Sarah Laughed : Modern Lessons from the Wisdom and Stories of Biblical Women

In the inspirational tradition of the bestseller The Red Tent, a powerful retelling of the stories of Old Testament matriarchs

“In Ochs’s hands, each story becomes a wellspring of insights that can empower us to think and act differently in our own lives.”
—Jewish Woman

“Ardently and unstoppably upbeat”
—Library Journal

In this vivid collection, Judaic scholar Vanessa Ochs brings the legends of the biblical matriarchs to new life. Intimate, familiar, and wise, the heroines in Sarah Laughed are revealed to be inspiring role models for women today. From Eve’s rebellious taste of wisdom to the righteous anger of Job’s wife, each woman’s story is retold in imaginative prose and accompanied by meaningful rituals.

Vanessa L. Ochs, Ph.D., is the Ida and Nathan Kolodiz Director of Jewish Studies at the University of Virginia. The recipient of a writing fellowship from the National Endowment for the Arts, she has written several books, including Words on Fire, and dozens of articles for national newspapers and magazines. She lives in Charlottesville, Virginia.