I am happy to announce that Judy Petsonk's novel Queen of the Jews is now available.
LONG LIVE THE QUEEN OF THE JEWS Queen Salome Alexandra ruled Judea (modern-day Israel) in the first century BCE. Vividly evoking scenes of ancient Jerusalem, Judy Petsonk’s novel brings to life the queen’s stormy relationship with her husband – and her love for the people who called her Shalom-Zion: the peace of Zion. “Judy Petsonk has captured the life of an important—yet overlooked—Jewish leader who serves as a model, for women, and for all who seek insight and inspiration. A novel, a history lesson, and a spiritual map, all rolled into one book." Rabbi Kerry Olitzky, Executive Director of the Jewish Outreach Institute “A gripping, fun read….Judy Petsonk’s sexy heroine, Queen Salome Alexandra, possesses the brains, hutzpah, and vision to save Israel not only from its many enemies but also from its own conflicted nature. A marvelous window into a little-known chapter of Jewish history.” Ellen Frankel, former Editor-in-Chief of the Jewish Publication Society, and librettist of the opera Slaying the Dragon. http://www.amazon.com/Queen-Jews-Judy-Petsonk/dp/1470160935 I am reposting this email on Judy Petsonk's behalf: While we’re honoring our amazing Jewish mothers, I’m excited to share with you the story of a remarkable woman you may never have heard of. Combine Cleopatra and Hillary Clinton. You’ll have some idea of Salome Alexandra, the real-life Queen of the Jews. She was called by her grateful people Shalom-Zion, the queen of the peace of Zion. After the Maccabees, Judea remained independent for only 77 years. Shalom-Zion was on the throne for 37 of those years. She was married to a grandson of the Maccabees. Imagine a woman ruling Judea when women had the legal status of slaves. Egyptians and Syrians invaded. Civil war broke out between the commoners, who were followers of the Pharisee rabbis, and the wealthy Sadducee nobles and priests. Meanwhile, Shalom-Zion’s family life was a mess: 27 years of stormy marriage to the bloodthirsty alcoholic King Alexander Janneus. Her sons turned against her. Her brother, Rabbi Shimon ben Shetakh, head of the Sanhedrin, was sometimes her ally, sometimes her bitter opponent. Yet, probably because of her influence, R. Shimon made one of the earliest rulings granting increased rights to divorced women. Together Shalom-Zion and Shimon ben Shetakh midwifed the Judaism of the rabbis – the Judaism that survived the destruction of the Second Temple and is still practiced today. You can read all about this genuine Jewish heroine in my new historical novel, Queen of the Jews, available through Ingram, Baker and Taylor, or on Amazon.com. Look under my name, Judy Petsonk, and click on books. Please forward further emails in regards to this post to Judy Petsonk at [email protected]. Best, Danielle Winter Graduate Assistant School of Library and Information Science at Indiana University Please forward further emails in regards to this post to Judy Petsonk at [email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>.
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