Kissing Girls on Shabbat: A Memoir

4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars | 203 ratings

Price: 17.71

Last update: 11-09-2024


About this item

“A searing testament to the strength in claiming one’s destiny.” —The Washington Post

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.


Top reviews from the United States

Yaffa L
5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful and inspiring
Reviewed in the United States on October 13, 2024
I’m not a fast reader, so it’s really saying something that I read this in one day.
Sara is relatable and vulnerable and eternally optimistic about her journey with God and traditional Jewish practice.
Sara ultimately finds herself after many attempts at a traditional life both for her family of origin and for her children. She invited the reader to join her in grappling to create a modern life that respects the ancient texts and terrible misunderstandings about women and what love should and could look like.

This was a meaningful and enjoyable read. I recommend it to anyone dancing with ancient religion and queer questions. I’ll read more by this author.
Mario Visco
5.0 out of 5 stars Terrific Read!
Reviewed in the United States on August 28, 2024
Amazing memoir! This book was recommended to me by a friend who also left the Orthodox Jewish community. My friend wanted to not only share a great book with me, but to give me a glimpse into her former life. Kudos to Dr. Glass for following her own compass. Well-written, tasteful, respectful of the community she chose to leave behind...10/10!
Andrew Sternburg
4.0 out of 5 stars I really enjoyed this!
Reviewed in the United States on November 1, 2024
I really loved learning about the authors journey from the orthodox community and coming out as a lesbian. There were so many obstacles and I was so incredibly impressed by her strength and so happy for her that she made it to "the other side". Highly suggest reading this!
Blah Blah
5.0 out of 5 stars One of the best books I've ever read
Reviewed in the United States on November 6, 2024
This book was amazing! It helped me realize how truly lucky I am to have the freedoms that I have. The topics in the book were hard and took me a while to read but it was so interesting and I highly recommend!
Nettie
5.0 out of 5 stars Well-written, Sincere, & Brave - A Must Read!
Reviewed in the United States on June 23, 2024
A beautifully written story of a woman who dared to be brave. A story of dreams and hopes; loss; sacrifice; redemption; love. Sara seems very protective of her family and the culture in which she was born and raised. While she was careful to be respectful, she was honest and told her truth. She tried... She tried to conform. She has shared her heartbreaking story at great personal cost. I'm encouraged to be brave. We should all be so brave. Accessible to non-Jewish readers. A must read.
Rebecca Herbst
5.0 out of 5 stars Important Story Beautifully Told
Reviewed in the United States on June 18, 2024
Sara’s story is the story of so many Orthodox girls and women. For every single queer person in the Orthodox community who find their way home to themselves like Sara did, there are dozens who get stuck on the trajectory that was chosen for them. This book is so important because it shows all who are struggling to fit in to the mold that there is another option. This book is a beacon of hope for LGBTQ folks in the Orthodox world who feel hopeless, lonely, and scared.
Additionally, Sara writes so poetically about her life, with nuance, generosity, and so much love. Her coming of age weaves in other important and often taboo themes, like post-Holocaust family trauma, mental illness, sexual assault, and suicide.
Leah Lax
4.0 out of 5 stars Affecting and Real
Reviewed in the United States on August 23, 2024
Congratulations to this author who above all overcame the obedient silence hardwired into Orthodox girls, the most difficult part of that journey. She dared speak up and claim her life, dared fight bearded rabbis for her children's future, then audaciously, openly, beautifully hung her story in public as proof to all who need proof that this can be done. We are no one's dirty laundry. Sara, I waited years for other published stories of escape like ours, knowing there are thousands like us, all women who cannot live the roles forced on us without serious damage to our souls. I do not doubt that somehow somewhere this book will save lives.
R.B.
5.0 out of 5 stars Compelling and beautifully written
Reviewed in the United States on August 17, 2024
I really enjoyed Kissing Girls on Shabbat. The first few pages captivated me and it was a hard book to put down. I thought it was beautifully written and engaging. A very tender memoir.

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