Through “Tribal Lands”, Tamar Weissman takes us on a fascinating journey, seamlessly weaving together sources from the Tanakh and Midrash with the writings of scholars throughout the ages and her own personal and captivating insights. Readers come away with a multilayered perspective of our tribal and territorial roots, which connect us to our beginnings as a nation. Tribal Lands grabs the reader from beginning to end; it makes Torat Eretz Yisrael come alive.

To read Tribal Lands is to follow Tamar Weissman on a unique journey to a deeper place in your soul. No other guide I know combines her extraordinary command and rich synthesis of biblical, rabbinic and scholarly sources to produce page after page of stunning insights into the land and lives of our forefathers. The sheer beauty of her prose matches the sheer beauty of the land.

Tamar Weissman has penned a fascinating book, a work which is true to the spirit of “Yisrael saba” yet adds the binah yitera of the imahot (matriarchs) as well. Tribal Lands is an unusual work, both in terms of the breadth of its source material and in terms of the insights it affords. Weaving together traditional Torah sources – TaNaCh, Midrash and Talmud­ - with the writings of Hasidic masters and contemporary scholars, Weissman enhances and explains by calling upon geography, topography and archaeological findings. The finished product offers the reader unparalleled insight into the “personalities” of the Twelve Tribes, as well as a wealth of information regarding the unique qualities and textures of each tribe’s portion in the Land of Israel. The collective soul of each tribe, and the essence of the tribes’ respective portions in Eretz Yisrael, come together to create a whole; the tribes and their inherited portions come to life on every page. Tribal Lands is “Torat Eretz Yisrael” in every sense of the term. It is beautifully and intelligently written, and, I am certain, will be a valuable resource for both the novice and the scholar. May the Almighty grant the author much strength and further siyaata d’shmayah to produce many more volumes that will educate and inspire Jews the world over.

Tribal Lands represents a wonderful genre; there are travel books and Torah books, and here the two meet. The author takes us on a unique journey, traveling and learning through the tribal inheritances. Wit, insightful wisdom and field knowledge of Israel and Jordan blend to provide teachings to chew on and incorporate into life. Tamar Weissman must continue finding themes to share and reveal the gems of our inheritance in our land.

Tribal Lands by Tamar Weissman is a fascinating, engaging and ultimately moving book. Deftly weaving traditional and modern scholarship, together with her own thought provoking insights, she has created a modern Midrash of uncommon power and depth. Anyone who loves Torah and its commentaries, Jewish History, and the Land of Israel will find its essays richly rewarding.