Vanessa L. Ochs

An enlightening history of the Haggadah with references to many different versions, both historical and recent. There are, unfortunately, no color pictures. Best of all is the author’s analysis of the various irritating problems with the Haggadah in the final section entitled, Why Have We Needed So Many Haggadot?.

For each of the women in this collection---Eve, Hagar, Miriam, Daughters of Tzlofhad, a woman of valor, Esther, Dinah, Jephthah's daughter, Naomi, Ruth, Sarah, Rebecca, Yocheved, Job's wife, Vashti, Leah, Hannah, "the woman who has given birth," and "women who bake cakes for the Queen of Heaven"---Dr. Ochs gives the Biblical story, the woman's own story---an original midrash, how that woman speaks to us, and how to embrace her gift.

So far, I've only read the introduction and her chapter on show more Esther. Ochs suggests that Esther's beauty comes from not only her physical appearance, but also from her desire and ability to find beauty and goodness in those who see her. When she asks an old servant to tell her of some good deed that the king has done, the servant tells her something that will happen in the future. show less