We are God’s Children Too

We are God’s Children Too (2020)

Rona Matlow

At the heart of Jewish experience is narrative. Around the dinner table, we tell stories of our families, recalling the quality of a grandmother’s cooking, the kindness (or stinginess) of a particular uncle, the ways in which traditions have developed and shifted in our families. In synagogues and Jewish schools, we read the Torah, which is filled with stories of our religious patriarchs and matriarchs. And then there are the stories of Diaspora–the history of Jewish communities existing in exile for over two millennia. There are family stories and history books dedicated to our many wanderings. All of these stories help Jewish people connect to their heritage and lineage.

What of the queer Jew? Even as more and more Jewish communities emphasize inclusivity and find a place for queer congregants, Jewish stories do not. The Bible offers no queer lessons, leaving queer Jews split in two; a Jewish heritage and a queer present. Enter Rabbah Rona Matlow, with hir queer midrashim.

Midrashim are stories which approach Biblical texts from new perspectives, often exploring areas of confusion or possible contradiction within the Bible. Unlike Torah, they are not presented as factual, but as possibilities. Fictions which might yet be possible alternate histories. Midrashim bridge gaps. Rona’s queer midrashim bridge the gap between the contemporary queer Jew and the (seemingly cisgender and straight) Bible, offering a way for us to see ourselves in our Jewish tradition.

(from the Preface by Kara Raphaeli, PhD, Lecturer of Critical Gender Studies, San Diego)

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Product details

  • Paperback: 206 pages ($18.99 USD $25.81 CAD)
  • E-book File Size: 7100 KB ($4.99 USD/$6.78 CAD )
  • Publisher: TransGender Publishing (July 13 2020)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN: 978-1-7772360-5-2 (paperback)
  • ISBN: 978-1-7772360-6-9 (Kindle e-book)
  • ISBN: 978-1-7772360-7-6 (Smashwords e-book)
  • Product Dimensions: 6 x 0.5 x 9 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 10.1 ounces