The JPS Guide to Jewish Women: 600 B.C.E.–1900 C.E.

Alphabetical Guide to Jewish Women in the Text

ALPHABETICAL GUIDE TO JEWISH WOMEN IN THE TEXT In this guide to women mentioned in the book, the following abbreviations apply: a = active during a specific year or range of years b = year of birth d =year of death ca. = circa, denoting an approximate date or range of dates Aberlin, Rachel (16th century)-respected mystic, consulted by R. I:Iayyim Vital; saw visions and advised other women. Abrabanel, Benvenida (d. 1560)---<:ommunity leader, respected scholar, and teacher in Naples (Italy); later, influential and rich businesswoman. Aguilar, Grace (1816-1847)---educator, novelist, and religious essayist; author of eight books, including The Women ofIsrael; or, Characters and Sketches from the Holy Scriptures and Jewish History and The Jewish Faith; born in London of Sephardic ancestry. Allegra of Majorca (14th century)-listed as owner of two books; one was a medical book on children's diseases, the other was listed as Five Books ofGenesis. Anna the Hebrew (a. 1508)-ltalian cosmetician who sold cosmetics to the noblewoman Catherine Sforza. Arnstein, Fanny Itzig von (b. 1757)-well educated, originally from Berlin; became a prominent salon hostess in Vienna after her marriage. Ascarelli, Deborah (mid-16th century)-poet and translator of prayers into Italian; probably women's prayer leader of Catalan Synagogue in Rome. xv xvi The JPS Guide to Jewish Women Babatha (first half of 2nd century c.E.)-propertied woman who lived in the land of Israel during the Bar Kokhba rebellion; married twice; marriage contract, property deeds, and records of litigations show she was engaged in business. Bacharach, l:Iava (1580-1651)-also known as Eva of Prague; learned woman, knowledgeable in Torah; granddaughter of R. Yehudah Loew of Prague. Bat ha-Levi (12th century)-the unnamed daughter of R. Shmuel ben Ali, Gaon of Baghdad; reported to have taught the students in her father's academy. Beila of the Blessed Hands (19th century)-trained midwife and feldsher; worked in small villages in Russian Pale of Settlement. Bellina (mid-16th century)-singer and musician; entertained at the court of Venice. Beruriah (2nd century c.E.)-talmudic scholar in the land of Israel; wife of R. Meir; mentioned in various tractates of the Talmud as a learned woman. Brandeau, Esther (a. 1738)-disguised herself as Jacques La Frague and sailed as a cabin boy to Quebec (New France); imprisoned as a Jew; refused to convert and was returned to France. Carvajal de Matas, Francisca de (d. 1596)-crypto-Jew of New Spain (Mexico); arrested and tortured under the Inquisition; burned at the stake together with her daughters Isabel, Catalina, and Leonor and her son Luis. Cassia (9th or 10th century)-daughter of Shephatiah, from the family of Ahimaaz of southern Italy; mentioned in The Chronicles ofAhimaaz. Caylar, Esther de (15th century)-community leader in ArIes; member of prominent Nathan family; mother of Venguessone Nathan. ~eti (14th century)-called rabbess in documents; probably tended the women's section of the synagogue and the ritual bath in Zaragoza (Spain). Conat, Estellina (15th century)-first-known Jewish woman printer of books in Mantua, Italy. Dahiya Kahina (7th century c.E.)-North African woman warrior; defeated the Muslims and ruled in the Maghreb for five years; may have been Jewish. D'Arpino, Anna (16th century)-women's prayer leader in Rome; was paid by the Jewish community. Daughter of Joseph (12th century)-unnamed woman of Baghdad (Iraq); believed by some of her contemporaries to be the Messiah. Alphabetical Guide to Jewish Women in the Text xvii De Lancey, Phila Franks (a. 1742)-oldest daughter of Abigail and Jacob Franks of New York City; secretly married Oliver de Lancey, a Christian; later baptized. Dolce of Worms (d. 1196)-leamed and pious woman; taught other women; led women's prayers in synagogue; wife of R. Eleazar of Worms; was killed by intruders, along with her two daughters. Dunash ben Labrat's wife (10th century)-Hebrew poet; a sole remaining example of her work shows considerable talent. Edel (18th century)-daughter of Israel ben Eliezer (the Baal Shem Tov); spiritual leader and mystical healer. Eidele (19th century)-daughter of Malkah and Sholem of Belz; wife of R. Isaac Rubin of Sokolov; community leader among the Hasidim of Sokolov; delivered discourses on the Sabbath. Ella bat Moshe (a. 1696)-printer in Dessau, Germany; daughter of convert Moshe ben Avraham, a printer, and Freide, daughter of R. Yisrael Katz; left a colophon in a Yiddish prayer book in 1696 indicating she was nine years old on that date. Ellus bat Mordecai (a. 1704)-author and translator of kabbalistic prayers into Yiddish; lived in Slutsk, Russia. Esterke of Opoczno (ca. 14th century)-legendary mistress of King Casimir the Great of Poland. Falk, Bayla (16th century)-well versed in Jewish law; wife of R. Joshua Falk; issued a decision on when to light Sabbath candles. Feige (18th century)-daughter of Edel and granddaughter of the Baal Shem Tov; considered to possess "divine inspiration"; mother of R. Na1).man of Bratislav. Fishels, Roizel (a. 1586)-printer, teacher, and philanthropist; published a book of poems that she prefaced with an original poem in Yiddish. Floreta Ca Noga of St. Coloma de Queralt (14th century)-prominent woman doctor of Aragon (Spain); treated the Queen of Aragon. Francesa Sarah (16th century)-prayer leader and mystic; the only woman in Safed (land of Israel) known to have had her own maggid (imaginary spiritual advisor). Frank, Eva (a. 1770-early 19th century)-daughter of religious rebel Jacob Frank; spiritual leader of Frankist movement after 1817; claimed to be a Romanov princess. xvill The JPS Guide to Jewish Women Frankel, Sarah (Sereleh) bat Joshua Heschel Teumim (1838-1937)-conducted herself as a rebbe among the Hasidim after the death of her husband, the tzaddik I:Iayyim Samuel of Chenciny; gave advice; known for her wise parables. Franks, Bilhah Abigail Levy (b. 1688)-well educated; known for her correspondence with her son, Naphtali Hart Franks; wife of Jacob Franks; one of founding members of Congregation Shearith Israel, the first synagogue in New York City. Fre\1,a bat Avraham (d. 1756)-learned Hebrew poet; member of the Bar Adiba family of Morocco; considered a holy woman; after her death her father built a synagogue in her name. Frommet of Arwyller (15th century)-copied and inscribed a book to her husband (probably France or Germany). Gela bat Moshe (a. 1710)-younger sister of Ella; wrote a Yiddish colophon in a book printed in her father's shop in Halle, Germany, when she was eleven years old. Glikl of Hameln (1646-1719)-businesswoman; widely traveled for business and to arrange her children's marriages; authored the first Yiddish-language autobiography written by a woman; active in Hamburg, Germany. Gnendel (d. 1672)-hardworking woman; distiller of brandy in Bohemia; remembered by her son after an early death. Goldschmidt, Henriette Benas (1825-1920)-activist in promoting education for girls; leader in the early child-care kindergarten movement; encouraged higher education for women. Goldschmidt, Johanna Schwabe (1806-1884)-author and educator in Hamburg, Germany; founded nondenominational kindergarten; helped establish a seminary for training teachers in the Froebel method. Gratz, Rebecca (1781-1869)-noted Philadelphia educator and philanthropist; established first Hebrew Sunday school in the United States; active in creating social service institutions; noted letter writer. Guta (d. 1306)-daughter of R. Natan; an early example of a woman prayer leader. Gutman, Sarel (a. 1619)-businesswoman; with her husband ran a mail service between Prague and Vienna. Ijavalljana (14th century)-surgeon of Manosque in Provence; member of a prominent medical family. Alphabetical Guide to Jewish Women in the Text xix Handali, Esther Kiera (a. 1580-1590)-influential purveyor of goods to the women of the sultan's court in Istanbul; confidante to Sultana Safiyah Baffa; had great political power in 16th-century Turkey; believed to have been killed by rioters in Istanbul. Hays, Esther Etting (a. 1779)-Revolutionary War patriot; smuggled food to American troops; member of pioneer Sephardic family of Philadelphia; wife of David Hays of New York. Henndlein of Regensburg (15th century)-teacher; ran a school for young children ; her official title was di meistrin. Herodias (1st century c.E.)-daughter of Aristobulus and Berenice; married in defiance of Jewish law to her brother-in-law Herod Antipas, King of Galilee and Perea; mother of Salome by a previous marriage; exiled with her husband after his failed bid for power. Herz, Henriette Lemos (a. 1780-1803)-talented linguist; early leader of the Berlin salons; married Markus Herz; was widowed in 1803; became a translator; converted to Christianity in 1813. Homburg, Bliimele (a. after 1759)-widow of Issal).ar Homburg; became court factor in Mainz, Germany, after her husband's death. Horowitz, Sarah Rebecca Rachel Leah (b. ca. 1720)-exceptional scholar and noted writer of tkhines; born in Bolekhov, Poland; daughter of Yaakov Yokel ben Meir Horowitz and Rayzel bat Heschel; wrote "Tkhine of the Matriarchs," which contained sections in Hebrew and Aramaic. Hurwitz, Bella (1~ century)-printer in Prague; wife of a cantor; believed to have written a history of the house of David. Ima Shalom (1st century c.E.)-outspoken, clever women who lived in the land of Israel; wife of R. Eliezer ben Hyrcanus, sister of R. Gamliel, head of the Sanhedrin. Jamila (16th century)-wrote a letter to her son, R. Abraham, detailing family matters; probably lived in Salonika. Jehoishma (5th century B.c.E.)-daughter of Tamet and Ananiah; lived in Elephantine, lower Egypt; records show that she received a bride-price (mohar) and dowry. Johanna (2nd century B.C.E.)-poor woman who lived in Egypt; accused of beating a pregnant woman. xx The JPS Guide to Jewish Women Joseph, Rachel Solomons (18th century)-pioneer to Canada; observant Jew who taught Judaism to her children; married to Henry Joseph, the first ritual slaughterer in Canada. Kandlein (14th century)-moneylender and powerful community leader in Regensburg, Germany. Katz, Hannah (1J7th century)-wrote religious verse in Yiddish in Amsterdam. Kaulla, Madame (1739-1809)-court factor in Wurttemberg, Germany; member of the influential Kaulla family; first name not known. Laza of Frankfurt (a. 1692)-editor and translator of book of Hebrew prayers written by her husband, Jacob ben Mordecai; wrote introduction in Yiddish; lived in Schwerin, Germany. Lazarus, Emma (1849-1887)-scholar and poet in New York; authored many poems, a novel (AZide: An Episode ofGoethe's Life), and a play (The Dance ofDeath); active in helping Russian-Jewish refugees; famous for her poem liThe New Colossus" inscribed on the pedestal of the Statue of Liberty. Leah Dreyzl (early 18th century)-firzogerin; writer of tkhines; wife of R. Aryeh Leib Auerbach of Poland. Licoricia of Winchester (d. 1277)-rich and successful moneylender in England; lent money to English nobility; killed by robbers. Liebmann, Esther Schulhoff Aron (d. 1714)-court Jew; born in Prague, lived in Berlin; supplier of jewelry to the court in Berlin in the seventeenth century; in charge of the mint; had considerable influence with Frederick I of Prussia. Luxemburg, Rosa (1871-1919)-active Socialist leader in Poland and Germany; died in prison. Malchi, Esperanza (a. lS99)-kiera in the court of the Turkish sultan in Istanbul; wrote a letter to Queen Elizabeth at the request of the sultana. Malkah (19th century)-Hasidic spiritual leader active in the court of Belz (Galicia); prominent men were counted among her devotees; wife of R. Sholem RokeaD. Malkeleh the Triskerin (19th century)-Hasidic spiritual advisor; active for charitable causes; daughter of R. Abraham of Trisk, founder of the Trisk dynasty; granddaughter of R. Mordecai Twersky. Alphabetical Guide to Jewish Women in the Text xxi Mansi, Paula dei (a. 1288-1293)-scribe and scholar; lived in Verona, Italy; translated Bible commentaries from Hebrew into Italian; from a learned family variously known as Anau, dei Mansi, Piatelli, Pietosa, or Umani. Maria the Hebrew (2nd or 3rd century c.E.)-legendary chemist/alchemist; credited with the invention of hydrochloric acid; believed to have lived in Egypt. Mariamne (d. 29 B.c.E.)-Maccabean princess; second wife of Herod I, King of Judea; executed by him for adultery. Mariamne (1st century B.c.E.)-daughter of Simon ben Boethus, third wife of Herod I, King of Judea. Marion (a. 10 B.c.E.)-daughter of Isakios of Alexandria; borrowed money with her husband and brother-in-law. Marion (2nd century B.c.E.)-daughter of Jakoubis; listed as owner of large amounts of livestock in Egypt. Markel-Mosessohn, Miriam (a. 1868)-well-educated Russian-Jewish writer; composed original Hebrew poetry and translated German works into Hebrew. Meisel, Frumet (16th-17ili century)-moneylender; wife of Mordecai Meisel of Prague. Mendelssohn, Dorothea (see Schlegel). Mendelssohn, Henriette (late 18th century)-daughter of Moses Mendelssohn; became governess in Vienna; converted to Christianity. Mendes, Brianda (16th century)-sister of Gracia Mendes Nasi; had a falling-out with her sister who controlled the family money. Mercado, Judith (a. 1654)-one of the first twenty-three Jewish refugees from Recife, Brazil, to arrive and settle in New Amsterdam (later, New York); probablya widow. Merecina (15th century)-Hebrew poet of Gerona, Spain; referred to as rabbiness. Mibtahiah (5th century B.c.E.)-daughter of Mahseiah. Lived in Elephantine, lower Egypt; owned considerable property; married twice and had the right to initiate divorce; her two sons inherited her wealth. Mibtahiah (5th to 4th century B.c.E.)-daughter of Gemariah; involved in independent property transactions. xxii The JPS Guide to Jewish Women Minis, Abigail (1701-1794)-tavern-keeper and businesswoman in Savannah, Georgia; Revolutionary War patriot who helped supply the Continental army; among the earliest settlers to Savannah in 1733. Minna (d. 1096)-martyr who chose death over conversion in Worms during the first Crusade. Minna (14th century)-wealthy moneylender in Zurich; in partnership with her two sons; murals from her house have been rediscovered. Miriam (11th_12th century)-daughter of Rashi, wife of R. Yehudah ben Natan and mother of R. Yom Tov of Falaise and a daughter, sometimes referred to as Alvina (northern France). Miriam (11th-12th century)-second wife of Rashi's grandson, R. Yaakov ben Meir (Rabbenu Tam); after R. Tam's death she was consulted by his colleagues about his rulings and traditions. Miriam (12th century)-sister of Maimonides; wrote a letter to her brother requesting help in contacting her son. MiriamlMariamne (2nd century c.E.)-mother of Babatha and owner of considerable property in the land of Israel. Miriam bat Benayah (15th-16th century)-scribe in San'a, Yemen; part of a family of scribes. MizraJ.ti, Asenath Barazani (16th-1~ century)-scholar and teacher; ran a yeshivah in Mosul, Kurdistan; daughter of Rabbi Shmuel ha-Levi Barazani; her name was revered by Kurdish Jews long after her death. Modena, FiorettalBathsheva da (16th century)-scholar; grandmother of wellknown scholar Aaron Berekhiah, who credited her with his education; died on her way to the land of Israel. Moise, Penina (1797-1880)-poet and teacher; ran a girls school; composed about 190 hymns for Temple Beth Elohim in Charleston, South Carolina; cultural leader; first Jewish lyric poet to publish in the United States. Montagu, Lily (1873-1963)-leader of Liberal Judaism in England. Montefiore, Judith Cohen (1784-1862)-English philanthropist for Jewish causes ; diarist and traveler, respected by the Jewish communities of England and Palestine; wife of Moses Montefiore (1784-1885), a wealthy philanthropist and prominent Jewish leader. Alphabetical Guide to Jewish Women in the Text xxiii Morgenstern, Lina Bauer (1830-1901)-organizer and social activist in Berlin; organized kindergartens; set up soup kitchens for soldiers during FrancoPrussian War; founded association for homemakers, providing for employment and pensions. Morpurgo, Rachel Luzzatto (179G-1871)-scholar in Jewish and secular subjects; mystic and noted Hebrew poet; born in Trieste, Italy; her poetry was reprinted in 1890 as Ugav Ra1:zel (Rachel's harp). Al Mu/allima (The Teacher) (11th century)-learned wife of the Karaite Abu I-Taras of Toledo; after his death, his followers came to her for authentic traditions ; her name is not known. Murada, Madame (a. 1542)-woman doctor in Giinzburg, Bavaria. Myers, Rachel (a. 1776-1780)-British loyalist, widow with nine children; fled to Canada and settled in Gagetown, New Brunswick, during the Revolution. Nasi, Gracia Mendes (151O-1569?)-influential business leader and philanthropist ; born into a converso family in Portugal; returned to Judaism in Italy; invited into Turkey by the sultan; Dona Nasi was also known as Beatrice de Luna, Hannah Mendes, and La Signora. Nasi, Reyna (16th century)-daughter of Gracia Nasi, married to her cousin Joao/Joseph Nasi in Istanbul; ran a publishing house in Turkey that printed Jewish books. Nathan, Venguessone (15th century)-successful businesswoman and moneylender ; owned a shop in Arles; left bequests to all her relatives in her will, including money and books in Hebrew and Latin. Nissim, Diamante of Pisa (a. 1524)-daughter of R. Asher Meshullam of Venice; follower of and hostess to pseudomessiah David Reubeni. Nunes, Ricke/Rachel (a. 1654)-one of the first twenty-three Jewish refugees from Recife, Brazil, to arrive and settle in New Amsterdam (later New York); probably a widow. Pan, Toibe (17ili century)-wrote a historical poem in Yiddish in Prague. Pappenheim, Bertha (1859-1938)-noted social worker and activist for women's causes; founder of Der Jiidische Frauenbund. Perele (18th century)-ascetic with her own disciples; daughter of Israel ben Shabbetai of Kozienice; said to have worn tzitzit. xxiv The JPS Guide to Jewish Women Perna (a. 1460)-physician licensed in Fano, Italy. Pu1cellina (d. 1171)-powerful woman of Blois, France; possible lover of Count Theobald V of France; burned at the stake together with other Jews, the result of a blood libel charge. Qasmuna (11th or 12th century)-poet; possibly related to Samuel ibn Naghrela (Shmuel ha-Nagid); lived in Granada, Spain. A few of her poems are extant. Rachel (2nd century c.E.)-name attributed to wife of R. Akiva by post-talmudic writers; supposedly accepted poverty and gave her husband permission to be absent for twenty-four years while he studied. RachellBelle Assez (11th-12th century)-daughter of Rashi; married briefly to Eliezer/Vasselin and then divorced; purported to have helped her father write a responsum while he was sick (Troyes, northern France). RachellRashka (16th century)-businesswoman of Krakow, Poland; active in community affairs. Rachel of Mainz (d. 1096)-martyr during the first Crusade; killed her children and then herself. Rakowski, Puah (1865-1955)-Jewish educator and Hebrew scholar; established the First Hebrew School, an all-girls institution, in the 1890s in Warsaw, Poland. Rappoport, Serel (18th century)-wrote "Tkhine of the Matriarchs for the New Moon"; daughter and wife of rabbis. Raquel of Toledo (12th-13th century)-legendary mistress of King Alphonso VIII of Castile. Rashi's granddaughters (11th-12th century)-Rashi had at least two granddaughters , variously called Alvina, Hannah, or Miriam in different manuscripts; known to have taught women the Commandments. Reynette of Koblenz (a. 1372)-successful moneylender who dealt in large amounts of cash. Richa (a. 1525)-member of the wealthy Meshullam family of Venice; owned property independently; signed her own will in Yiddish and the Venetian dialect. Richenza of Niirnberg (d. 1298)-prayer leader of women; died as a martyr. Rivka of Ferrara (late 16th century)-daughter of the scholar Yel;rlel ben Azriel Trabot of Ascoli (Italy); publicized her father's teachings after his death. Alphabetical Guide to Jewish Women in the Text xxv Rivkah bat Yisrael (early 18th century)-printer; daughter of Yisrael ben Moshe, a printer in Frankfurt; niece of the sisters Ella and Gela; left a colophon in a book she printed "with my own hands" when she was quite young. Rivkah Sarah Merele (d. 1679)-ascetic, pious woman; remembered in an obituary notice. Rose, Ernestine Potowski (l810-1892)-public speaker and reformer in the United States; activist for women's rights and against slavery; born in Poland; rebelled against tradition; married a non-Jew in England; emigrated to the United States in 1836. Rossi, Europa di (16th century)-known as Madame Europa; singer and musician for the court in Mantua, Italy. Rufina of Smyrna (2nd century B.C.E.)-influential woman of Asia Minor who was head of a synagogue and owned property and slaves. Saker, Maria (a. 1869)-writer; authored the first article written by a woman in the Russian language. Salina Alexandra (2nd century c.E.)-wife of Aristobulus, Hasmonean king of Judea; often confused with Salome Alexandra. Salome (1st century B.C.E.)-sister of King Herod I; inherited property from him at his death. Salome (1st century c.E.)-daughter of Herodias and stepdaughter of Herod Antipas; reported to have requested the death of John the Baptist to please her mother. Salome Alexandra (139-67 B.C.E.)-wife of Alexander Jannai, king of Judea; ruled Judea for seven years after the death of her husband; known as an ally of the Pharisees. Salomon, Rachel Franks (b. 1762)-married patriot I:Iaym Salomon in 1777 at the age of fifteen; left penniless with four children when her husband died in 1785; remarried to David Heilbrun and settled in Holland. Sambathe (lst or 2nd century c.E.)-name of a Greek sibyl; poetry foretelling the future once attributed to her; now believed to be legendary. Sarah (a. 1654-1674)-refugee from Polish massacres of 1648; married Shabbetai Zevi, the false messiah in Cairo in 1554; converted to Islam with Zevi. xxvi The JPS Guide to Jewish Women Sarah (ca. 13th century)-known as Donna Sarah; wife of Solomon the Scribe; wrote a letter to her husband entreating him to return to the family; probably Italian. Sarah (7th century c.E.)-Yemenite poet, probably Jewish; wrote about the historic defeat of the Banu Qurayza, an Arabian-Jewish tribe. Sara de Sando Aegidio (14th century)-doctor in Marseilles; taught medicine to a male apprentice. Sarah bat Tovim (18th century)-noted, popular writer of tkhines; author of Shloyshe Sh'eorim (Three Gates); born in Podolia, Ukraine. Sarah of Tumovo (14th century)-also known as Queen Theodora; converted to Christianity to marry Tzar Ivan Alexander of Bulgaria. Schlegel, DorothealBreindel Mendelssohn Veit (b. 1765)-one of the Berlin salon women; organized Jewish Lecture Society; daughter of Moses Mendelssohn; well educated; married Simon Veit in 1783; left Veit for Friedrich Schlegel, a Christian; converted to Christianity in 1804. Schwerin, Jeanette Abarbanell (1852-1899)--one of the founders of the German Society for Ethical Culture in 1892; saw social work as a path to women's emancipation ; organized and led Girls' and Women's Groups for Social Service Work. Segal, Shifrah (a. 1770)-writer of tkhines; author of "New Tkhine for the Sabbath"; used kabbalistic texts; advanced her own theory of women's rituals. Shabazi, Shama'ah (171h century)-believed to be a poet; daughter of Yemenite poet Shalem Shabazi; died young with no extant work known. Shapira Luria, Miriam (ca. 15th century)-scholar and teacher; a daughter in a family of scholars. Sheftall, Frances Hart (1740-ca. 1792)-resourceful pioneer woman of Georgia; corresponded with her husband and son in a British prison. Shelamzion (2nd century c.E.)-daughter of Judah Khtusion, stepdaughter of Babatha; lived in the land of Israel. ShoJ.tat, Manya (1880-1961)-Russian revolutionary; emigrated to Palestine in early twentieth century; a founder of the kibbutz movement. Shondlein (mid-15th century)-leamed woman who wrote a response on ritual purity in Yiddish; wife of R. Israel Isserlein of Austria. Alphabetical Guide to Jewish Women in the Text xxvii Sophia of Gortyn (4th-5th century c.E.)-was referred to as both an elder and head of the synagogue on inscriptions from Crete. Soreh (mid-18th century)-early follower of Hasidism; widow who directed her son Leib to study with the Hasidim; Leib adopted his mother's name in acknowledgment of her influence and was known as Leib Soreh. Sullam, Sara Copio (1592-1641)-accomplished and recognized poet in Venice; corresponded on philosophical and religious matters with Ansaldo Ceba, a monk and diplomat; was accused of denying the immortality of the soul; wrote a manifesto in her own defense. Sussman, Rachel (a. 1546-1567)-Ashkenazic woman living in Jerusalem; wrote letters in Yiddish to her son in Fustat, Egypt, containing historical details about Jerusalem and her family. Tamar (14th century)-daughter of Sarah/Queen Theodora and Tzar Ivan Alexander; wife of the Ottoman emperor Murad I. Tamet (5th century B.c.E.)-handmaid of Meshullam ben Zaccur of Elephantine, lower Egypt; granted a dowry and right of divorce. Theodote (a. 13 B.c.E.)-contracted to be a wet nurse for a slave child in Alexandria. Tiktiner, Rivkah bat Meir (d. 1605)-also known as Rebecca Tiktiner of Prague; scholar and educator of women; author of pedagogic and ethical work Meneket Rivkah and a poem for Sim1;lat Torah, both in Yiddish. Twersky, ij:annah ij:ava (19th century)-Hasidic spiritual leader and advisor to women; daughter of R. Mordecai Twersky; active in her father's court in Chernobyl, Ukraine. Urania of Worms (13th century)-woman prayer leader; daughter of a cantor; she sang hymns to the women. Varnhagen, Rahel Levin (1771-1833)-brilliant, self-educated woman; leader of the Berlin salons; encouraged the poet Goethe; converted to Christianity in 1806 and married Karl Varnhagen von Ense. Virdimura (a. 1376)-physician in Catania, Sicily; given a license to treat the poor. Wengeroff, Pauline Epstein (1833-1916)-Russian diarist and writer; kept detailed diary in German recording the assimilation of Russian Jewry; later published the diary as Memoirs ofa Grandmother. xxviii The JPS Guide to Jewish Women Werbermacher, ~annah Rachel (1815-ca. 1895)-mystic and spiritual leader in Ludmir, Poland; built her own synagogue; preached sermons on Sabbath; emigrated to Jerusalem where she concentrated on kabbalistic studies until her death. Wolf, FrumetIFani Beilin (d. 1849)-composed a controversial political tract in Eisenstadt, Hungary; wrote an ethical will for her children in 1829. Wuhsha of Egypt (11th-12th century)-successful banker and moneylender; involved in divorce and scandal; lived in Fustat, Egypt; her will stipulated an expensive and elaborate funeral. Vente (18th century)-spiritualleader; early follower of the Baal Shem Tov who declared her a prophet; wore tallit. Yo1}.eved (11th-12th century)-daughter of Rashi, wife of R. Meir ben Shmuel and mother of the famed Tosafists R. Shmuel ben Meir (the Rashbam) and R. Yaakov ben Meir (Rabbenu Tam) and a daughter sometimes referred to as I:Iannah; lived in Ramerupt (northern France). Yo1}.evedlA'isha (a. 1674-1676)-from a prominent family in Salonika; married Shabbetai Zevi in 1674; converted to Islam after his death in 1676; promoted a new post-messianic movement with her brother who was proclaimed to be Zevi's reincarnation. ...