The JPS Guide to Jewish Women: 600 B.C.E.to 1900 C.E.This is an indispensable resource about the role of Jewish women from post-biblical times to the twentieth century. Unique in its approach, it is structured so that each chapter, which is divided into three parts, covers a specific period and geographical area. The first section of the book contains an overview, explaining how historical events affected Jews in general and Jewish women in particular. This is followed by a section of biographical entries of women of the period whose lives are set in their economic, familial, and cultural backgrounds. The third and last part of each chapter, "The World of Jewish Women," is organized by topic and covers women's activities and interests and how Jewish laws concerning women developed and changed. This comprehensive work is an easy-to-use sourcebook, synopsizing rich and diverse resources. By examining history and analyzing the dynamics of Jewish law and custom, it illuminates the circumstances of Jewish women's lives and traces the changes that have occurred throughout the centuries. It casts a new and clear light on Jewish women as individuals and sets women firmly within the context of their own cultural and historical periods. The book contains illustrations, boxed text, extensive endnotes, and indices that list each woman by name. It is ideal for women's groups and study groups as well as students and scholars. |
Contents
1 | |
A Written Legacy Literary Evidence from the Ancient Near East to 600 CE | 21 |
Jewish Women Under Islam The Near East North Africa and Spain to 1492 | 47 |
Further from Home Jewish Women in Christian Europe to 1492 | 73 |
A Separate Community Jewish Women in Italy until the 1800s | 103 |
European Jewry Moves East The Early Modern Period 14921750 | 129 |
A Different Voice Jewish Women in the Lands of Islam 17501900 | 165 |
Opening Doors Jewish Women During and After Haskalah 17501900 | 199 |
Common terms and phrases
Abigail Abraham active Arabic Ashkenazic Babatha Babylonian became Berlin Beruriah brother Cairo Genizah century B.C.E. Christian court daugh daughter death died divorce documents early Egypt Eliezer Emma Lazarus Encyclopaedia Judaica Ernestine Esther Europe father Genizah geonim Germany girls Glikl Grace Aguilar Gracia Hasidism Hasmonean Hebrew Herod History husband Ibid Ima Shalom included Italian Italy Jerusalem Jewish community Jewish law Jewish Publication Society Jewish women Jews Judaism Judith ketubbah kiera land of Israel Lazarus leader letter lived Mariamne marriage married Medieval Meir Miriam Mishnah Montefiore Mordecai Moses Moshe mother Muslim mystical Nasi Ottoman Empire Philadelphia poem poet Poland prayer rabbis Rachel Rashi Rebecca Gratz religious Rivkah ruling Salome Salome Alexandra Sarah scholars secular Sefer Shabbetai Shlomo sister Spain spiritual synagogue Talmud teacher tion tkhines Torah tradition translated University Press Wengeroff widow wife woman write written wrote Yiddish York Yosef young
Popular passages
Page 2 - Sukkot, both in synagogue and in the sukkah, it is traditional to hold the lulav in the right hand and the etrog in the left, and then to shake the lulav while reciting a blessing.
Page 2 - I am the LORD. I will free you from the burdens of the Egyptians and deliver you from their bondage. I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and through extraordinary chastisements. 7] And I will take you to be My people, and I will be your God.