Starr Tomczak

“Starr Tomczak invites the reader into the Bible with all the wonder, excitement, and lilt of a first-time reader. She interweaves the biblical stories with her own lived experience that she articulates in quite vivid and welcome ways. The outcome of her singular interweaving is a freshness in the biblical material that will be well received by many attentive readers. Tomczak’s work is ample testimony to the truth that scripture is a gift that keeps on giving when it is addressed with trusting imagination.”

―Walter Brueggemann, professor emeritus of Old Testament, Columbia Theological Seminary 

“What an engaging book! It links personal stories of its author with select biblical stories to trace a redemptive journey from hurt to healing, from struggles to insights, from literature to life. Responsible appropriations of Scripture, from Genesis through Deuteronomy, yield amazing interpretations and transformations. Indeed, I found myself binge-reading this book, not for academic reasons but for life enhancement.”

—Phyllis Trible, professor emerita of sacred literature, Union Theological Seminary

“The book is a unique resource: a truly readable introduction to the Bible by a non-academic for non-academics that draws on up-to-date, high-quality scholarship."

—David Carr, professor of Hebrew Bible, Union Theological Seminary 

“Anyone who doubts the relevance of stories in Torah for Christians needs the author’s striking account of how her life, in its rough patches and its beauty, has been informed by scripture. A reader is taken beyond the ideologies and passions that rule our day and invited to enter a world of quiet, uplifting reflection regarding the perplexing issues raised by religion and the language of faith.”

—Richard Crouter, professor emeritus of religious studies, Carleton College

"Starr Tomczak uses what she learned from preeminent biblical scholars David Carr and Phyllis Trible at Union Theological Seminary (NYC) to craft often heart-rending reflections on iconic texts in Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy. Here she clearly demonstrates that storytelling is a powerful strategy for managing pain, surviving trauma, and handing on a faith not based on dogma promulgated by prelates, but on the stories shared by ordinary people."

—Don C. Benjamin, professor of biblical and Near Eastern studies, Arizona State University

“I was privileged to read drafts of Starr Tomczak’s chapters on Exodus and was immediately impressed by the clarity of her writing and the application of her knowledge to her life of faith. I invited her to be a guest leader of an adult education class I was teaching on Exodus, and her presentation of this material made for a powerful session that some participants found personally moving. This book adds immeasurably to our thinking about how to use Exodus devotionally.”

—Craig Townsend, Episcopal priest

“The author has found a way to weave a historical/critical understanding of biblical text accessible to the layperson with her own personal story in a way that makes the scholarship come alive with an unusual immediacy and vibrancy. It would be particularly useful for adult study groups or even pre-bar/bat mitzvah students.”

—Evan Slavitt, a former temple president and Jewish activist

“Starr Tomczak offers a unique approach to reading and reflecting on Torah, using the lens of her life story to help others connect central scriptural themes and deep spiritual truths with their personal journeys. Her writing is very accessible, yet rich with solid biblical scholarship and supported by contemporary social research. It is an appealing combination that has potential to reach a wide audience.”

—Marjorie J. Thompson, author of Soul Feast: An Invitation to the Christian Spiritual Life