“This is a compelling story—the journey of a Jewish woman both rebellious and willing to bind herself to the yoke of Jewish law. Skillfully interweaving personal anecdotes and Jewish texts, Ner-David relates engagingly and poignantly what it means to be pulled in two directions by deep commitments to both feminism and halakhah. Among the most important passages in this book are those which deal directly and movingly with perhaps the hardest question: how do we raise the next generation?”

“Leaving no thought unexamined, no Jewish life experience unquestioned, Ner-David takes steps that sometimes make us feel like applauding—and sometimes make us uncomfortable almost to the point of covering our eyes and reading through the slits between our fingers. Wrestling with issues from which we might wish to hide, she pulls us in right behind her, resistant yet sensing our own anticipation, feeling something akin to what we might while watching a precious stone being cut and polished before our very eyes… Nowhere is the phrase “the personal is political” more apparent than in the unfolding of Ner-David’s life. Her journey from smart Jewish child born into a modern Orthodox family to rebellious teenager to ardent feminist-wife-mother-community member, will serve as a trail guide for others beginning or midway along parallel journeys. Each woman and man must surely sort out all these issues in a very personal way, but Ner-David’s actions and reflections enable others to build upon her inner struggle, bringing all of us to a new place sooner than we thought. You are about to be taken along on an incredible journey inside the mind and heart of a trailblazer. Good passage.”

“A profoundly moving and singularly honest account… Ner-David is a courageous pioneer, choosing to remain within the halakhic community while stretching its boundaries, attempting to make Orthodoxy a safer and more hospitable place for religious women. This book is a most important contribution to the cause of religious feminism.”

“Life on the Fringes provides a riveting look inside Orthodox feminism that will capture the hearts and minds of Jewish feminists of all stripes. Haviva Ner-David -- a gifted, thoughtful, spirited woman – writes about her journey toward rabbinic ordination in a way that is erudite, soulful, passionate, and engaging. I look forward to the day when a community will call her ‘Rabbi’.”

“A brutally honest cri de coeur… With no holds barred, Ner-David touches on all the issues of the day: women and Jewish study and ritual, Jewish attitudes towards hetero- and homosexuality, and the tensions between generations. Many of the scenes in this book will not soon be forgotten.”

“Writing with grace and intellectual integrity, Haviva Ner-David has crafted a work that is both scholarly and intensely personal. Life on the Fringes sheds much needed light on the struggle of committed Jewish women today. This is an important book that demands our attention.”