Rashi’s Daughters Book I: Joheved Read online

  A PLUME BOOK

  RASHI’S DAUGHTERS

  BOOK I: JOHEVED

  MAGGIE ANTON was born Margaret Antonofsky in Los Angeles, California. Raised in a secular, socialist household, she reached adulthood with little knowledge of the Jewish religion. All that changed when Dave Parkhurst entered her life, and they discovered Judaism as adults. That was the start of a lifetime of adult Jewish education, synagogue involvement, and ritual observance. This was in addition to raising their children, Emily and Ari, and working full-time as a clinical chemist.

  In 1997, as her nest was emptying and her mother was declining with Alzheimer’s disease, Anton became intrigued with the idea that Rashi, one of Judaism’s greatest scholars, had no sons, only three daughters. Using techniques developed doing her family’s genealogy, she began to research Rashi’s family, and the idea of a book about them was born.

  Eight years later, the first volume of Rashi’s Daughters was finally complete, making Maggie Anton a Talmud maven and an authority on medieval French Jewish women. She retired from the lab and spent the next two years researching and writing Book Two: Miriam, in addition to lecturing at more than a hundred synagogues, JCCs, and Jewish women’s organizations.

  Maggie lives with her husband, Dave, of thirty-six years, in Glendale, California, where she is working on Rashi’s Daughters, Book Three: Rachel, as well as a translation of Machzor Vitry. You can follow her blog and contact her at her website: www.rashisdaughters.com.

  Praise for

  Rashi’s Daughters, Book I: Joheved

  “Rashi’s Daughters offers readers a glimpse into a fascinating world…and explores the lives of a famous scholar and his (unfortunately) not-so-famous daughters…realistic and captivating.”

  —Dvora Weisberg, PhD, Associate Professor of Rabbinics and Director of the Beit Midrash, Hebrew Union College

  Jewish Institute of Religion in Los Angeles

  “Anton painted a wonderful scene of Jewish life in medieval France; I loved the characters—can’t wait to read about Miriam.”

  —Devorah Zlochower, Director of Full-Time Programs,

  Drisha Institute, New York

  “No one who reads this novel will ever read Rashi’s writings in the same way.”

  —Dr. Neil Gillman, Professor of Jewish Philosophy, Jewish

  Theological Seminary of America, and author of Sacred

  Fragments: Recovering Theology for the Modern Jew

  “Rashi and his entire community spring to life in this intriguing novel. Maggie Anton’s combination of history, imagination, and feminist readings of classical Talmudic texts is impressive.”

  —Rabbi Laura Geller, Senior Rabbi, Temple Emanuel, Beverly Hills

  “Maggie Anton does the world a great service in giving us such an accessible picture of Jewish life in Western Europe of the eleventh century.”

  —Rabbi Tracee Rosen, Congregation Kol Ami, Salt Lake City

  “Well written and carries the reader along nicely.”

  —Emily Taitz, coauthor of the JPS Guide to Jewish Women:

  600 B.C.E.–1900 C.E., Remarkable Jewish Women: Rebels Rabbis

  and Other Women from Biblical Times until the Present

  “The amount of learning Maggie Anton weaves into her vividly imagined romantic story is amazing. The reader plunges into the world of medieval Ashkenazic tradition, truly becoming the student of the great Salomon ben Isaac.”

  —Sylvie Weil, Professor Emerita, Hunter College, CUNY, and author of Les Vendanges de Rachi and My Guardian Angel

  “Rashi’s Daughters brings to life a very different time in the history of the Jewish people…focusing on the women who, from the perspective of a traditional account of the period, would be invisible.”

  —Rabbi Carla Freedman, Jewish Family Congregation,

  South Salem, New York

  “Anton has re-imagined the life and world of the famed eleventh-century biblical teacher Rashi through the lives of his three daughters…giving readers a glimpse into everyday medieval family life without detracting from the historical backdrop or a powerful story. Readers will definitely be hooked on this series.”

  —Romantic Times

  “The immersion into the world of eleventh-century Troyes, France, is complete…I am particularly grateful for Anton’s vivid and careful research, which throws a fascinating light on the everyday life of Rashi and his family…a wedding-night scene worthy of The Red Tent.”

  —World Jewish Digest by Ruchama King Feuerman,

  author of Seven Blessings

  “Impressive work…fine storyteller…absorbing, detailed account.”

  —Jewish Journal

  “The writing successfully captures the pace of medieval life and pulls the reader into the details of the characters’ lives.”

  —Jewish Times News

  “Rashi’s Daughters is a wonderful, richly textured yarn incorporating all the sights, sounds, and impressions of an eleventh-century Jewish community.”

  —Bookpleasures

  “A forceful novel of the power of learning, faith, and the two sides of love.”

  —Midwest Book Review

  Rashi’s Daughters

  Book I: Joheved

  MAGGIE ANTON

  A PLUME BOOK

  PLUME

  Published by Penguin Group

  Penguin Group (USA) Inc., 375 Hudson Street, New York, New York 10014, U.S.A. • Penguin Group (Canada), 90 Eglinton Avenue East, Suite 700, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M4P 2Y3 (a division of Pearson Penguin Canada Inc.) • Penguin Books Ltd., 80 Strand, London WC2R 0RL, England • Penguin Ireland, 25 St. Stephen's Green, Dublin 2, Ireland (a division of Penguin Books Ltd.) • Penguin Group (Australia), 250 Camberwell Road, Camberwell, Victoria 3124, Australia (a division of Pearson Australia Group Pty. Ltd.) • Penguin Books India Pvt. Ltd., 11 Community Centre, Panchsheel Park, New Delhi–110 017, India • Penguin Group (NZ), 67 Apollo Drive, Rosedale, North Shore 0745, Auckland, New Zealand (a division of Pearson New Zealand Ltd.) • Penguin Books (South Africa) (Pty.) Ltd., 24 Sturdee Avenue, Rosebank, Johannesburg 2196, South Africa

  Penguin Books Ltd., Registered Offices: 80 Strand, London WC2R 0RL, England

  Published by Plume, a member of Penguin Group (USA) Inc. Originally published by Banot Press.

  Copyright © Maggie Anton, 2005

  All rights reserved

  REGISTERED TRADEMARK—MARCA REGISTRADA

  The Library of Congress has catalogued the Banot Press edition as follows:

  Anton, Maggie.

  Rashi’s Daughters: Book One—Joheved /Maggie Anton.

  p. cm.

  ISBN: 978-1-101-21938-6

  1. Jewish women—Fiction. 2. Rashi, 1040-1105—Fiction. 3. Troyes (France)—Fiction. 4. Jews—France—Fiction. 5. Jews—France—History—to 1500—Fiction. I. Title.

  PS3551.N765 R3 2005

  813.54—dd22 2005920049

  Without limiting the rights under copyright reserved above, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise), without the prior written permission of both the copyright owner and the above publisher of this book.

  PUBLISHER’S NOTE

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

  The scanning, uploading, and distribution of this book via the Internet or via any other means without the permission of the publisher is illeg
al and punishable by law. Please purchase only authorized electronic editions, and do not participate in or encourage electronic piracy of copyrighted materials. Your support of the author's rights is appreciated.

  In loving memory of my mother

  ANNE S. ANTON EINSTEIN

  Like Rashi,

  A teacher of teachers

  Contents

  preface

  timeline

  prologue

  chapter one

  chapter two

  chapter three

  chapter four

  chapter five

  chapter six

  chapter seven

  chapter eight

  chapter nine

  chapter ten

  chapter eleven

  chapter twelve

  chapter thirteen

  chapter fourteen

  chapter fifteen

  chapter sixteen

  chapter seventeen

  chapter eighteen

  chapter nineteen

  chapter twenty

  chapter twenty-one

  chapter twenty-two

  chapter twenty-three

  chapter twenty-four

  chapter twenty-five

  chapter twenty-six

  chapter twenty-seven

  chapter twenty-eight

  afterword

  glossary

  preface

  AT THE BEGINNING OF most novels, you come across a statement that says something like, “All characters in this book are fictional and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.” In Rashi’s Daughters, however, most of the characters are actual persons, and I’ve made every effort to ensure that their fictional lives resemble reality as accurately as possible.

  To this end I have spent much of the last seven years poring over books and journal articles in English, French and Hebrew, as well as visiting Troyes and consulting with medieval and Jewish scholars. Naturally much of my attention centered on women, and I read everything I could find to document how my gender, so often neglected in historical studies, fared during the Middle Ages. I’m lucky that I had access to excellent libraries in the Los Angeles area, including the University of California, the University of Southern California, Hebrew Union College, the University of Judaism, and the Los Angeles and Glendale public libraries.

  Of course I must mention the subject that started me on the journey of writing this book—Talmud. I’m proud that over the years I’ve managed to study with so many wonderful female Talmud scholars: Rachel Adler, Judith Hauptman, Benay Lappe, Janet Sternfeld Davis, Dvora Weisberg. I am also deeply indebted to Rabbi Aaron J. Katz, my friend and study partner, without whose knowledge and encouragement this book would not exist.

  I want to thank my editor, Beth Lieberman, for help that went far beyond her job description. Last, but certainly not least, I offer my thanks and love to my husband, David, who listened patiently to countless stories about Rashi and his daughters, who read and critiqued countless drafts, always giving me excellent advice, and to my children, Emily and Ari, who for the most part cheerfully tolerated their mother’s obsession.

  timeline

  1020 (4780)

  Steel-rimmed plough, capable of making deep furrows in heavy soil, is now in general use in Northern Europe.

  1030

  Henry I becomes King of France.

  Rabbenu Gershom (Light of the Exile) dies in Mayence, Germany.

  1030–32

  Great famine occurs in France.

  1032

  Benedict IX becomes pope, reigns until 1045.

  1037

  Count Eudes II of Blois dies; his son Thibault inherits Blois, son Etienne becomes Count of Champagne.

  1040 (4800)

  Salomon ben Isaac (Rashi) is born in Troyes, France, on February 22.

  1047

  Count Etienne dies; his son Eudes III inherits Brie and Champagne. Eudes III opposes King Henry; Uncle Thibault is king’s loyal vassal.

  1050

  Invention of horseshoes enables horses to plow fields much more efficiently than oxen.

  1054

  Salomon goes to Mayence to study with Uncle Simon haZaken.

  Under Pope Leo IX, split develops between Byzantine/ eastern and Roman/western church.

  1057

  Salomon marries Rivka, goes to Worms to study under Jacob ben Yakar.

  1059

  King Henry consecrates son Philip as next king of France in Rheims; Count Eudes III does not attend.

  Joheved is born to Salomon and Rivka in Troyes.

  1060

  Philip I becomes king of France; Henry IV is emperor of Germany. Nicholas II is pope, Benedict X is antipope.

  1062

  Count Eudes III is found guilty of nobleman’s murder; Uncle Thibault takes over Champagne and forces Eudes to flee and take refuge with his cousin, Duke William of Normandy.

  Miriam is born to Salomon and Rivka in Troyes.

  1064

  Jacob ben Yakar of Worms dies; Salomon continues studies in Worms under Isaac ben Eliezer haLevi.

  1065

  Crusade to expel Moors from Spain begins.

  1066

  Salomon studies in Mayence with Isaac ben Judah. William (the Conqueror) becomes king of England.

  1068

  Salomon returns to Troyes.

  1069

  Rachel/Belle is born to Salomon and Rivka in Troyes.

  1070 (4830)

  Count Thibault marries second wife, Adelaide de Bar, a young widow. Salomon founds Yeshiva in Troyes.

  1071

  Count Thibault and Adelaide’s first son, Eudes IV, is born in Troyes. King Philip I marries Bertha.

  1073

  Hildebrand, a Cluniac monk, is elected Pope Gregory XII.

  1075

  Salomon’s teacher, Isaac haLevi, dies in Worms.

  Robert founds the monastic order of Molesme.

  Pope Gregory announces excommunication of married priests, suspends German bishops opposed to clerical celibacy and threatens to excommunicate King Philip.

  1076

  Thibault and Adelaide’s third son, Hugues, is born.

  Pope Gregory excommunicates German King Henry.

  Winter ’76–’77 is coldest in century.

  1077

  Drought occurs in Champagne.

  Pope Gregory appoints Rudolph as new king of Germany.

  1078

  Daughter Constance is born to King Philip I and Bertha.

  Civil war begins in Germany.

  1080

  Archbishop Manasse of Rheims is deposed by Pope Gregory, a blow to King Philip.

  King Henry of Germany appoints Clement III antipope.

  1081

  Prince Louis VI is born to King Philip and Bertha.

  1083

  King Henry attacks Rome; Pope Gregory flees.

  1084 (4844)

  Fire in Mayence is attributed to Jews; many move to Speyer.

  Count Etienne-Henry marries Adele, daughter of William the Conqueror.

  Normans expel Germans from Rome, then sack city.

  1085

  Pope Gregory dies in Salerno.

  1088

  Cardinal Otto is elected Pope Urban II.

  1089

  Epidemic occurs in Champagne, Count Thibault dies.

  Champagne goes to Eudes IV, Blois to Etienne-Henry.

  1092

  King Philip repudiates Queen Bertha to marry Bertrada, wife of Count Fulk of Anjou, enraging Pope Urban.

  1093

  Eudes IV dies; Thibault’s son, Hugues, becomes Count of Champagne.

  Count Erard of Brienne starts war with Hugues.

  1094

  Pope Urban excommunicates King Philip over Bertrada.

  Terrible drought in Champagne occurs that summer.

  1095

  Hugues marries Constance, daughter of King Philip.

  Spectacular meteor showers occur in April.

&n
bsp; 1096 (4856)

  Crusades start. Four major Jewish communities in Rhineland are attacked between Passover and Shavuot: May 3, Speye; May 18, Worms; May 27, Mayence; May 30, Cologne. Over 10,000 Jews die.

  Lunar eclipse occurs in early August.

  1097

  Jews converted during Crusades are permitted to return to Judaism.

  Comet is seen for seven nights in October.

  1098

  Robert of Molesme founds Citeaux Abbey and Cistercian Order.

  1099

  Crusaders take Jerusalem.

  1100

  Louis VI becomes king-elect of France.

  Paschal II is pope, Theodoric is antipope.

  Jews return to Mayence.

  Discovery of alcohol by distillation is made in Salerno medical school.

  1104

  Assassination attempt is made on Count Hugues.

  1105 (4865)

  Salomon ben Isaac dies on July 17.

  If the Christians educate their sons, they do so not for God, but for gain, in order that one brother, if he be a cleric, may help his father and mother and his other brothers…But the Jews, out of zeal for God and love of the law, put as many sons as they have to letters, that each may understand God’s law…and not only his sons, but his daughters.