Maiden of Ludmir

by Gershon Winkler

Book Overview

Chana Rochel Werbermacher was a remarkable child, imbued with a love of Torah and a fervent desire to learn. Her destiny beckoned, and she became a scholar-and the focus of great controversy in the... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0910818835
• ISBN13: 9780910818834
• Release Date: January 1990
• Publisher: Judaica Pr
• Length: 235 Pages
• Weight: 1.32 lbs.
• Dimensions: 9.5" x 1.0" x 6.5"
• Age Range: 14 years and up
• Grade Range: Grade 9 and higher

Customer Reviews

Excellent Book Relating to Jewish Women

"They Called Her Rebbe" is an extraordinary book. Many individuals know of the movie "Yentl" starring Barbra Streisand. If you have enjoyed that movie, you will adore this book. Chana Rochel's story is about a woman who lived in the early 1800's in Eastern Europe (Russia) in a common Jewish shtetl (small village). She was unlike many other women of her time or even of today in the fact that she desired to study Torah and Talmud. This is uncommon to the degree that she desired within the Orthodox Jewish community. Women have a different place when it comes to Torah study than men. Chana Rochel was not content to remain in the "customs" of the people. Her argument being that neither the Torah nor the Talmud actually forbids the study of Torah or the observances of mitzvos (commandments) by women. They merely discourage it, as a woman has other preoccupations. Chana Rochel took her guidance from God Himself. As He directed her in her studies and later in her spiritual guidance of others, both men and women, she defied custom and followed the Lord. Chana Rochel's story is strong when it is put up against the background of customs. She followed the Spirit of the Lord, staying within Halakhah (Jewish Law), she stretched her God-given rights as a Jewish woman to serve Him in every capacity to which He had called her. Many Rabbis of her time and even since, have dismissed her by saying she possessed the soul of a great Rabbi, a MALE Rabbi. Many individuals who sought her guidance could not comprehend that a woman was being given this direct guidance from the Lord, so to ease their minds they also agreed with "soul of a great Rabbi" theory. I invite everyone to examine this story of an extraordinary woman who lived her life in an ordinary way. I recommend this book to every individual - male or female - Jew or Gentile - religious or non-religious. May you find the riches and blessings of the Holy Torah in the life of Chana Rochel as I have the privilege to experience.