Tikva Frymer-Kensky
Encyclopedia
Tikva Frymer-Kensky was a Professor at the University of Chicago
Divinity School
. She received her MA
and PhD
from Yale University
. She had previously served on the faculties of Wayne State University
, the Jewish Theological Seminary of America
, Yale University, Ben Gurion University, and the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College
, where she served as director of Biblical studies
.
and Sumer
ology, Biblical studies
, Jewish studies
, and women and religion. Her most recent books are "Reading the Women of the Bible," which received a Koret Jewish Book Award
in 2002 and a National Jewish Book Award in 2003; "In the Wake of the Goddesses: Women, Culture and the Biblical Transformation of Pagan Myth;" and "Motherprayer: The Pregnant Woman’s Spiritual Companion." She was also the English translator of "From Jerusalem to the Edge of Heaven" by Ari Elon (Alma Dee, original Hebrew). In progress at the time of her death were a commentary on Ruth
, a book on biblical theology, and a book on Genesis.
In 1996, the Alumni Association of the Albert A. List College, along with the Graduate School of the Jewish Theological Seminary, presented her with a citation in honor of her accomplishments. The citation celebrates her "prodigious number of well-received books and articles," and her status as "a powerful advocate for Jewish feminism at the numerous conferences at which you lectured....you have shown a light on Biblical periods in which women occupied public office and enjoyed powerful prominent roles in the community."
In 2005 she was named one of the Jewish Chicagoans of the Year by The Chicago Jewish News.
In 2006, the Jewish Publication Society
published a collection of her articles, "Studies in Bible and Feminist Criticism", as part of their Scholar of Distinction series. She is the first woman to have her work included in this series, as well as having been the youngest person anthologized in this prestigious series.
University of Chicago
The University of Chicago is a private research university in Chicago, Illinois, USA. It was founded by the American Baptist Education Society with a donation from oil magnate and philanthropist John D. Rockefeller and incorporated in 1890...
Divinity School
Divinity School
Divinity School may refer to:* The common noun, divinity school* When used as a proper noun, may be an abbreviated reference to one of the following:** Beeson Divinity School** Berkeley Divinity School** Brite Divinity School...
. She received her MA
Master of Arts (postgraduate)
A Master of Arts from the Latin Magister Artium, is a type of Master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The M.A. is usually contrasted with the M.S. or M.Sc. degrees...
and PhD
Doctor of Philosophy
Doctor of Philosophy, abbreviated as Ph.D., PhD, D.Phil., or DPhil , in English-speaking countries, is a postgraduate academic degree awarded by universities...
from Yale University
Yale University
Yale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
. She had previously served on the faculties of Wayne State University
Wayne State University
Wayne State University is a public research university located in Detroit, Michigan, United States, in the city's Midtown Cultural Center Historic District. Founded in 1868, WSU consists of 13 schools and colleges offering more than 400 major subject areas to over 32,000 graduate and...
, the Jewish Theological Seminary of America
Jewish Theological Seminary of America
The Jewish Theological Seminary of America is one of the academic and spiritual centers of Conservative Judaism, and a major center for academic scholarship in Jewish studies.JTS operates five schools: Albert A...
, Yale University, Ben Gurion University, and the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College
Reconstructionist Rabbinical College
The Reconstructionist Rabbinical College , is located in Wyncote, Pennsylvania, about 10 miles north of central Philadelphia. RRC is the only seminary affiliated with Reconstructionist Judaism. It is accredited by the Commission on Higher Education of the Middle States Association of Colleges and...
, where she served as director of Biblical studies
Biblical studies
Biblical studies is the academic study of the Judeo-Christian Bible and related texts. For Christianity, the Bible traditionally comprises the New Testament and Old Testament, which together are sometimes called the "Scriptures." Judaism recognizes as scripture only the Hebrew Bible, also known as...
.
Academic career
Her areas of specialization included AssyriologyAssyriology
Assyriology is the archaeological, historical, and linguistic study of ancient Mesopotamia and the related cultures that used cuneiform writing. The field covers the Akkadian sister-cultures of Assyria and Babylonia, together with their cultural predecessor; Sumer...
and Sumer
Sumer
Sumer was a civilization and historical region in southern Mesopotamia, modern Iraq during the Chalcolithic and Early Bronze Age....
ology, Biblical studies
Biblical studies
Biblical studies is the academic study of the Judeo-Christian Bible and related texts. For Christianity, the Bible traditionally comprises the New Testament and Old Testament, which together are sometimes called the "Scriptures." Judaism recognizes as scripture only the Hebrew Bible, also known as...
, Jewish studies
Jewish studies
Jewish studies is an academic discipline centered on the study of Jews and Judaism. Jewish studies is interdisciplinary and combines aspects of history , religious studies, archeology, sociology, languages , political science, area studies, women's studies, and ethnic studies...
, and women and religion. Her most recent books are "Reading the Women of the Bible," which received a Koret Jewish Book Award
Koret Jewish Book Award
The Koret Jewish Book Award is an annual award that recognizes "recently published books on any aspect of Jewish life in the categories of biography/autobiography and literary studies, fiction, history and philosophy/thought published in, or translated into, English." The award was established in...
in 2002 and a National Jewish Book Award in 2003; "In the Wake of the Goddesses: Women, Culture and the Biblical Transformation of Pagan Myth;" and "Motherprayer: The Pregnant Woman’s Spiritual Companion." She was also the English translator of "From Jerusalem to the Edge of Heaven" by Ari Elon (Alma Dee, original Hebrew). In progress at the time of her death were a commentary on Ruth
Book of Ruth
The Book of Ruth is one of the books of the Hebrew Bible, Tanakh, or Old Testament. In the Jewish canon the Book of Ruth is included in the third division, or the Writings . In the Christian canon the Book of Ruth is placed between Judges and 1 Samuel...
, a book on biblical theology, and a book on Genesis.
In 1996, the Alumni Association of the Albert A. List College, along with the Graduate School of the Jewish Theological Seminary, presented her with a citation in honor of her accomplishments. The citation celebrates her "prodigious number of well-received books and articles," and her status as "a powerful advocate for Jewish feminism at the numerous conferences at which you lectured....you have shown a light on Biblical periods in which women occupied public office and enjoyed powerful prominent roles in the community."
In 2005 she was named one of the Jewish Chicagoans of the Year by The Chicago Jewish News.
In 2006, the Jewish Publication Society
Jewish Publication Society of America
The Jewish Publication Society , originally known as the Jewish Publication Society of America, is the oldest nonprofit, nondenominational publisher of Jewish works in English...
published a collection of her articles, "Studies in Bible and Feminist Criticism", as part of their Scholar of Distinction series. She is the first woman to have her work included in this series, as well as having been the youngest person anthologized in this prestigious series.
Books
- Studies in Bible and Feminist Criticism. Philadelphia: Jewish Publication Society, 2006, ISBN 0-8276-0798-9
- Reading the Women of the Bible: A New Interpretation of Their Stories. New York: Shocken Books. 2002, ISBN 0-8052-4121-3
- Motherprayer: The Pregnant Woman's Spiritual Companion. New York: G. P. Putnum's SonsG. P. Putnam's SonsG. P. Putnam's Sons was a major United States book publisher based in New York City, New York. Since 1996, it has been an imprint of the Penguin Group.-History:...
. 1995 - In the Wake of the Goddesses: Women, Culture, and the Biblical Transformation of Pagan Myth. New York: Macmillan, Free PressMacmillan PublishersMacmillan Publishers Ltd, also known as The Macmillan Group, is a privately held international publishing company owned by Georg von Holtzbrinck Publishing Group. It has offices in 41 countries worldwide and operates in more than thirty others.-History:...
. 1992 - The Judicial Ordeal in the Ancient Near East. 1977 Reprint, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University Microfilms InternationalUniversity Microfilms InternationalUniversity Microfilms International or UMI, was founded in the 1930s by Eugene Power in Ann Arbor. By June 1938, Power worked in two rented rooms from a downtown Ann Arbor funeral parlor, specializing in microphotography to preserve library collections...
, 1997. Photocopy
Edited books
- Christianity in Jewish Terms. Edited by Tikva Frymer-Kensky, Peter Ochs, David NovakDavid NovakDavid Novak is a Jewish theologian, ethicist, and scholar of Jewish philosophy and law . He is an ordained Conservative rabbi and has also trained with Catholic moral theologians...
, Michael A. Signer and David Sandmel. Radical Tradition. Boulder, Colo.: Westview PressWestview PressWestview Press is an American publishing house. It publishes textbooks and scholarly works for an academic audience.Westview was founded in 1975 in Boulder, Colorado by Fred Praeger. The press was sold in 1991 to SCS Communications. HarperCollins acquired the company in 1995. Since 1998, it has...
. 2000 - Gender and Law in the Hebrew Bible and the Ancient Near East. Edited by Victor H Matthews, Bernard M. Levinson, and Tikva Frymer Kensky. Journal for the Study of the Old Testament, Supplement Series 262. Sheffield, Eng.: Sheffield Academic Press. 1998
Translations
- From Jerusalem to the Edge of Heaven. Ari Elon. Translated by Tikva Frymer-Kensky. Philadelphia: Jewish Publication Society of America, 1996, ISBN 0-8276-0525-0
Selected articles
- "The Image, the Glory, and the Holy: Aspects of Being Human in Biblical Thought." In Humanity Before God: Contemporary Faces of Jewish, Christian, and Islamic Ethics, edited by William Schweiker. Minneapolis: Fortress. In Press
- "A Survey of Prehistory." In Anthropological Perspectives, edited by Honeydew Blumfield. In-House Textbook for the Open University, University College, University of MarylandUniversity of Maryland University CollegeThe University of Maryland University College is located in the unincorporated community of Adelphi in Prince George's County, Maryland in the United States. Serving over 90,000 students worldwide, UMUC is the largest 4-year public university in Maryland and one of the largest distance learning...