New Books Network Yael Leibowitz, "Ezra-Nehemiah: Retrograde Revolution" (Maggid, 2025)
Dec 11, 2025
Yael Leibowitz, an Israeli educator and Matan Kitvuni Fellow with a Master’s in Judaic Studies, delves into her commentary on Ezra-Nehemiah. She explores the historical backdrop of the exile and the emotional nuances of rebuilding the Second Temple. Leibowitz reveals intriguing parallels with Haggai and Zechariah, highlighting the importance of land and the unity of the Jewish people. Her insights challenge listeners to assess Jewish identity in a modern context while celebrating biblical literacy as central to community life.
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Redemption Requires Human Work
- Ezra-Nehemiah resonates today because it reframes rebuilding as active, imperfect work rather than waiting for utopia.
- Yael Leibowitz argues the book speaks to modern statehood and communal responsibility amid unmet prophetic expectations.
Cyrus's Decree Shapes The Narrative
- The Persian context and Cyrus's decree enabled return and rebuilding across diverse exiled communities.
- Leibowitz shows Ezra-Nehemiah unfolds within Cyrus's policy of allowed repatriation and temple rebuilding under Persian rule.
Mixed Sounds At The Temple Foundation
- At the laying of the Second Temple's foundation, some wept remembering the First Temple while others celebrated, creating indistinguishable sounds.
- Yael Leibowitz uses this scene to capture Jewish history's mix of grief and hope during rebuilding.
