Memoirs of a Hopeful Pessimist

For many people, "observant Jew," "feminist," and "interfaith pioneer" are not necessarily words they would put together in the same sentence. And yet, in this book by Dr. Debbie Weissman, each is a vitally important aspect of a dynamic and passionate life. Between 2008 and 2014, Weissman broke new ground by serving two terms as the first Jewish woman president of the International Council of Christians and Jews (ICCJ). On her quest to do interfaith work, she tells about meeting people from other religions and the unique friendships that ensue. Weissman does not have a ringside seat to history; she is in the ring itself, having created institutions and movements in areas such as interfaith relations, women's education, Israeli peace initiatives, a new prayer community, and much more. Her engaging journey - related with humor, grace, and style - discovers meaning and hope in the life of a pessimist.

"An engaging memoir of a much-travelled life. Weissman tells of her involvement in many historic movements: Jewish education, Zionism, orthodox feminism, and inter-faith work, as well as the founding of a progressive Orthodox synagogue community in Jerusalem. She describes the development of a religious and political consciousness 'dancing,' as she puts it, between opposite poles of tradition and liberalism. An often wry humor marks her account of the personal and the public dimensions of her career. Both idealistic and pragmatic, her memoir is a fitting testimony to a life of commitment and achievement." Avivah Gottlieb Zornberg, author, The Beginning of Desire: Reflections on Genesis, "Reading Debbie Weissman's memoir leaves us with some hope whose teaching and writing in Israel and the Diaspora and commitment to dialogue between people of different faiths have had a world-wide impact An insight into the principles by which Debbie guides her own behavior can be seen as she adopts a modified version of Levinas' teaching that we should see the 'face of God in the Other.' 'It would be enough,' she says, 'if we could just look at the Other and see a face no less human than our own.'" dra DeKoven Ezrahi, https://www.tikkun.org, "Thanks to this very thoughtful memoir, all of us readers who long for more peace and better interfaith relations will find much to encourage us." Professor Mary Elizabeth Perry, Nashim Journal

Dr. Debbie Weissman was president of the International Council of Christians and Jews from 2008-2014. After moving to Jerusalem in 1972, Debbie Weissman taught Jewish education and women's studies at the Hebrew University, and was also the director of the Kerem Institute, a teacher training institute for Israeli high-school teachers.