Book Launch: And They Arose Early to Do Sexual Violence, with Ethan Daniel Davidson

To register for this free in-person program, click here. The Library is located at 1835 Ellis Street in San Francisco, with free garage parking at 1227 Pierce Street between Ellis and Eddy.  Refreshments will be provided, and copies of the book will be available free of charge.

“Ethan Davidson’s And They Arose Early to Do Sexual Violence is a modern masterpiece, enabling the Jewish tradition — with the help of other world traditions — come alive to inspire us in the 21st century to transform ourselves and our world ’til the light comes shining in.’”
—Rabbi Asher Lopatin

Inspired by Ethan Daniel Davidson’s own experiences and the tragic events of October 7, 2023, And They Arose Early to Do Sexual Violence: My Personal Mirror of Torah by challenges readers to consider how ancient narratives parallel humanity’s ongoing struggle with violence and the responses to such violence; be they measured and justified, or disproportionate and unjustifiable. By drawing on the Hebrew language’s layered meanings, Davidson uses the Torah as a “mirror” to better identify and metabolize his own feelings about appropriate responses to violence. In so doing, he unpacks not only the dark complexities of these stories but also the light of understanding they offer to those looking for a way to break the spiral of violence.
 
Davidson’s “broken poetry of Torah” style, in which each line represents a single breath, invites readers to engage more deeply, completing the text with their own questions about accountability and morality. For those seeking a transformative reading experience, And They Arose Early To Do Sexual Violence offers a powerful examination of violence, relationship, and our shared quest for empathy.

Author, musician, and philanthropist Ethan Daniel Davidson has authored two books, recorded fifteen albums, and toured throughout North America and Europe. In 2005 he left his touring life and returned to his Detroit roots, helping to run the William Davidson Foundation established by his late father, Bill Davidson. The private family foundation strives to fulfill its founder’s legacy by advancing the economic, cultural, and civic vitality of Southeast Michigan, the State of Israel, and the Jewish community for future generations.