Product Description

The tale of a young girl who challenges conventions to engage in Jewish learning

Set in 11th-century Troyes, France, Rashi's Daughter, Secret Scholar tells the story of Joheved, eldest daughter of Salomon ben Isaac (known as Rashi), one of the great medieval Jewish Bible commentators. At a time when women traditionally were barred from studying Jewish texts, Rashi secretly teaches first Joheved, then her sister Miriam. By day, Joheved helps in running the household and the family winemaking business, and by night she studies Talmud with her father.

As she nears marriageable age, Joheved finds her mind and spirit awakened by religious study, but she must keep her passion for learning and prayer hidden. When she becomes betrothed to Meir ben Samuel, she is forced to choose between marital happiness and being true to her love of the Talmud. Will she fulfill the expected role of a Jewish woman or pursue a path of Jewish learning?

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #51331 in Books
• Published on: 2008-07-22
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 199 pages

Features

• ISBN13: 9780827608696
• Condition: NEW
• Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
• Click here to view our Condition Guide and Shipping Prices

From Booklist
Based on her adult books about the daughters of Biblical scholar Rashi, Anton introduces Joheved and her sister, Miriam, who are living in eleventh-century France. Though the book spans years, readers come to know the sisters only superficially, and time and place is all. Anton provides a detailed but never boring look at what life was like at the time for residents of Troyes in general and Jewish girls in particular. In some ways, it’s what one might expect—keeping religious holidays, making a home—but these sisters are also privileged and study the Torah (against their mother’s wishes). Moreover, Joheved knows the family business, winemaking, and Miriam prepares to be a midwife. Throughout Anton does a masterful job of explaining the intricacies of medieval life, from how a grape is picked to the way paper is made, why certain amulets are used in childbirth, and the system of taxation on wine. With several important female characters besides the sisters, this beautifully shows the rich diversity of  women and the lives they lead, even long ago. Grades 8-12. --Ilene Cooper

Review
"Anton maintains much of the details of Medieval life that makes the book so vivid and appealing." --JTNews, November 28, 2008

"The book is fascinating for the ways in which religion and superstition interact in every important act of life. This book should totally enchant and hold the interest of both adult and young adult readers." --Multicultural Review, Spring 2009

"The book is fascinating for the ways in which religion and superstition interact in every important act of life. This book should totally enchant and hold the interest of both adult and young adult readers." --Multicultural Review, Winter 2009

Based on her adult books about the daughters of Biblical scholar, Rashi, Anton introduces Joheved and her sister, Miriam, who are living in 11th century France. Though the book spans years, readers come to know the sisters on superficially, and time and place is all. Anton provides a detailed but never boring look at what life was like at the time for residents of Troyes in general and Jewish girls in particular. In some ways, it's what one might expect - keeping religious holidays, make a home - but these sisters are also privileged and study the Torah [against their mother's wishes]. Moreover, Joheved knows the family business, winemaking, and Miriam prepares to be a midwife. Throughout Anton does a masterful job of explaining the intricacies of medieval life, from how a grape is picked to the way parchment is made; why certain amulets are used in childbirth and the system of taxation on wine. With several important female characters besides the sisters, the beautifully shows the rich diversity of women and the lives they lead, even long ago. --Booklist, August 2008

Review
Adapted from the author's adult novel about Rashi's daughter, Joheved, this is for teenage readers. It is set in Troyes, France in the eleventh century and offers a view of a vibrant and close-knit Jewish community co-existing with its Christian neighbors. As Joheved and her younger sister Miriam study Talmud with their father, a renowned scholar and vintner not yet known as Rashi, their more conventional mother fears community disapproval and the possibility that they will be too learned to ever find husbands. Yet matchmaking, betrothal, romance, and childbirth are major parts of the story, assuming as much if not more importance than Rashi's daring decision to teach his daughters Talmud. The plot is filled with Jewish lore and superstition of the period, with the omnipresent threat of demons and the need to ward them off coloring a great deal of the characters' behavior. In contrast, Joheved's devotion to Talmud and her father's vast knowledge rise above the mundane and earn them the respect of both their co-religionists and Christians. Rashi's character is well-developed and multi-dimensional: he would prefer to be away from his wife and daughters learning at one of Europe's great Torah centers yet must stay at home tending his family's vineyards and selling wine to earn a living. The conflict he feels is sometimes expressed in outbursts of temper, especially against his wife and aging mother, creating a portrait of the great sage as a human, not a tzaddik. Joheved and Miriam are also sympathetic characters and teenage girls of today will find some things in common with them, despite the differences that have developed in Jewish culture over the centuries. Modern Jewish feminism is the underlying inspiration of the story but it is well integrated with the plot and characters and not anachronistic. In Sylvie Weil's outstanding novel, My Guardian Angel, Rashi's granddaughter is the main character and feminism is also the animating idea. It is for slightly younger readers than this book and together they offer a fascinating look at what Rashi's life, family, and world might have been like.

"...an absorbing tale."

Customer Reviews

A great book for Children...unless
Having read the first two volumes of Rashi's Daughter's I ordered this immediately upon Amazon making it available, March 28, 2008.I didn't know it was for readers "ten and up." I assumed (always a bad idea) that it would be about the third daughter, Rachel. Silly me. It is a re-telling of the story of Jocheved for younger readers...unless they have read the first two volumes. I will give the book to a young girl, a friend's daughter. I am sure she will find it fascinating.
My disappointment is more than likely my own fault.

Rashi's Daughter, The Secret Scholar
The popular adult novel, Rashi's Daughter has been adapted by the author into an engaging book for young adults. The setting is Troyes, France of the 11th century, and the focus is the family of Rashi, the famous scholar. In addition to developing the plot, Anton spends a great deal of time familiarizing the reader with both Jewish and non-Jewish customs during that time and educating us about what it was like to live in this period. Because Rashi's family were wine growers, the author provides a lot of information about how grapes are grown, harvested, and eventually made into wine. Additionally, we repeatedly read of the many superstitions surrounding all aspects of daily living. The characters are well developed, and we learn a great deal about the main character, Joheved. The author also devotes a large part of the book to descriptions of other characters who are close to Joheved, such as her sister Miriam, the girls' suitors, her father Salomon, her mother Rifka, and her grandmother Leah. Seen through the eyes of Joheved, the book establishes her subordinate role as a woman and the many problems this creates. However, even though her lifestyle is restricted, Joheved is a very intelligent and resourceful person. For example, she can skillfully do women's work, negotiate wine sales, and study Talmud. It is this last attribute that creates special issues for her. Despite opposition from her mother, Joheved's father decides to oppose custom and teach that skill to Joheved and her sister. The book addresses all aspects of the family's lifestyle -- work,study, betrothal, marriage, birth, illness and death. The author successfully depicts these life stages through the multiple characters, which engages and involves the reader in very intimate ways. Sometimes the descriptions of Jewish customs are too frequent and detailed, but that is balanced by the other significant and rewarding elements of the story. Ages 11-15. Reviewed by Marge Kaplan

good historical novel
Recently, I read The Chosen and after I found it quite interesting, I decided to read this book because I wanted to learn more about the Jewish faith. I was intrigued with this book, and it was a good add on to reading The Chosen. It helped clarify a few topics that I was confused about.