J2: Women

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Jewish Women Leaders through the Ages

Sarah

Prophetess, according to the midrash she had
stronger prophetic powers than her husband. She makes decisions which Abraham follows i.e. it is her suggestion that he should take Hagar as wife.

Batya

The daughter of the Pharaoh who oppressed the Jews. According to the Talmud she rejected the idol-worshipping practices of her Egyptian upbringing and on the day when she went down to the Nile and discovered the baby Moses she was actually converting to Judaism. She saved Moses and brought him up according to Jewish law and left Egypt with the people of Israel during the Exodus. She later married Caleb, the only person besides Joshua who had the courage to speak out against the ten doubting spies (see the Book of Numbers).

The Daughters of Zelaphchad

The book of Numbers tells the story and gives the names of these courageous women who challenged Moses over his interpretation of inheritance law and who ultimately won their case. As they had no brothers, the family would effectively lose the land belonging to their father on his death. Their legal argument with Moses secures them the land and their names and example are preserved in the Bible for all times.

Michal

The daughter of King Saul and the wife of King David, Michal saved her husband's life very courageously when her father tried to kill him. According to the Talmud (Yevamot) she was known to wear phylacteries (tefillin) the whole day, a commandment that women are exempt from doing.

Deborah

The Book of Judges tells the story of Deborah who was both a military leader and judge of Israel. She led the people of Israel to a victorious battle and also judged disputes and gave legal rulings. This learned and courageous woman was also a gifted poet.

Hannah

Becomes a model of prayer to all Jews. Answers the high-priest who assume that she is drunk with confidence and eloquence.

Judah the Prince's housekeeper

A learned woman, she made legal decision that were recorded in the Talmud. She once put a social ban on a father who hit his teenage son because she ruled that it was not an appropriate way to 'educate' a young person.

The Talmud in Ketubot also tells how she could not bear to see Rabbi Judah suffering as he lay dying and she realised that he was only kept alive by his students' constant prayers in the room downstairs. She decided to take action and went up to the roof, took a jar and threw it down to the ground. This made such a noise that the rabbis downstairs momentarily stopped their prayers and at this moment Rabbi Judah the Prince died.

Bruria

Daughter of one of the ten martyrs, Chanaiah ben Tradyon. Various Talmudic references talk of her brilliance, mentioning specifically that she was more gifted and knowledgeable than her brother. Married to Rabbi Meir, the leading Torah teacher of the day, Bruria herself taught prospective rabbis and yeshiva students and influenced Jewish Law in many ways.

Osnat Barazani

A 17th century Kurdish yeshivah head and communal leader who succeeded her husband as the chief teacher of Torah in Kurdistan and acted as rabbi of the community for many years.

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