The Rock, the Road, and the Rabbi

Emmy-winning TV host and author Gifford (I Can’t Believe I Said That) collaborates with Sobel, a rabbi and founder of Global Fusion, in this thoughtful exploration of faith. Starting with the story of David and Goliath, Gifford posits that “religion is nothing without relationship” and subtly carries the theme throughout each chapter as she follows the life of Jesus from his birth to resurrection. Sobel expounds upon Gifford’s words by providing historical and scriptural context, while clarifying the significance of various biblical locations and the meaning of words and numbers used in the original text of the Bible. In addition to sharing how she reinvigorated her faith—she began a life-changing routine of praying in the early morning after hearing the call of God—Gifford makes a strong argument (grounded in her scriptural exegesis with Sobel) for increased feminism around the world “because of the value He placed on the women He met during His lifetime.” To make her point, she collects accounts of Jesus’ advocacy and interactions with women during a time when women were deemed the property of their fathers and husbands. Spiritually invigorating and informative, this approachable book will appeal to general readers of biblical history and ancient Jewish culture. [em](Mar.) [/em]