A Commentary on Food in the Torah
Food is at the heart of Jewish life and culture, the subject of
many recent studies - popular and academic - and countless Jewish jokes. From
Forbidden Fruit to Milk and Honey: A Commentary on Food in the Torah spotlights
food in the Torah, where it’s used to explore such themes as love and
compassion, commitment, character, justice, belonging and exclusion, deception,
and life and death. Originally created as an online project to support the
innovative food rescue charity, Leket Israel, From Forbidden Fruit to Milk and
Honey comprises short essays on food and eating in the parasha by 52
internationally acclaimed scholars and Jewish educators, and a commentary by
Diana Lipton.
Proceeds from sales of this book will go to Leket Israel,
Israel’s national food bank.
Contents:
Bere'shit
|
Melissa Lane
|
Noah
|
Dan Baras
|
Lekh Lekha
|
Alexander Kaye
|
Va-Yera
|
Hanne Loland Levinson |
| Hayyei Sarah |
Malke Bina |
| Toledot |
Jack M. Sasson |
| Va-Yetse' |
Alicia Ostriker |
| Va-Yishlah |
Jonathan Price |
| Va-Yeshev |
Stefan C. Reif |
| Mikkets |
Meira Polliack |
| Va-Yiggash |
Diana Lipton |
| Va-Yehi |
Albert Baumgarten |
| Shemot |
Robert Brody |
| Va-'Era' |
Rachel Havrelock |
| Bo' |
Jennie Rosenfeld |
| Beshallah |
Deena Garber |
| Yitro |
Gilla Rosen |
| Mishpatim |
Ed Greenstein |
| Terumah |
Lynn Kaye |
| Tetsavveh |
Ariel Kopilovitz |
| Ki Tissa' |
Jeremy Rosen |
| Va-Yakhel |
Susan Weingarten |
| Pekudei |
Nehemia Polen |
| Va-Yikra' |
Pinchas Roth |
| Tsav |
Harlan Wechsler |
| Shemini |
Gary A. Rendsburg |
| Tazria |
Amit Gvaryahu |
| Metsora |
Uri Gabbay |
| 'Aharei Mot |
Shani Tzoref |
| Kedoshim |
Paula Fredriksen |
| 'Emor |
Chaim Milikowsky |
| Be-Har |
George Savran |
| Be-Hukkotai |
Sandra Jacobs |
| Be-Midbar |
Simon Goldhill |
| Naso' |
Ishay Rosen-Zvi |
| Be-Ha'alotekha |
Joel Hecker |
| Shelah-Lekha |
Athalya Brenner |
| Korah |
Noam Mizrahi |
| Hukkat |
Amira Meir |
| Balak |
Laliv Clenman |
| Pinhas |
Susan Handelman |
| Mattot |
Nili Wazana |
| Mase'ei |
Adi Marili |
| Devarim |
Ian Gamse & Tamra Wright |
| Va-'Ethannan |
Chaim Hames |
| 'Ekev |
Mar Saperstein |
| Re'eh |
Eliezer Segal |
| Shofetim |
Suzanne Last Stone |
| Ki Tetse' |
Yehuda Galinsky |
| Ki Tavo' |
Itay Marienbrg-Milikowsky |
| Nitsavim |
Shira Golani |
| Va-Yelekh |
Yitzhak Peleg |
| Ha'azinu |
Linda Zisquit |
| Ve-Z'ot Ha-Berakhah |
Tova Ganzel |
About the Author:
Diana Lipton received a Bachelor of Arts from the University of
Oxford and a PhD in Bible at the University of Cambridge. After almost
ten years as Fellow of Newnham College, Cambridge, she moved to King's
College London as a Lecturer and then Reader in Hebrew Bible and Jewish
Studies. She is now an Adjunct Lecturer in Bible at Hebrew University's
Rothberg International School. Her published works include Revisions of
the Night: Politics and Promises in the Patriarchal Dreams of Genesis,
Longing for Egypt and Other Unexpected Biblical Tales, and Lamentations
Through the Centuries. Diana has a long history of voluntary work in the
Jewish community, and this book emerged from her first project with
Leket Israel. Diana has two sons, Jacob and Jonah, and she lives in
Jerusalem with her husband, Chaim Milikowsky.
Praise for Forbidden Fruit:
“Diana Lipton’s many insights into biblical texts are well known to contemporary
scholars. Her commentary on food in the Torah offers a fresh look at some familiar
passages and themes. Definitely eye-opening!”
–
James Kugel, author of
How to Read the Bible
“Food in the Torah, argues Diana Lipton, is the basis of a rich and subtle language
with which God communicates with Israel, Israel addresses God and people speak
to each other. This is the theme of a suggestive collection of essays by some great
Judaic scholars of our time, yielding delicious fruits of insight and an unusual salad of
sustenance and spirituality. A feast to be treasured by all lovers of that full-flavoured
mix of food and faith that is Jewish life at its best.”
–
Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks
“Every generation approaches the Torah in search of insight. Traditional commentaries
and even translations reflect this quest. A central concern of our time is food. In this
splendid volume Diana Lipton combines an impressive array of contributors with her
own commentary to create a wonderful ‘spread table’ of insights from the Torah on a
subject that affects us all.”
–
Professor Naomi Tadmor, author of
The Social Universe of the English Bible:
Scripture, Society and Culture in Early Modern England
