Book Information

Plough Woman: Records of the Pioneer Women of Palestine

2001
258 pp.
Paper, 1-58465-183

Plough Woman: Records of the Pioneer Women of Palestine


Edited and Annotated by Mark A. Raider & Miriam B. Raider-Roth

the plough woman

These memoirs of young Zionist women who emigrated to Palestine at the turn of the century offer an intimate look at life of a veritable frontier. Memoirists discuss tensions in communal living and disclose the hardships of working and raising families in isolated agricultural colonies. Nonetheless, their narratives show them to be keenly motivated by the vision of creating a Jewish homeland, an egalitarian society that would foster and celebrate individual growth sustain family life, and provide a secure future for all.

First published in 1932 — and long out of print — this new, fully annotated edition includes biographies of the book's original contributors, photographs, glossaries of terms and places and a map of pre-state Israeli society. The editors' new introductory essays establish the historical, literary, and psychological context for the memoirs; sidcuss women in Zionist history; and focus on the work and fiily issues vexing these early pioneers.

"This important book opens a new window into the lives and experiences of pioneer women, 'The Plough Woman' of pre-state Israeli society five us a new understanding of how women contribute to the interplay of ideology, family, work and community in building a new society. 'The Plough Woman' makes an invaluable contribution in bringing forward the cioces of these remarkable women and allowing is to hear them in all their complexity. It is essential reading for everyone interested in women's lives and utopian visions."

— Carol Gillian, University Professor, New York University, author of "The Birth of Pleasure" and "In a Different Voice"

"This updated critical edition of 'The Plough Woman' shed light on modern Jewish history, the development of pre-state Israeli society and the role of women in contemporary life. The editors have performed a most valuable service in this detailed exploration of the public and private writings of Zionist women pioneers. The introductory essays are rich with insights about Jewish and Zionist history, the American Jewish experience, and feminism."

— Anita Shapira, the Ruben Merenfeld Professor of Zionism, Tel Aviv University, author of "Land and Power; The Zionist Resort to Force"

This book can be purchased directly through the University Press of New England.