Includes bibliographical references and index.

Foreword / Rosanne M. Selfon -- Preface / Sarah Sager -- Introduction : about this book / Tamara Cohn Eskenazi & Andrea L. Weiss -- Women and interpretation of the Torah / Tamara Cohn Eskenazi & Andrea L. Weiss -- Women in ancient Israel : an overview / Carol Meyers -- Women and post-biblical commentary / Judith R. Baskin -- Women and contemporary revelation / Ellen Umansky -- The poetry of Torah and the Torah of poetry / Sue Levi Elwell -- Genesis / Tamara Cohn Eskenazi -- B'reishit 1:1-6:8 : Creation and transformation /Tamara Cohn Eskenazi -- Noach 6:9-11:32 : Beginning again / Tamara Cohn Eskenazi --Lech L'cha 12:1-17:27 : Covenantal promise and cultural self-definition / Susan Niditch -- Vayeira 18:1-22:24 : Between laughter and tears / Tammi Schneider -- Chayei Sarah 23:1-25:18 : From Sarah to Rebekah / Yairah Amit -- Tol'dot 25:19-28:9 : Shaping destiny : the story of Rebekah / Tamara Cohn Eskenazi & Hara E. Person -- Vayeitzei 28:10-32:3 : The journey within / Rachel Havrelock -- Vayishlach 32:4-36:43 : From Jacob to Israel / Shawna Dolansky & Risa Levitt Kohn -- Vayeishev 37:1-40:23 : Trials tribulations, and changing circumstances / Athalya Brenner -- Mikeitz 41:1-44:17 : When dreams come true / Naomi Steinberg -- Vayigash 44:18-47:27 : Reunion and reconciliation of Joseph, Jacob and the brothers / Naomi Steinberg -- Va-y'chi 47:28-50:26 : Intimations of the Exodus : the death of Jacob, the birth of Israel / Adele Berlin -- Exodus / Andrea L. Weiss -- Sh'mot 1:1-6:1 : Giving birth to a nation / Adele Berlin -- Va-eira 6:2-9:35 : Marvelous signs and destructive wonders / Rachel Havrelock -- Bo 10:1-13:16 : Power, plagues, passover / Sharon R. Keller -- B'shalach 13:17-17:16 : Crossing the sea and cries in the wilderness / Carol Meyers -- Yitro 18:1-20:23 -- The birth of a nation : Israel becomes a covenanted people / Elaine Goodfriend -- Mishpatim 21:1-24:18 : Rules for life in a covenant community / Elaine Goodfriend -- T'rumah 25:1-27:19 : A place for God : instructions for building a tabernacle / Carol Meyers -- T'tzaveh 27:20-30:10 : Further instructions : consecration of priests and tabernacle / Carol Meyers -- Ki Tisa 30:11-34:35 : Tablets, calf, and covenant : mediating the relationship with God / Elsie R. Stern -- Vayak'heil 35:1-38:20 : Making a place for God : the tabernacle's components / Carol Meyers -- P'kudei 38:21-40:38 : Completing and consecrating the tabernacle / Carol Meyers -- Leviticus / Tamara Cohn Eskenazi -- Vayikra 1:1-5:26 : A call to approach God / Tamara Cohn Eskenazi -- Tzav 6:1-8:36 : The priestly Torah and the priests ordination / Tamara Cohn Eskenazi -- Sh'mini 9:1-11:47 : Purity and danger in the sanctuary and the home / Lisbeth S. Fried -- Tazria 12:1-13:59 : Purity, birth, and illness / Elaine Goodfriend -- M'tzora 14:1-15:33 : Restoring ritual purity / Elaine Goodfriend -- Acharei Mot 16:1-18:30 : Boundaries of rituals : the sanctuary and the body / Rachel Havrelock -- K'doshim 19:1-20:27 : A call to holiness / S. Tamar Kamionkowski -- Emor 21:1-24:23 : Preserving the holiness of priests, times, and spaces / Hilary Lipka -- B'har 25:1-26:2 : Proclaiming and protecting liberty / Tamara Cohn Eskenazi & Jocelyn Hudson -- B'chukotai 26:3-27:34 : Ensuring obedience to God, and the sanctuary's welfare / Hilary Lipka -- Numbers / Tamara Cohn Eskenazi -- B'midbar 1:1-4:20 : The architecture of a count and the architecture of account / Rachel Havrelock -- Naso 4:21-7:89 : Suspicion and sanctity / Amy Kalmanofsky -- B'haalot'cha 8:1-12:16 : The journey from Sinai begins /Masha Turner -- Sh'lach L'cha 13:1-15:41 : Sending scouts and challenging leaders / Nili Sacher Fox -- Korach 16:1-18:32 : Leadership, rebellions, and punishments / Shawna Dolansky -- Chukat 19:1-22:1 : Leadership and loss in the wilderness / Adriane Leveen -- Balak 22:2-25:9 : Dangerous foreigners / Nili Sacher Fox -- Pinchas 25:10-30:1 : Legacy of law, leadership, and land / Tamara Cohn Eskenazi -- Matot 30:2-32:42 : Vows and vengeance / Elizabeth Goldstein -- Mas'ei 33:1-36:13 : The journey's end / Tamara Cohn Eskenazi & Elizabeth Goldstein -- Deuteronomy / Andrea L. Weiss -- D'varim 1:1-3:22 : At the threshold of Canaan / Elsie R. Stern -- Va-et'chanan 3:23-7:11 : The call to loyalty and love / Orna Horn Prouser -- Eikev 7:12-11:25 : Conditions for life in the land / Dalit Rom-Shiloni -- R'eih 11:26-16:17 : Laws and loyalty / Beth Alpert Nakhai -- Shof'tim 16:18-21:9 : Law and order / Adele Berlin -- Ki Teitzei 21:10-25:19 : Relationships and society / Adele Berlin -- Ki Tavo 26:1-29:8 : Entering the land of Israel : blessings and curses / Adele Berlin -- Nitzavim 29:9-30:20 : Covenantal choices / Dalit Rom-Shiloni -- Vayeilech 31:1-30 : The oral and the written : words of encouragement and warning / Adriane Leveen -- Haazinu 32:1-52 : The song of Moses : a foretelling of future events / Andrea L. Weiss -- V'zot Hab'rachah 33:1-34:12 : Moses' last words : A blessing for Israel / Andrea L. Weiss.