Three Women of Hope
Miriam, Hannah, Huldah
Translated by Dennis Wienk
Imprint: Wipf and Stock
The land of Israel is intimately linked to the adventures of the prophets, men like Elijah, Amos, Hosea, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and the list goes on and on. How about prophets who were women? Does anyone remember that two gates of the Jerusalem Temple bore the name of Huldah, one of these women? Probably not, which is not all that astonishing given that history was written by men . . .
Some women have, however, found places in history: Sarah and Hagar, Rebekah, Rachel and Leah, to name a few. Other women also deserve to emerge from silence: women like Miriam, Hannah, and Huldah. It is nonetheless true that these women have to be identified with reference to a man: the first is Moses' sister, the second is Samuel's mother, the third a colleague of King Josiah, Israel's reformer. This little book paints their portraits, with much sensitivity and tenderness, but never restraining disgust when the role of the women is found to have been erased unjustly.
The abundant use made here of Jewish traditions of Bible reading will help readers discover the riches of a tradition uniquely suited to broadening their experience. Nor will they be left unaffected or indifferent by the deep spirituality revealed here.
Christianne Meroz is a sister of the Swiss Community of Grandchamp. A psychologist and theologian, she facilitates women's groups, chiefly in Holland. Among her writings there are two other books in this series, one of which, Five Women: Sarah, Hagar, Rebekah, Rachel, Leah, has already appeared in English.
Dennis Wienk is a priest of the Diocese of Rochester (Episcopal) who served most recently as Director of Pastoral Care and Chaplain with Episcopal SeniorLife Communities in Rochester, New York.
"In this captivating read, Meroz brings to life three biblical women, as living embodiments of liberation. For too many in our world today, life is shaped by the violence of war, oppression, poverty, and patriarchy. Meroz enables us to see, through these women, the reality that life does not have to be the way it is now: there is always another way possible, just waiting to be birthed."
--Deborah Duguid-May, Trinity Episcopal Church, New York