Books

I wanted to do a little mini post about the books that we are reading and have read during this trip.

Chelsey:

I began reading a book titled, "The Sabbath World: Glimpses of a Different Order of Time" by Judith Shulevitz on the plane rides to Israel. I finished it here during our first week. It was very good and included a long history of the Sabbath - first how it began in Jewish observance as the first Sabbath with G-d commanding the Israelites to keep it, and how it evolved over time in Judaism, and then how it changed when Christians came on the scene. It showed how and why it differs between Christian sects and gives the historical background around it all. It also includes the authors own struggles with Shabbat and how and why aspects are important or not important to her. It was a very well thought out book and an enjoyable read, especially as I am testing and experimenting with my own level of Shabbat observance.

After that book I read a book called "Gentle Birth Choices: A Guide to Making Informed Decisions About Birthing Centers, Birth Attendants, Water Birth, Home Birth, and Hospital Birth" by Barbara Harper. The name of this book pretty much sums up ints content, although it does not indicate the vast amounts of historical and scholarly information that is contained in this book. This was a very scholarly read and included so much important information and resources for me to use as a doula. This book is on the list of required reading to become certified as a birth doula and I can see why. It contains invaluable information that I will take with me to help my future clients experience the birth they want - a gentle, mother and baby-centered one in which the woman is in control of the situation instead of the obstetrician.

The book I am currently engrossed in is named, "Walking the Bible: A Journey by Land Through the Five Books of Moses" by Bruce Feiler. This book is excellent! I actually began reading it before we left for Israel and just picked it up again after completing "Gentle Birth Choices." In this book, the author, who is an American Jew who felt no connection to the Holy Land, goes around exploring theareas talked about in the Torah. He brings his Chumash (five books of Moses) with him to all the sites and reads them in the actual area that they are supposed to have taken place. Throughout the journey, his faith seems to become more tangible. It is a really great read so far! I am on page 90 or so of four-hundred something. It is an easy read that I want to gobble up. This book was given to me by some members of my Living a Meaningful Jewish Life class at Hillel UW for my Bat Mitzvah this summer. Thanks to you all!

Rafi:

Rafi is currently reading a novel called "The Face" by Dean Koontz. He is actually absorbed in reading it right nw. It seems like one of those books that is gripping and suspenseful and difficult to put down. He says that it is full of mystery, suspense, and intrigue. If you want to read more about it, you can find it on Amazon.com.