Reviews for Celtic Christianity in Early Medieval Wales: The Origins of the Welsh Spiritual Tradition

The average rating for Celtic Christianity in Early Medieval Wales: The Origins of the Welsh Spiritual Tradition based on 2 reviews is 3.5 stars.

Review # 1 was written on 2018-07-25 00:00:00 Bryan Roy Sarah hosts and leads a weekly Parsha class in her home. In a way that relates to the Parsha of the week each woman's story is told. Example: Parshas Lech Lecha, Shaina's story is told. Each Parsha a different woman's story is told. This is how the book is organized and it works well. The authors also explain quite a bit of basic Judaism incorporated into the stories in a way that enhances them rather than interrupts them. I used to host a Parsha class in my home some years ago although it was taught by a Rabbi. Sarah's Table is idealized, at least compared to those groups I have belonged to, but not so much that it is unreal. What I mean by that is at Sarah's Table there is always an abundance of delicious home cooked food, the women all get along and seem close to each other, no one complains (well there is one token complainer at Sarah's table), takes the group off topic or expresses negativity. All the women have problems they are struggling with but everyone's attitude toward their problems is very pious. A lot of Chasidic women are like this, it is true, but this is an idealized version that leaves out the gossip, cliques, petty disagreements, complaints and other negative behaviors that are part of most women's groups and only the most determinedly pious are able to avoid. I enjoyed reading it although it is a little boring. Learning Parsha is actually more exciting than is expressed in this book if you have a learned and passionate-about-Torah teacher. That is my personal preference though; to learn Parsha rather than to belong to a women's group.

Review # 2 was written on 2014-08-12 00:00:00 Aaron Kendrick Lovely insight into women's lives in a Hasidic community. The switches between dialogue and narrative seemed disjointed at times, but the women's stories were communicated faithfully and deeply.