Naomi Ragen est une romancière et dramaturge née aux États-Unis qui vit à Jérusalem depuis 1971. Elle est l'auteure de sept romans à succès international et d'une pièce de théâtre acclamée. Ragen explore régulièrement des sujets juifs, notamment Israël, à travers sa fiction et sa chronique habituelle. Son œuvre offre une voix singulière qui aborde des questions sociales importantes et des expériences humaines marquantes.
Les Reich, famille juive ultra-orthodoxe de 8 enfants, vivent modestement à Jérusalem. Dina, la cadette, ravissante et fragile, se marie à 17 ans avec Judah Gutman, un menuisier de 26 ans timide et maladroit. Peu après son mariage, elle se laisse éblouir par Noah Saltzman, un voisin peu scrupuleux, membre de la même communauté. Elle est accusée d'adultère par la brigade des moeurs. Sa vie bascule.--[Memento]
Rose et Pearl Weiss connaissent une enfance heureuse, dans une famille juive ultra-orthodoxe de Brooklyn où la loi ancestrale est respectée scrupuleusement et où l'avenir des enfants est tout tracé... Pearl continuera sur la voie de la tradition. Rose, en fréquentant une camarade de classe d'un milieu moins strict que le sien, découvrira un monde inconnu et se passionnera pour la photographie. Elle devra faire des choix lourds de conséquences.
Naomi Ragen's first play, which premiered in July 2002 at Habima National Theater in Tel Aviv. It is based on a true story: a Haredi (ultra-Orthodox) woman, wife of a rabbi, mother of 12, leaves her home and stays with a friend. The community's "modesty squad" tries in vain to force her to go back. Her friend is physically attacked, her arm and leg broken. The rabbi's wife is punished: she is cut off from her children, against her will.
An Unorthodox Match is a powerful and moving novel of faith, love, and acceptance, from author Naomi Ragen, the international bestselling author of The Devil in Jerusalem.California girl Lola has her life all set up: business degree, handsome fianc�, fast track career, when suddenly, without warning, everything tragically implodes. After years fruitlessly searching for love, marriage, and children, she decides to take the radical step of seeking spirituality and meaning far outside the parameters of modern life in the insular, ultraorthodox enclave of Boro Park, Brooklyn. There, fate brings her to the dysfunctional home of newly-widowed Jacob, a devout Torah scholar, whose life is also in turmoil, and whose small children are aching for the kindness of a womanly touch.While her mother direly predicts she is ruining her life, enslaving herself to a community that is a misogynistic religious cult, Lola's heart tells her something far more complicated. But it is the shocking and unexpected messages of her new community itself which will finally force her into a deeper understanding of the real choices she now faces and which will ultimately decide her fate.
In this rich and compassionate novel, An Observant Wife, Naomi Ragen continues the love story between newly observant California-girl Leah and ultra-Orthodox widower Yaakov from An Unorthodox Match. From the joy of their wedding day surrounded by supportive friends and family, Yaakov and Leah are soon plunged into the complex reality of their new lives together as Yaakov leaves his beloved yeshiva to work in the city, and Leah confronts the often agonizing restrictions imposed by religious laws governing even the most intimate moments of their married lives. Adding to their difficulties is the hostility of some in the community who continue to view Leah as a dangerous interloper, questioning her sincerity and adherence to religious laws and spreading outrageous rumors. In the midst of their heartfelt attempts to reach a balance between their human needs and their spiritual obligations, the discovery of a secret, forbidden relationship between troubled teenage daughter Shaindele and a local boy precipitates a maelstrom of life-changing consequences for all.
When Catherine da Costa, a wealthy Manhattan matron, learns she has only a short time to live, she realizes that her family tree will die unless she passes on its legacy and traditions to her granddaughters. But Suzanne and Francesca, beautiful young women caught up in trendy causes and ambitious careers, have no interest in the past. Catherine almost despairs until one night she is visited by the ghost of her family's ancestor, an indomitable Renaissance businesswoman named Hannah Mendes.The ghost of Hannah Mendes encourages Catherine to use every trick in the book to coerce the granddaughters to journey across Europe and acquaint themselves with their roots. While the sisters honor their grandmother's request out of loyalty, they believe their quest is futile--until it starts to uncover ancient pages from Hannah Mendes's fascinating memoir, and brings new loves into their lives.
Tamar Finegold's idyllic life as a young bride in a strict ultra-Orthodox Jewish community shatters after a traumatic event leaves her grappling with shame and secrecy. Choosing to conceal her assault to protect her marriage, she believes she has made the right decision. However, years later, an unexpected twist compels her to confront her past, challenging her understanding of truth and resilience. This powerful narrative explores themes of trauma, identity, and the societal pressures that shape a woman's choices.
When life is at its best, the unimaginable can shatter everything you think you know... Abigail Samuels has no reason to feel anything but joy on the morning her life falls apart. The epitome of the successful Jewish American woman, she is married to a well-known and respected accountant and is in the middle of planning her daughter Kayla's wedding. Kayla, too, wakes up that morning with the world in the palm of her hand. Having lived the charmed life of a well-loved child from a happy family, she is a bright, pretty Harvard law student who has never really questioned the path she found herself on. With a shocking suddenness, all that is smashed to pieces in ways they could never have dreamed. When a heartbroken Kayla runs away to a desert commune run by a charismatic mystic, Abigail rushes to save her, only to find that there is nothing more whole than a broken heart.
Batsheva Ha-Levi's life takes a dramatic turn when her father's secret vow forces her into an arranged marriage with a stranger in Jerusalem. As she navigates this new world filled with tradition and myth, she grapples with ancient rules that challenge her freedom. Caught between her desire for a modern life and her ancestral obligations, Batsheva must confront her feelings for three men who compete for her heart, leading her on a journey of self-discovery and empowerment.
The narrative follows a young Rabbi's wife as she grapples with the overwhelming expectations of her congregation, her faith, and her personal life. Through a blend of poignant storytelling and sharp humor, the author crafts a compelling exploration of the pressures faced by women in religious roles, showcasing the character's gradual unraveling amidst her struggles. The finely drawn characters add depth to this insightful tale, revealing the complexities of faith and community.