Anne Lapidus Lerner

A detailed, careful exploration of the Biblical Eve in the Tanach, Midrash, and modern Jewish poetry, with the original Hebrew and the author's translation. The Hebrew words written as part of the English text are transliterated. There is a lot to absorb. Her discussions of the poems helped a lot, made them more meaningful. The review by bostonian71 is a better description the book

Some interesting ideas:
re Gen. 1:27 ("And God created the adam in His image, | in the image of God He created it, | male and female He created them.")
Lerner says perhaps the clauses are "sequential rather than parallel," and "in His image" (betsalmo) is really "in his image"---the adam is first created as a human creature and then receives a "divine aspect," which, finally, is separated into two sexes, hence "them." [p. 36]

I think sheneihem (the two of them / both) in the Akeda (Gen 22:6, 22:8, but not 2:19) is significant, so I was intrigued to learn that the word appears in Gen 2:25 and Gen 3:7---not in the actual episode of the forbidden fruit, but "[o]nly in the two verses that frame the episode." "The primal couple seems to be together on only one issue: the significance of their nakedness, first in innocence; later in shame." [p. 92]
Later, as Lerner talks about the couple leaving Eden, she says, "Sheneihem reflects their mutuality without compromising their individuality. From the moment God enters the scene they are separated." In the extensive notes at the end of the book, Lerner mentions "[a]n exploration of the parallel use of the word ... lies beyond the scope of this research." [p. 197]… (mer)

Incredibly perceptive and fascinating. Lerner's book intelligently and clearly examines images of the first Biblical woman, ranging from the Torah itself to rabbinic midrash to modern interpretations. Her cogent analysis includes a discussion of the multiple creation stories in Genesis -- which counter the traditional interpretation of Eve being created from Adam, and therefore inferior -- and delves into the original Hebrew to show where translations are either incorrect or don't convey all the possible meanings. (You don't need to understand Hebrew yourself, though knowing the Hebrew alphabet is helpful, if only to be able to pick out specific words in the verses she quotes.) If you ever have to go up against someone who justifies misogyny with references to Eve the Temptress, this is the book to have at your side.… (mer)