, Rebecca. These names and those of the many other women of the Old Testament resonate in our imaginations. But how much do we really know about our biblical foremothers? Their stories are briefly told in the original text and are shrouded in questions. How did Eve navigate the journey to wisdom? What enabled Hagar to sustain herself and her son, Ishmael, in the wilderness? How did Miriam inspire hope in the refugees escaping from Egypt? Most importantly, what enduring lessons can these women share with us today?

In this vivid collection, Judaic scholar Vanessa Ochs brings the legends of the biblical matriarchs to new life using her own form of midrash, a creative but scholarly reinterpretation of sacred works that puts flesh and bones on the original. Finding her own, distinctly female voice in this traditional art, Ochs retells the incredible stories of the biblical matriarchs, filling in the gaps and answering some of the key questions left behind by their original male writers.

For each of the women in Sarah Laughed, the author first translates the Hebrew passage in which the woman appears and then presents an eloquent new rendition of the story, offering a creative way to connect to these heroines, making their trials and triumphs relevant for women today.

Intimate, familiar, and wise, the mothers, wives, and maidservants you’ll find here are revealed to be uplifting role models, from Eve’s rebellious taste of wisdom to the righteous anger of Job’s wife. Each story is accompanied by real-life rituals that you can perform at home, including friendship meditations and original craft ideas. By learning about the gifts of these ancient women, you’ll discover exhilarating ways to embrace your own personal gifts and gain fresh insight into: Finding your inner wisdom Speaking your true self Being a good friend Maintaining romantic partnerships Raising a family Letting go of children Feeling blessed with a life well lived And much more

Like never before, this unique book reveals the real people behind the immortal women of the Bible--gutsy, vulnerable, and ultimately inspiring. By consulting our ancient community of sisters, our own lives are illuminated and empowered by the experiences and lessons of these age-old and still vividly available women.

Advance Praise for Sarah Laughed

“The Bible provides just the barest of outlines about the lives of its great women. Vanessa Ochs fills in the details with laughter, conversation, and a sense of place. Ochs takes us into Eve's garden and Sarah's kitchen and Dina's tent and Esther's vanity. It is all so wonderfully imagined that it takes on a truth for our times. This is modern midrash at its best. In these pages, the women of the Bible come to life and leave us with some important lessons for our own lives.”
--Ari L. Goldman, author of The Search for God at Harvard

“Vanessa Ochs's delicious retelling of the old tales is radiant with her affection for her subjects and, more importantly, with her respect for her readers. True to her promise, Ochs dances with the Bible in every one of these pages.”
--Phyllis Tickle, author of The Divine Hours and The Shaping of a Life

"Sarah Laughed addresses contemporary female experience through insights from biblical women and wisdom. Ochs offers psychologically astute analyses and empowering rituals that will inspire her readers to find meaning in the joys and vicissitudes of their own lives."
--Judith R. Baskin, Knight Professor of Humanities and Director of Judaic Studies, University of Oregon

"Vanessa Ochs re-creates the lives of Biblical women and makes them achingly relevant to our own. If you liked The Red Tent--actually, if you like the Bible and want to get to know it better--Sarah Laughed is a must-read."
--Lauren Winner, author of Girl Meets God and Mudhouse Sabbath

About the Author

Vanessa L. Ochs, Ph.D., is the Ida and Nathan Kolodiz Director of Jewish Studies at the University of Virginia. The recipient of a writing fellowship from the National Endowment for the Arts, she has written several books, including Words on Fire, and dozens of articles for national newspapers and magazines. She lives in Charlottesville, Virginia.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

Eve, Miriam, Esther. Naomi, Ruth, Rebecca. These names and those of the many other women of the Old Testament resonate in our imaginations. But how much do we really know about our biblical foremothers? Their stories are briefly told in the original text and are shrouded in questions. How did Eve navigate the journey to wisdom? What enabled Hagar to sustain herself and her son, Ishmael, in the wilderness? How did Miriam inspire hope in the refugees escaping from Egypt? Most important, what enduring lessons can these women share with us today?

In this vivid collection, Judaic scholar Vanessa Ochs brings the legends of the biblical matriarchs to new life using her own form of midrash, a creative but scholarly reinterpretation of sacred works that puts flesh and bones on the original. Finding her own, distinctly female voice in this traditional art, Ochs retells the incredible stories of the biblical matriarchs, filling in the gaps and answering some of the key questions left behind by the original text.

For each of the women in Sarah Laughed, the author first translates the Hebrew passages in which the woman appears and then presents an eloquent new rendition of the story, offering a creative way to connect to these heroines, making their trials and triumphs relevant for women today. Intimate, familiar, and wise, the mothers, wives, and maidservants you'll find here are revealed to be uplifting role models, from Eve's rebellious taste of wisdom to the righteous anger of Job's wife. Each story is accompanied by real-life rituals that you can perform at home, including friendship meditations and original craft ideas. By learning about the gifts of these ancient women, you'll discover exhilarating ways to embrace your own personal gifts and gain fresh insight Like never before, this unique book reveals the real people behind the immortal women of the Bible -- gutsy, vulnerable, and ultimately inspiring. By consulting our ancient community of sisters, our own lives are illuminated and empowered by the experiences and lessons of these age-old and still vividly available women.

FROM THE CRITICS

Publishers Weekly

With warmth, erudition and a very contemporary sensibility, Ochs offers reflections on the lives of Old Testament matriarchs that should appeal to women across religious lines. Director of Jewish Studies at the University of Virginia, Ochs uses her own research with unobtrusive grace to shed light on gaps in the biblical stories. While focused on the narratives, she chooses to combine an inspirational self-help message with Jewish lore and the testimony of modern female friends. Most often, she is successful, as when she discusses well-known figures like Sarah, laughing in reaction to the news that she will bear a child in her old age. "Sarah's laughter gives us perspective on our yearning. We can hear her laughter when we hold on to our dreams and when we decide it's time to relinquish them." Even when she grapples with enigmatic or tragic women, like Jephthah's daughter, Ochs finds parallels between their stories and the dilemmas of her modern readers. Divided thematically by topics such as friendship, parenting and healing, the chapters include translations from the Hebrew, a "midrash-like" commentary on the story and practical rituals designed to bring home the diverse lessons of this appealing book. (Sept.) Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.

Library Journal

Ochs (Jewish & religious studies, Univ. of Virginia) has written an ardently and unstoppably upbeat reconsideration of some of the women who appear in Hebrew Scripture. Her approach blends semi-fictionalized retellings with her own contemporary reflections on the meanings of the "stories" she retells or elaborates from Scriptural sources. More traditionally minded Jews and Christians alike may be surprised to find, for instance, Jephthah's daughter celebrated for her self-sacrifice for her friends' sake, but Ochs's point has more to do with reshaping old interpretations to find uplifting models for contemporary women than pleasing conservative authorities. For most collections. Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.

AUTHOR DESCRIPTION