Dr. Chana Tannenbaum: Conceived in Hope
An interview about her book on motherhood in Tanach
Author: Dr. Chana Tannenbaum
Book: Conceived in Hope: The Struggles of Biblical Mothers in the Tapestry of Redemption
How does it feel to struggle to have a child — when you know that you’re destined to be the mother of God’s people? What characteristics mark those women whose children play a role in bringing about the salvation of the world?
Dr. Chana Tannenbaum introduces us to twenty biblical personalities— and four modern counterparts — grappling with these issues. Over four sections, she explores barren women who eventually bear children (such as the Imahos), barren women who never bear children (such as Yiftach’s daughter), women who fight for or lose their children (such as the women who turn to Shlomo Hamelech for judgement), and women whose children play a part in redemption (such as Rus). The book ends with a moving exploration of Jerusalem as a barren woman, based on verses in Tanach, who is hoping and praying to bring about the ultimate redemption.
Interspersed throughout the book are four personal accounts of modern women who struggled with infertility, emotionally connecting the messages Dr. Tannenbaum finds in the text to personal experience. This is a unique book seamlessly bridging impressive scholarship with emotional resonance and personal experience — check it out.
1. Tell us a bit about your background.
I’ve been privileged to work in the field of Jewish education for five decades, focusing particularly on Tanakh, women in Judaism, and religious thought. My work bridges rigorous text study and deep personal engagement, and I’ve always been drawn to voices in the tradition that are often underrepresented, especially those of women.
(She’s also my aunt!)
2. How would you summarize your book?
Conceived in Hope is an exploration of the inner lives of biblical mothers. Through close textual analysis and integration of classical and contemporary sources, I show how these women, through profound spiritual and emotional struggle, became partners in the redemptive arc of Jewish history. The book is structured in four sections, each containing four biblical profiles, and each section concludes with a contemporary woman’s story that mirrors the themes of the Torah narrative—bringing ancient texts into direct dialogue with modern lives.
3. What piqued your interest in this topic?
As a longtime educator and student of Tanach and a mother, I’ve long been fascinated by the spiritual depth and emotional courage of the Imahot and other biblical women. Their struggles with infertility, faith, and identity, reflect timeless challenges that resonate deeply today. I’ve been especially moved by how their voices often emerge from moments of silence, yearning, and hidden strength. These narratives aren’t just stories of personal hardship—they’re portraits of spiritual heroism. I began to wonder: What if we understood their struggles not as setbacks, but as essential to their transformative roles in the covenantal story? Their experiences, I believe, can speak powerfully to our generation, particularly to women striving to reconcile faith and hardship in a modern world.
What if we understood their struggles not as setbacks, but as essential to their transformative roles in the covenantal story?
4. What inspired you to write Conceived in Hope?
This book grew out of both personal experience and years of teaching. I saw how deeply my students, both women and men, connected with these stories when they were presented not as distant texts, but as real, human journeys. I wanted to honor that connection by weaving a tapestry of redemption that spans generations.
5. What is one major misconception you've found people hold about this topic?
A common misconception is that the biblical mothers are defined solely by their childbearing roles, or lack thereof. In truth, their stories are about so much more: identity, covenant, voice, and vision. As the book argues, their fertility challenges are deeply symbolic of their spiritual missions and transformative capacities.
6. Who would gain the most from reading this book?
This book is for anyone drawn to stories of faith under pressure, especially those who have wrestled with questions of purpose, searching for meaning, or Divine silence. It will particularly resonate with readers interested in the lives of biblical women, spiritual resilience, and the theological dimensions of motherhood and waiting. As Rivkah Adler noted in a review in Jerusalem Post, Conceived in Hope is a powerful resource for women navigating infertility, motherhood, or faith journeys. At the same time, educators, students, and anyone engaged in serious biblical text study will discover new perspectives and deeper understanding through its layered analysis and contemporary reflections.
7. Can you share one idea from the book you find particularly inspiring?
One particularly powerful section in the book is an analysis of the way Jerusalem is portrayed in Tanach. She is viewed not just as a city, but as a woman. The text draws compelling parallels between Jerusalem and biblical women at various stages of life, including the image of Jerusalem as a barren woman who ultimately gives birth to a nation through miraculous and unexpected circumstances, events we are witnessing unfold in our own times. This metaphor deepens the spiritual resonance of the narrative, showing that national redemption mirrors personal transformation. It also ties beautifully to the contemporary stories included at the end of each section, where modern women, much like their biblical counterparts, draw courage from pain and turn their struggles into purpose.
The text draws compelling parallels between Jerusalem and biblical women at various stages of life, including the image of Jerusalem as a barren woman who ultimately gives birth to a nation through miraculous and unexpected circumstances — events we are witnessing unfold in our own times.
8. If you write another book, what will the topic be?
My next project explores biblical women who use, and sometimes misuse, their positions of power. We often view women in the Bible as weak or vulnerable, but many of them wield significant influence in surprising and complex ways. This influence can lead to positive outcomes, but at times, it also results in unintended or even negative consequences. I’m interested in examining how these women navigate power, agency, and moral choice within the biblical narrative.
9. Did you encounter any challenges while writing this book? How did you overcome them?
One challenge was balancing academic rigor with emotional accessibility. I wanted to write something deeply rooted in traditional sources but also personally resonant. I overcame this by testing ideas in the classroom and listening closely to students’ responses, which were instrumental in helping me refine the voice and tone of the book.
10. What suggestions do you have for an aspiring writer?
Here are four thoughts:
Write from a place of authenticity.
Don’t wait until your thoughts are fully formed. Let your writing be part of your thinking process.
Trust that your unique lens, when grounded in learning and empathy, has something vital to contribute.
Write what matters to you, what keeps you up at night, and what you wish someone had written for you.