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A moving coming-of-age memoir in the vein of Unorthodox and Educated, about one young woman's desperate attempt to protect her children and family while also embracing her queer identity in a controlling Hasidic community.
Growing up in the Hasidic community of Brooklyn's Borough Park, Sara Glass knew one painful truth: what was expected of her and what she desperately wanted were impossibly opposed. Tormented by her attraction to women and trapped in a loveless arranged marriage, she found herself unable to conform to her religious upbringing and soon, she made the difficult decision to walk away from the world she knew.
Sara's journey to self-acceptance began with the challenging battle for a divorce and custody of her children, an act that left her on the verge of estrangement from her family and community. Controlled by the fear of losing custody of her two children, she forced herself to remain loyal to the compulsory heteronormativity baked into Hasidic Judaism and married again. But after suffering profound loss and a shocking sexual assault, Sara decided to finally be completely true to herself.
Kissing Girls on Shabbat is not only a love letter to Glass's children, herself, and her family—it is an unflinching window into the world of ultra-conservative Orthodox Jewish communities and an inspiring celebration of learning to love yourself.
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Creators
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Publisher
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Release date
June 11, 2024 -
Formats
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OverDrive Listen audiobook
- ISBN: 9781797180922
- File size: 335771 KB
- Duration: 11:39:30
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Languages
- English
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Reviews
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April 29, 2024
Psychotherapist Glass debuts with a searing account of coming to terms with her homosexuality as an ultra-Orthodox Jew. At 19, Glass was teaching at a religious girl’s school in Brooklyn’s Borough Park neighborhood when she met and fell in love with Dassa. The pressures of secrecy snuffed out the women’s brief romance, and Glass entered an arranged marriage with a man named Yossi in the early 2000s. The couple had two children, but Glass felt increasingly frustrated by their lack of passion, and she eventually left Yossi when he refused to let her pursue a PhD in social work. She enrolled in a graduate program, married another man, and carefully maintained her strict Hasidic community’s rituals of observance so she could keep seeing her children. After obtaining her degree, Glass finally came out of the closet, divorced her second husband, and moved to Manhattan with her children. She suffuses the narrative with astonishing empathy for the people and forces that stood between her and liberation, and few readers will be unmoved by the depth of her struggle or the strength of her resistance. This leaves a mark. Agent: Harvey Klinger, Harvey Klinger Literary. -
September 13, 2024
Psychotherapist Glass grew up in the insular, ultraconservative Gur Hasidic community, where every aspect of her life was controlled. From what she wore to whom she married, Glass had very little say. Stuck in an unhappy marriage, Glass decides to do the unthinkable--divorce her husband, Yossi. She remarried, but as she came to understand her identity as a lesbian, she eventually left the community with her finances, career, and children, knowing that she was at last affirming her true self. Glass narrates her own story, and her strength is evident as she goes from a bewildered young woman to a fierce advocate for LGBTQIA+ people. Her memoir sheds light on a community not often seen, inviting listeners into the world while providing a nuanced discussion of the community's mores. Glass also provides insight into the community's beliefs about mental health, gender, sexuality, and education. There's also a note geared toward Glass's therapy clients at the end, providing insight into her personal therapeutic beliefs. VERDICT Reminiscent of Deborah Feldman's Unorthodox and Julia Haart's Brazen, this powerful debut memoir of strength and advocacy is not to be missed.--Elyssa Everling
Copyright 2024 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.
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