It is rare that we review a book that is printed privately. But this 282-page volume marked a very special occasion – the 25th anniversary of the founding of the Montreal Women’s Tefllah Group. It is a beautifully produced book and contains the history of the group, and personal essays, together with biblical, midrashic, halakhic and literary excerpts from both historical and contemporary women, and even an international directory of women’s prayer groups. The Montreal group, founded by prominent feminist Orthodox scholar, Norma Baumel Joseph, has been meeting continuously since 1982 once a month on Rosh Hodesh except when this falls on Shabbat, and alternates between two Orthodox synagogues. In the early 1990’s Barbara Nirenberg compiled and produced a beautiful siddur called Siftei Chanah specifically for the group. The commemorative volume gives a feeling of the specialness of the bond that connects the members of the group, their spiritual yearning, their intellectual curiosity and love of traditional Jewish life, and exemplifies a warm love of text and of history. The section that includes the personal feelings of group members about their attendance and participation, is especially meaningful.
The volume can be ordered through LithoExpress, 1134 rue William, Montreal Quebec, H3C 1P8. A portion of the proceeds from the sale goes to the Coalition of Jewish Women for the Get.