This volume; an amazing act of historical recovery and reconstruction; offers a comprehensive examination of Jewish women in Europe during the High Middle Ages (1000–1300). Avraham Grossman covers multiple aspects of women’s lives in medieval Jewish society; including the image of woman; the structure of the family unit; age at marriage; position in family and society; her place in economic and religious life; her education; her role in family ceremonies; violence against women; and the position of the divorcée and the widow in society. Grossman shows that the High Middle Ages saw a distinct improvement in the status of Jewish women in Europe relative to their status during the Talmudic period and in Muslim countries. If; during the twelfth century; rabbis applauded women as "pious and pure" because of their major role in the martyrdom of the Crusades of 1096; then by the end of the thirteenth century; rabbis complained that women were becoming bold and rebellious. Two main factors fostered this change: first; the transformation of Jewish society from agrarian to "bourgeois;" with women performing an increasingly important function in the family economy; and second; the openness toward women in Christian Europe; where women were not subjected to strict limitations based upon conceptions of modesty; as was the case in Muslim countries. The heart of Grossman’s book concerns the improvement of Jewish women’s lot; and the efforts of secular and religious authorities to impede their new-found status.Bringing together a variety of sources including halakhic literature; biblical and talmudic exegesis; ethical literature and philosophy; love songs; folklore and popular literature; gravestones; and drawings; Grossman’s book reconstructs the hitherto unrecorded lives of Jewish women during the Middle Ages.
#100164 in Books 2007-06-27Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 8.50 x .60 x 5.50l; .63 #File Name: 1581349327240 pages
Review
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Thank YouBy Ronnie NicholsA couple of years ago I plowed through Edwards' Religious Affections and what greatly edified and encouraged by his words. It is frustrating to know that such a work is available to believers and because of the writers complex style many will never benefit from this treasure.Thank you Dr. Storms for this labor of love. What a wonderful gesture of putting the cookies where the kids can reach them. Signs of the Spirit is a should read for anyone struggling in a world of post modern evangelicalism and the empty life of man centered worship.Spot on!0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Phenomenal book!By CustomerI picked this book up for a class and was surprised by how deeply impacted I was by it. Sam Storms navigates through the Religious Affections of Jonathan Edwards in a wonderful; informative and comprehensive way. He is able to explain to the reader the depth of what Jonathan Edwards was trying to convey while also letting Jonathan Edwards speak for himself. This book was extremely impactful and I plan on rereading it. It's dense; and there's a lot in one page; but it is all worth it! I would definitely recommend this book.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Pretty good bookBy Hannah FelkelI liked his book because it helped me understand Jonathan Edwards and the time he lived in. The author also related what Jonathan Edwards said to today's time which is interesting. It's hard to understand the old English sometimes but Storms explains it well!
