Seyder Tkhines: The Forgotten Book of Common Prayer for Jewish Women

Rating:
Summary: A cracking read.
Review: Despite a degree in Hebrew and Jewish Studies, I must confess I knew nothing about the "Seyder Tkhines" - mystical, passionate prayers written in Yiddish by women for women as long ago as the seventeenth century. Indeed, I was not aware that such a bounteous number of widely used prayers, for women only, ever existed in Jewish history.

These (tragically) long-forgotten Tkhines are the subject of Devra Kay's fascinating book. I can't believe this section of Jewish social history has been so neglected - perhaps a reflection of the patriarchal nature of modern Judaism. It's interesting to note Kay's unearthing of these prayers coinciding with the new surge of interest in Jewish mysticism - Kaballah. I'm sure Madonna and Britney would find Kay's book as intriguing as I did!

Through the "Seder Tkhines", Kay gives us new insights into a turbulent time in European Jewish History.

Both erudite and accessible, Kay's book is a revelation. Just one request for Devra Kay - could we now have a collection of the original Tkhines, complete with tranlations, in time for my wife's Chanukah present this year?!