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Acknowledgments I am grateful to the Hadassah-Brandeis Institute for its generosity to me over the years, and for grants in 2005, 2006, and 2007 to enable the writing of this book. In particular, I thank the institute’s co-director, Shula Reinharz, and its administrator, Deborah Olins, for their kindness. My deep gratitude goes to Nancy Augustus for encouragement and support of every kind. Nancy prompted and prodded until the book was launched in me, and she sustained me throughout its creation . It would not have happened without her. I benefited greatly from Snira Klein’s sensitivity to the nuances of Hebrew when I began composing the blessings in this book. Stephen Damon inspired me during the project’s initial stages and later moved it forward with probing questions and provocative suggestions . Deborah Enelow’s responses to the book’s structure and content were always keenly insightful. Richard Sarason shared his expert knowledge of liturgy and rabbinics, providing a wealth of historical and critical background. I am fortunate in having yet more colleagues and friends who contributed their expertise. I thank Nancy Andell, Hamutal BarYosef , Hava Pinhas Cohen, Lucille Day, Hillel Furstenberg, Rochelle Furstenberg, David Harband, Naamah Kelman, Scott-Martin Kosofsky, Dalia Marx, Judith Plaskow, Valerie Zakovitch, Shai Zarchi , and Sheva Zucker. Beth Lieberman faithfully guided the book toward publication, and Bonny Fetterman was a terrific author’s representative. Bronwyn Becker shepherded the book gracefully and wisely throughout its production. In addition to providing early suggestions for shaping the project, Suzanne Singer helped the book reach its rabbinical audience, as did Sylvia Fuks Fried, governor of Brandeis University Press. Phyllis Deutsch, editor-in-chief of the University Press of 222 ∂ Acknowledgments New England, was the book’s enthusiastic champion. As a Brandeis alumna, I am especially pleased to have Brandeis as my publisher. The Lenore Bohm-Leichtag Family Foundation contributed financially to the project, as did Nancy Augustus, Barbara Frame, Nan Fink Gefen, Laura Geller, Victoria Hertz, J. Hannah Kranzberg, Suzanne Singer, Judy Chasnoff Smith, Marion Sondermann, and Jan and Peter Tras. I am extremely appreciative of their generosity. The drawing on the cover, “Gilead Apples,” was made at Gilead Tree Farm, home of my dear friends Lillian and Paul Steinfeld. Their spirit, along with that of their daughter, Beth, of blessed memory, infuses these pages. And two people without whom I could not have brought the project to fruition: Yair Zakovitch, Bible scholar, Hebrew poet, and friend of many years, reviewed the Hebrew portions of the book and worked with me for long days, polishing blessings and translating my English poems into Hebrew. Yair brought to the project an immeasurable trove of knowledge and literary acumen; the richness he added cannot be overstated. Steve Rood, finest of poets and ever my best reader, viewed draft upon draft of the English—poems and prose, introductions and footnotes, commas and line breaks—until his eyes were bleary and the book was closed for the night. “Let’s give it a morning look,” he’d say—and in the morning we’d start up again, picking over words. Alas, there aren’t enough words to convey how much better Steve has made all my work. ...

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