Michal Smart

I expected something really different than what I got. The book flap claimed it was writings from women from all different backgrounds. It was largely Orthodox women's writings, and I get why, but that's not 'all different backgrounds'. These women were also overwhelmingly straight, married, and had two or more biological children. Again, I get why, but that's certainly not 'all different backgrounds.' Somehow I thought the women would talk about their grief in a way that helped mine, whereas it focused on immediate grief. That was a me thing, not a book flap thing at all. However, the actual writing about reciting Kaddish and being a woman--that's exactly what this was. My congregation, a Sephardic-influenced one with people from Orthodox Ashkenaz backgrounds who wanted something different, recites Kaddish frequently. I noticed right away that the women here--they -can-, but they don't really, or they are so quiet. This book helped me understand that in a different way. I've always been allowed to say Kaddish, but I'm from a Sephardic-Conservative background and male. I'm really glad I read the book..… (meer)