Eve was not Adam's first wife. That honor belongs to Lilith, who was created as Adam's equal. When he tried to dominate her, she uttered God's secret name and flew away. Lilith is mentioned in the Talmud, elaborated on in the midrash and in the kabbalah, whispered about in stories, and passed down from mother to daughter. In this anthology, a vivid, provocative, and enlightening sampling of Jewish women's written responses to the Lilith myth are offered. The editors have provided the space for contemporary women to link themselves to a tradition and participate in a sacred activity, thereby infusing energy into Lilith and creating a new tradition.

Lilith is the mythological seductress that has been repressed since Biblical times. She is the representative of the essentially motherless form of the feminine Self that arose as an embodiment of the neglected and rejected aspects of the Great Goddess. Written by a Jungian analyst, this material can help modern men and women come to terms with this aspect of the feminine within.

Old rabbanic tradition teaches that Eve was not Adam's first wife, rather a mysterious woman named Lilith who was thrown out of Eden before Adam and Eve were. This is a lyrical telling of that legend and what happens to Lilith as she encounters various demons outside the garden and what she says and does to Adam and Eve once they too are thrown out of the Garden of Eden. Now in larger print!

This first collection of Judith Plaskow's essays and short writings traces her scholarly and personal journey from her early days as a graduate student through her pioneering contributions to both feminist theology and Jewish feminism to her recent work in sexual ethics. Accessibly organized into four sections, the collection begins with several of Plaskow's foundational essays on feminist theology, including one previously unavailable in English. Section II addresses her nuanced understanding of oppression and includes her important work on anti-Judaism in Christian feminism. Section III contains a variety of short and highly readable pieces that make clear Plaskow's central role in the creation of Jewish feminism, including the essential "Beyond Egalitarianism." Finally, section IV presents her writings on the significance of sexual ethics to the larger project of transforming Judaism. Intelligently edited with the help of Rabbi Donna Berman, and including pieces never before published, The Coming of Lilith is indispensable for religious studies students, fans of Plaskow's work, and those pursuing a Jewish education.

This edition of Lilith: The Legend of the First Woman contains illustrated depictions of the mythic Lilith, in her role within the garden of Eden. Collier uses poetry to detail an account of Lilith as an alternative narrative of the Book of Genesis. Originating from Rabbinic circles, the notion of Lilith was as Adam's first wife, with her expulsion taking place before God created Eve as her replacement. Drawing upon aspects of Jewish, Christian and Islamic law, Collier ably details Lilith's characteristics - she appears not as a malevolent demon or temptress, but as an intelligent being with a great capacity for affection. Owing to the interpretation being in verse form, we may observe an aesthetic description of the Garden of Eden and the circumstances of Lilith's arrival there. A fascinating interpretation of ancient myths, Lilith: The Legend of the First Woman is a worthwhile and intriguing read for those interested in Old Testament lore and Lilith as legend.