  | Osnat and her dove : the true story of the world's first female rabbi Author: Samuel, Sigal | |
| Price: $6.50 | ||
Summary:
Osnat Barzani, also known as Asnat or Asenath Barzani, the world's first female rabbi, was born almost five hundred years ago, during a time when few girls were allowed to read. Her father was a great scholar whose house was filled with books, and she convinced him to teach her. She grew up to teach others, becoming a wise and famous scholar in her own right.
| Illustrator: | Mintzi, Vali |
Reviews:
Kirkus Reviews (02/15/21)
School Library Journal (+) (00/01/21)
Booklist (02/01/21)
The Hornbook (00/03/21)
Full Text Reviews:
School Library Journal - 01/01/2021 Gr 2–4—This loose biography relates the little known story of the first female rabbi, Osnat Barzani, a Kurdish Jew whose knowledge of the Torah and leadership of a yeshiva in ancient Iraq broke gender barriers. In language reminiscent of a fairy tale, a child named Osnat is born in 1590—"almost five hundred years ago, when almost everyone believed in miracles." Born into a family with no sons, and surrounded by books, she convinces her father, a rabbi in the yeshiva, to teach her to read. As Osnat (and her knowledge and reputation) grows, her father intervenes to arrange a marriage conducive to her continued study of Hebrew scriptures. After her father and husband die, Osnat receives a vision in a dream from her father to assume leadership of the yeshiva. Legends of Osnat, such as her healing of her pet dove and of the sick, as well as a supernatural intervention during a fire at a synagogue, are included. There is an author's note, and while there is no glossary, words such as davul and kubbah are clearly understood in context. Gouache illustrations with mostly full-page backgrounds of blue, red and gold depict Osnat's tale, and include religious symbols such as a dove (denoting peace) and the number seven (considered a perfect number in Judaism). VERDICT A vibrant life story, with imagined conversations and brilliant illustrations, that will find a home in every collection.—Ramarie Beaver, formerly at Plano P.L., TX - Copyright 2021 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.
Booklist - 02/01/2021 Born in Mosul over 400 years ago, Osnat Barzani's supportive rabbi father taught her to read Hebrew and she spent her childhood studying Torah, Talmud, Midrash, and Kabbalah. She agreed to marry her husband, Jacob, only after he promised to allow her to continue her sacred studies. Following the deaths of her father and husband, Osnat became the head of the Mosul yeshiva, a rarity for women of that time. Samuel's account of Osnat is spare on personal details, instead focusing on the lore that surrounds her: heeding advice from her deceased father, who appeared to her in dreams; healing her injured pet dove; and saving a temple from fire with the aid of doves. Mintzi's vibrant illustrations feature colorful sixteenth-century costumes and setting details and depict many textile patterns. Red and blue hues predominate, accented in purple and gold shades. Particularly creative is the spread depicting Hebrew letters morphed into animals and plants. Perfect for religious collections and libraries with high demand for Judaica. - Copyright 2021 Booklist.
