Rashi’s Daughters: Joheved

Rashi’s Daughters: Joheved
Maggie Anton
Banot Press
ISBN: 0-9763050-5-4
Fiction, Historical Fiction
Reviewed by Dr. Tami Brady

Book One of Rashi’s Daughters focuses on Joheved, the eldest of Rashi’s children. Salomon ben Isaac (later called Rashi in the historical records) was one of the greatest Talmudic authorities that ever lived. He lived and taught the Talmud in the 11th century in Troyes. Like most scholars of his time, Rashi’s students included local Jews, future scholars, and merchants trading in the area. However, at a time when basic education for women was extremely rare and the teaching of the Tadmud to a woman was beyond rational thought, Rashi also counted his daughters amongst his most learned students.
Joheved was the oldest of Rashi’s daughters. In her own right, she was an amazing woman. She ran the family winery including the vine tending of the vines, bookkeeping, and the financial negotiations with other merchants. She also took on the care of her ailing paternal grandmother, an extremely strong willed woman who had taught Joheved everything about the wine making business. Joheved also served as a loving respectful wife, daughter, and sister. In addition to these fine qualities, Joheved had a love of learning, a thirst for knowledge, a deep devotion to her faith. It was these later qualities, and the fact that Rashi bore no sons, that Joheved was given the very unique opportunity to study the Talmud with her father.
Book One of Rashi’s Daughters is a wonderful book that allows the reader to travel back to the 11th century to visit Rashi, his family, and his friends. The author has obviously done a good deal of research and this effort shows in the every word the characters utter, each activity that they undertake, and the way that each of these individuals perceives the world. Beyond these carefully crafted historical accuracies, though, the author has also created an entertaining story that captivates and inspires. After I started reading this book, I found it impossible to put down. I was completely drawn into the story and left the book with the feeling of having had the most amazing visit with a close friend. I eagerly await Book Two.