With Roots in Heaven:
One Woman’s Passionate Journey into the Heart of Her Faith
Republished with a new foreword in 2024 by Monkfish Press.
At age seventeen, Tirzah Firestone left the oppressive home of her Orthodox Jewish parents and set off on a spiritual odyssey. With Roots in Heaven is the story of that journey, a fascinating and moving account of her evolution from rebellious young seeker to renegade rabbi. This is an inspiring, true account of a courageous woman with strong convictions and a passion to know and feel God. It is also a book that goes beyond one person’s story of wandering and redemption to explore the dangers of modern religion and the joys and conflicts of intermarriage and raising interfaith children. An unforgettable story of love, sacrifice, and transformation–of grace sought and found–With Roots in Heaven offers hope, wisdom, and encouragement to anyone seeking deeper spiritual meaning in today’s world.
“Candid, intense, and compulsively readable, this is spiritual biography at its very best.” – Letty Cottin Pogrebin
“Rich and inspiring…a page-turner. A daring exploration of different spiritual paths…filled with joy, story, community, and a celebration of ancient wisdom. I absolutely loved this book.” – Joan Borysenko, Ph.D., author of Minding the Body, Mending the Mind and A Woman’s Book of Life
“A terrific story of how one brave and adventurous woman turned her life upside down for God. Firestone teaches us, through the joys and sorrows of her life, how our ancient traditions are calling out to us for renewal, and how, through faith, honesty, and struggle, we are learning to respond.” – Rodger Kamenetz, author of Stalking Elijah and The Jew in the Lotus
“Filled with profound teachings from spiritual leaders, advice on intermarriage issues, and other practical nuggets of learning, With Roots in Heaven is a work as important as it is controversial, providing courageous insight into the core of religious belief systems.” —Ingram