This book examines the iconography of Judith, Esther, and the Shulamite in the last decades of the nineteenth and the first two decades of the twentieth century in the works of the Polish-Jewish artists.

Every daughter of Eve faces an identity crisis at some time in her life. And many of us wonder where we fit in on a regular basis. Whether you feel discouraged and damaged or desire a greater understanding of your spiritual condition, this book will help you embrace your identity as one reclaimed by Jesus Christ.

What if the women of the Bible told their own stories? Lady Midrash: Poems Reclaiming the Voices of Biblical Women brings to life alternative interpretations and forgotten female perspectives from the Hebrew Bible and New Testament. Following in the footsteps of Jewish midrash, a storytelling tradition that explores the gaps in scripture, these poems re-examine the experiences of Biblical women. Sidelined heroines are celebrated. Supposed villainesses get to speak for themselves. Lady Midrash reverses convention, probes familiar narratives, attends to small moments, highlights peripheral and silent characters, and names the nameless. The imagination of midrash provides the reader with a creative space to rethink assumptions and reconsider the accounts of women in the Jewish and Christian traditions.

"By turns witty, erudite, probingly serious and sparklingly irreverent, these essays refresh our readings of the Bible, and deepen our vision of foundational feminist figures. A wonderfully thought-provoking and readable collection." EVA HOFFMAN Author of EXIT INTO HISTORY This is the first collection of essays in which women read and respond to the Bible out of pleasure and curiosity--reclaiming the Bible for women and showing readers that the Bible is a source we can return to again and again. Drawing on their own epxeriences and interests, Louise Erdrich, Cynthia Ozick, Fay Weldon, Phyllis Trible, Rebecca Goldstein, June Jordan, Ursula Le Guin, and twenty-one other writers boldly imaginatively--and sometimes reproachfully--address the Old Testament stories, characters, and poetry that mean the most to them. As with all great works of literature, it is a book that changes as we change, a garden in its own right whose pleasures are there for the taking, as are its surprises and thorny byways.

Their stories are as varied as the women who lived them--provocative, poignant, often painful. But they are not readily accessible to us. The voices are muted. The shapes and textures are blurred and easily distorted. Can the stories of Old Testament women of faith be reheard and reclaimed in an empowering way by women and men today? With remarkable sensitivity and a keen awareness of his own unavoidable male biases, Jon Berquist casts new light on Eve and Sarah, Lot's wife and Jephthah's daughter, Ruth and Esther, and others. This timely volume serves as a valuable resource for rediscovering the multiple witness of biblical women that has all too often gone unnoticed in the church's faith and life.

Courageous Women, Stacy Mitch¿s newest Bible study, will help you see the women of the Bible as elder sisters in faith. As Stacy unfolds the stories of these heroic women through insightful reflections and questions, you will understand salvation history more deeply, be challenged to grow in godliness, and discover that the struggles these women faced are strikingly similar to those we face today. These courageous women will teach you timeless lessons of faithfulness to God and reliance on His help.

“I’m so fat.” “I don’t like my nose.” “I wish I was taller.” Our dissatisfaction with what we see in the mirror is what Barb Roose calls our ugly struggle with beauty. It’s a struggle that negatively affects not only our self-image and self-esteem but also our relationships with God and others. What is the answer? We desperately need to regain God's perspective on beauty. During this six-week Bible study, women will unpack the beliefs or experiences that are holding them hostage. Together they will explore God's truth about beauty throughout the Scriptures, digging into passages in both the Old and New Testaments and applying the truths in their lives. They will move away from over-focusing on unrealistic expectations and perceived flaws toward God’s viewpoint of their hearts, minds, bodies and souls. As women make this journey, they will: Be set free from the trap of comparison and self-ridicule Become comfortable in their own skin Reach beyond themselves to encourage and support other women By learning to see the goodness, blessing, and purpose for their bodies no matter their size, shape, or style, women will overcome discontent and comparison and learn to live fully as the beautifully unique creations God designed them to be. The participant workbook includes five days of lessons for each week, combining study of Scripture with personal reflection, application, and prayer. Other components for the Bible study, available separately, include a Leader Guide, DVD with six 19-28 minute sessions, and boxed Leader Kit (an all-inclusive box containing one copy of each of the Bible study’s components).