Author Naomi Ragen

Gold Member Joined: Jan 12 2006 Posts: 1724

thank u!

Diamond Member Joined: Apr 03 2006 Posts: 4473

I really enjoyed The Covenant. It was not like her first 3, which were fun reads, but portrayed the negativity in the Chareidi world a little too much for peoples liking. The ghost of Hannah Mendes was also very good.

Gold Member Joined: Apr 06 2006 Posts: 1492

I was reading some more on her website. If you click on the "about" button, it links to a couple of articles about her. In them, she talks about her own background a fair bit. It also mentions that she was moved to write her first book, Jephte's Daughter, after a charedi neighbour committed suicide and killed her young daughter at the same time by jumping from a building. It goes on to say that she did subsequently have second thoughts about the portrayal of charedim, and make things more positive in her second book (Sotah) as a result. She also refused to sell movie rights to Jephte's Daughter, apparently out of a concern that she didn't want viewers to see the image of a charedi man beating his wife.

So yes, she is an outspoken critic of certain things that she finds objectionable, but she wasn't intending to put down the entire community.

From her website as well, she is a passionate advocate on the whole agunah issue, and has also been an outspoken critic of abuse/corruption. Her advocacy has been noticed.

Most recently, her attention has been focused on criticism of the liberal left and of the Israeli government's treatment of settlers and handling of the Lebanon war.

Posted: Wed, Aug 23 2006, 2:02 pm Post subject: re: Author Naomi Ragen

JRKMommy, I am with you all the way! I just finished reading the Covenant, and frankly, I would read anything Ragen writes. The Covenant was hugely pro-Jewish/Frum/Israeli, and I would recommend reading the articles she has written about the matzav in Israel. She is eloquent and on target.

Posted: Thu, Aug 24 2006, 6:32 am Post subject: re: Author Naomi Ragen

I like naomi ragen's books. I dont read them to read about charedi bashing (unfortunately, living in israel, you can look in other places for that every day)

I read them because they are a good read, thats all. they are good novels, thats all. I am not reading them as an acurate characterization of the charedi or chassidish population, far from it, I read them to enjoy a enjoyable read.

and as a last note, I red danielle steel for the same reason. they are very far from reality, but I know that reading them. I read them to get away from reality a bit, just for a bit of fun and enjoyment.

Platinum Member Joined: Sep 20 2004 Posts: 17151

Diamond Member Joined: Oct 24 2005 Posts: 4689

Future Naomi Ragen books:

Sowtah: frum akeres habayis is falsely accused of planting contraband e.g. marijuana, in her backyard.

Slow-tah: frum woman falsely accused of driving below the minimum speed limit

Sewtah: frum matron falsely accused of manufacturing counterfeit "designer" clothing

So?tah: frum woman accused of not caring enough

Showtah: Frum playwright falsely accused of plagiarizing from a broadway show

Snowtah: Frum married woman falsely accused of drug trafficking

Smote-ah: Frum wife falsely accused of beating husband with dictionary of medieval terms.

Platinum Member Joined: Sep 20 2004 Posts: 17151

let me guess - all originated by you?

Diamond Member Joined: Oct 24 2005 Posts: 4689

Vu den?

Platinum Member Joined: Sep 20 2004 Posts: 17151

(translation for mystified posters:

"vu den" is yiddish for "who didya think?" or "who then" for short)

Posted: Thu, Aug 24 2006, 6:38 pm Post subject: re: Author Naomi Ragen

I have read her books and enjoy them. But some of the stuff that I know about is just plain not true. For example in Sotah, half of Dina's 12th grade class are engaged or married, and then n.r goes on to say that this also happens in other groups in the chareidi world, like belz and Ger and Lubavitch. Question

I was wondering if there is any truth whatsoever to her charming group of hooligans known as the "morals patrol"???

Diamond Member Joined: Oct 24 2005 Posts: 4689

Senior Member Joined: Aug 31 2006 Posts: 141

After reading one of her books (Tamar's sacrifice) I definitely think that Naomi Ragen has an agenda to promote (her main character shifts from ultra-orthodox to more "modern orthodox" as was mentioned in the thread, the balanced character is more modern too).
Nevertheless, she brings to light some real issues that DO exist in the frum world: sweeping issues under the rug, "good reputation" over all and more... (can't remember - read it a while ago). Her description of a stressed young lady on the night of the mikve was very believable, at least for me...
I find that the frum world does not know very well to accept criticism, even when it's deserved... Confused

BTW, Jrkmommy, I totally agree with what you wrote.

Gold Member Joined: Apr 06 2006 Posts: 1492

Posted: Sun, Apr 29 2007, 7:03 pm Post subject: re: Author Naomi Ragen

After reading the book Sotah, it got me thinking.
What if anything is being done about those men who prey on young, innocent, ignorant girls and women? Who disgrace them and then go about their life with their wife and children? These men are dangerous and their names should be publicized, just like the names of child molesters are public now after so many victims, after so many tragedies.

I personally know of the girl who was 'a mistress' to a frum married man, now I feel guilty, this evil man is out there and may be some other girls and women are falling into his clever 'halachic' preaches. I once observed him in the store, he was deliberately mingling within the crowd of women, his customers, he was touching them, it looked accidental but it was deliberate, and he was enjoying it.

I think that frum girls in seminaries and schools need to get some kind of guideness in dealing with situations like those in Sotah. It's very confusing for young girls because these men are 'frum', 'chassidim' or 'scholars', girls are trained to trust such people.