An educator and independent scholar, Adrien Bledstein has led Bible study compared to ancient Near Eastern Literature with adults for nearly four decades and published research. Trained as a reading specialist to increase a person's independent level of reading comprehension, critical thinking, and writing, she conducted a private practice for individuals, including graduate students and professional people. 

In the early 1990's following a viral respiratory infection she began experiencing periods of fatigue.  September 1994, she woke up wheezing.  After several antibiotics didn't help, she was diagnosed with a chronic lung disorder.  Determined to avoid triggers, she experimented with masks which increased her energy.  All the masks she tried were uncomfortable, burdensome, ineffective, or ugly, so she designed her own.  Mobilized by environmental illness and by the increasing incidence of breathing disorders in Chicago and worldwide, she applied for a patent and created a corporation to produce effective, comfortable, attractive face masks for individuals to reduce exposure to airborne irritants and to feel good.

Publications

2007  "David at the Cave of Adullam, Depression and Hypergraphia," ed. Harold Ellens, Festschrift for Bruce M. Metzger Vol. 2 (Sheffield: Sheffield Phoenix Press)

2006  "Woman’s Humor in the Bible?" Humanist Judaism, XXXIV Number II Spring 2006, 14-16 (Reprinted with slight changes from 1991 and 1998)

2001 "Family Matters, a Multidimensional Reading of Miriam's Humiliation and Healing" Numbers 12, Biblical Research

2000 "Tamar and the `Coat of Many Colors’" Samuel and Kings, A Feminist Companion to the Bible, ed. A. Brenner (Sheffield: Sheffield Academic Press) 2/7:65-83

1997 United States Patent Number 5,701,892 December 30, 1997: "Multipurpose Face Mask that Maintains an Airspace between the Mask and the Wearer’s Face"

1995 "Dr. Tamar" a letter in Bible Review October 1995, 10-11

1993 "Was Eve Cursed? (Or Did A Woman Write Genesis?)" Bible Review February 1993, IX:1, 42-45

1993 "Binder, Trickster, Heel and Hairy-man: Re-reading Genesis 27 as a Trickster Tale Told by a Woman", Genesis, A Feminist Companion to the Bible, ed. A. Brenner (Sheffield: Sheffield Academic Press) 2:282-295

1993 "Female Companionships: If the Book of Ruth Were Written by a Woman..." Ruth,   A Feminist Companion to the Bible, ed. A. Brenner (Sheffield: Sheffield Academic Press) 3:116-133

1993 "Is Judges a Woman's Satire of Men Who Play God?" Judges, A Feminist Companion to the Bible, ed. A. Brenner (Sheffield: Sheffield Academic Press) 4:34-54

1992 "Was Habbirya a Healing Ritual Performed by a Woman in King David's House?" Biblical Research, 1992, 37:5-31

1991 "Dear Harold Bloom" Lilith, Summer 1991, 16:3, 28

1991 "So J Was A Woman?" Sh'ma, A Journal of Jewish Responsibility February 8,1991, 21:407, 49-51

1981 "The Trials of Sarah" Judaism, Fall 1981, 30:4, 411-417

1977 "The Genesis of Humans: The Garden of Eden Revisited" Judaism, Spring 1977, 26:2, 187-200

Papers and Presentations 

2008 "Agony, Laughter, and Healing: Performing Job as Tragicomedy," Chicago Society for Biblical Research, 4/5/08

2007 "Laughter in the Book of Job?" Society for Biblical Literature, San Diego, CA, November 18th.

2006 "David’s Rupture with God, Depression, and Recovery," Society for Biblical Literature, Washington DC, November 19th

2005 "David at the Cave of Adullam: Depression and Hypergraphia," Society for Biblical Literature, Philadelphia, November 19th

2005 "'Against them, my son, be warned!' Reading Ecclesiastes as Satire Written by a Woman," Society for Biblical Literature, Philadelphia, November

2003 "Parallel Triangles: Bata and Uriah, Beautiful Wife and Ruler" Society for Biblical Literature, Atlanta, November

2002 "Zipporah at a Crossroads" Society for Biblical Literature, Toronto, November

2001 "Family Matters, a Multidimensional Reading of Miriam's Humiliation and Healing" Chicago Society for Biblical Research, 2/25/01

2000 Small Business Expert, Women’s Business Development Center, Chicago

1998 "The Meaning of a Garment and a Buildup Curse in Isaiah 22:15-25" Society for Biblical Literature, Orlando, November

1993 "Judah, the Lion, and Tamar, the Tree of Life: Excavating Genesis 38," illustrated. Chicago Society for Biblical Research, 4/17/93

1992 "Sons of Gods, Angels, and Kings: Blurred Boundaries between Mortal and Divine,"  Society for Biblical Literature, San Francisco, November

1995 "Effects of the Holocaust on Fatherhood: A Pilot Study of Male Second-Generation Offspring," Pamela Beth Wasserman, Ph.D. dissertation

1992 "Marginal Teachers," Ida Gross, Ph.D. dissertation

1976-2008 Articles by Burton J. Bledstein, American History

1976 The Culture of Professionalism, Burton J. Bledstein (New York: W. W. Norton)

1995-2008 Founder and President of I Can Breathe! Inc. Air Filter Masks (U. S. Patent 5,701,892)

1967-2008 Teaching Bible and Ancient Near Eastern Literature, adults, teens, K.A.M. Isaiah Israel Congregation, Chicago

1982-87; 92-95; 99-2005 Chicago Sinai Congregation, Adult Bible Study

1986-95 Teaching Bible and Ancient Near Eastern Literature, Open University for Adults, Jewish Community Center

1986-97 Readers' Academy, individual instruction in reading comprehension, critical thinking and writing, all ages

1987-94 Reading therapy for brain trauma rehabilitation

1985-89 Dawn Schuman Institute for Jewish Studies, adults

1990 Staff training for teachers, public schools

1978-86 The Reading Institute, individual instruction all ages

1971  Designed and manufactured baby carrier, sold to Marshall Field, Chicago

1961-66 English and public speaking teacher, drama director, Pennington Central High School, New Jersey

Professional Associations

Chicago Asthma Consortium, American Lung Association

Chicago Society for Biblical Research

Chicago Storytelling Guild

National Coalition of Independent Scholars

Society for Biblical Literature

Women’s Business Development Center, Chicago

1995-2008 Independent research on patents, environmental illness, masks and business

1969-2008 Independent research leading to publications on the Bible

1995 Seminar at the Woman’s Business Development Center, Chicago

1980 Jewish Educators' Seminar in Israel

1978-86 The Reading Institute, Chicago

1976-8, 80-81 Spertus College of Judaica, Chicago (Hebrew, Bible)

1965 Lawrenceville-Rutgers Summer Session for High School English Teachers

1964 Rutgers Institute for High School English Teachers

1956-61 University of California at Los Angeles, B.A. and High School Teaching Certificate in English and Social Studies

1956-58 College of Jewish Studies, Los Angeles, Teaching Certificate

Adrien in her patented silk comfort mask.

This page was last updated on 02/21/08.  All rights reserved, Adrien J. Bledstein