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shalom!
I read "The Red Tent" two years ago as a first year
midwifery student here in Christchurch and I too,
thoroughly enjoyed reading this novel. Not unlike everyone else I've
ever known who has read it.
As someone mentioned earlier, the story
is told by Dinah, the daughter and last child of Leah and
Jacob. She was born after her 7 older brothers. This story
is 'based' (loosely) on the "Book of Genesis" which is the 1st of 5 that make up
the Jewish 'Torah' or the Five Books of Moses. (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus,
Numbers & Deuteronomy) and is set in what is known today as Israel, The
Occupied Territories of the West Bank and the Sinai Desert in
Egypt.
Two months ago, I stood at the side of Rachel's
Tomb, just below Jerusalem heading South towards Hebron in the West Bank.
It felt, having read 'The Red Tent', quite indescribable..... of course the
book is a novel, but standing there thinking about her felt special.
Rachel is very warmly remembered in both Israel and the West Bank and
everyday, women can be found there praying to her. Some pray while
pregnant for the safe and easy birth of their child. Some pray for
their loved ones who are expecting and especially for those with previous
problems during pregnancy and/or childbirth and others, pray for their
fertility. She is believed to haved worked miracles and provide lots of
good fortune to the women who pray and remember her.
This woman lived nearly 5000 years ago, and is
still fondly remembered today, by woman who conscientiously or
un-conscientiously recognize the value of women being with women during the
childbearing years. So, although The Red Tent is a novel, it was very
thoroughly researched by the author and I feel after spending hours and hours in
numerous museums and historical places that were mentioned in the book,
that the dipiction of women living at that time in the Holy Land is likely
to be reasonably accurate.
I had a wonderful trip, mostly alone on my mountain
bike and had the chance to speak with midwives, teachers of midwifery and
students in both Israel and the West Bank. It certainly opened my eyes to
cultural differences in midwifery practice and in particular, Palestinian
midwifery tutors in Bethlemhem were very open about the training provided at the
university and talking about the nuances of midwifey in the current
political/religious climate. Like a lot of midwives, they too dream
of returning birth back to the women and reclaiming their lost autonomy. I
felt very grateful and humbled for what has been
acheived here in New Zealand. I don't dare to winge so much now!
:o)
So, for those of you who haven't yet read
"The Red Tent" give it a go, I too recommend
it!
lehitra'ot
Michelle
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