Asenath Barzani, The first Jewish women in history to become a Rabbi

[Ghanbari]

I searched the forum but I couldn't find any longer post on the first women rabbi. So I thougt that I could Post these facts about her on this forum.

I would also like to know how the jews look at her?


Asenath Barzani, (1590-1670), was a renowned Jewish-Kurdish woman who lived in Mosul, Iraq. She was among the very first Jewish women in history to become a Rabbi. She was the daughter of the illustrious Rabbi Samuel Barzani. She belonged to the mystical school of Kabbalah.

The Life of Rabbi Asenath

Until the modern era, very few women were given the title of "Rabbi". But sometimes a woman’s wisdom and learning were so exceptional that this title was given to her. After Rabbi Barzani died, many Jews made pilgrimages to her grave in Amadiyah in Iraqi Kurdistan. Rabbi Asenath was the daughter of Rabbi Samuel Barzani, who headed many yeshivas during his lifetime, and whose authority in Kurdistan was absolute. He was a master of Kabbalah, and he was said to have taught the secrets of Kabbalah to his daughter,Asenath. His daughter adored her father, whom she regarded as a king of Israel. He was her primary teacher, and after his death she took over many of his duties. Not only did Asenath serve as a rabbi, but she became the head of the Yeshivah of Mosul, and eventually became known as the chief teacher of Torah in Kurdistan. In another source, it is said that, "Asenath Barzani in sixteenth-century Kurdistan supplicates the Torah sages of Amadiya so she can support the yeshiva her husband established in Mosul until her young son could take over"(see [1]).

A Flock of Angels

She was a poet and an expert on Jewish literature, and there are many Kurdish legends about the miracles she performed, such as the one described in “A Flock of Angels”. After Rabbi Samuel died, he often came to his daughter in dreams. He would reveal dangers to her and tell her how to ward them off, saving many lives. On one occasion, inspired by her father, she encouraged the Jews of Amadiyah to celebrate Rosh Hodesh outdoors, despite dangers from their enemies. As they proceeded with the celebration, there were shouts and they saw flames shoot up into the sky. The synagogue had been set on fire! Thank God, no one had been inside it. At that very moment, Rabbi Asenath whispered a secret name, one that she had learned from her father. The people saw a flock of angels descending to the roof of the synagogue. The angels beat the flames with their wings, until every last spark had been put out. Then they rose up into the heavens like a flock of white doves and were gone. And when the smoke cleared, they saw that another miracle had taken place: the synagogue had not burned. Nor was a single letter of any of the Torahs touched by the flames. And they were so grateful to Rabbi Asenath that they renamed the synagogue after her, and it is still standing to this day.

http://www.answers.com/main/ntquery;...2_1&sbid=lc07a

[andak01]

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[Theodikritis]

I searched the forum but I couldn't find any longer post on the first women rabbi. So I thougt that I could Post these facts about her on this forum.

I would also like to know how the jews look at her?


Asenath Barzani, (1590-1670), was a renowned Jewish-Kurdish woman who lived in Mosul, Iraq. She was among the very first Jewish women in history to become a Rabbi. She was the daughter of the illustrious Rabbi Samuel Barzani. She belonged to the mystical school of Kabbalah.

The Life of Rabbi Asenath

Until the modern era, very few women were given the title of "Rabbi". But sometimes a woman’s wisdom and learning were so exceptional that this title was given to her. After Rabbi Barzani died, many Jews made pilgrimages to her grave in Amadiyah in Iraqi Kurdistan. Rabbi Asenath was the daughter of Rabbi Samuel Barzani, who headed many yeshivas during his lifetime, and whose authority in Kurdistan was absolute. He was a master of Kabbalah, and he was said to have taught the secrets of Kabbalah to his daughter,Asenath. His daughter adored her father, whom she regarded as a king of Israel. He was her primary teacher, and after his death she took over many of his duties. Not only did Asenath serve as a rabbi, but she became the head of the Yeshivah of Mosul, and eventually became known as the chief teacher of Torah in Kurdistan. In another source, it is said that, "Asenath Barzani in sixteenth-century Kurdistan supplicates the Torah sages of Amadiya so she can support the yeshiva her husband established in Mosul until her young son could take over"(see [1]).

A Flock of Angels

She was a poet and an expert on Jewish literature, and there are many Kurdish legends about the miracles she performed, such as the one described in “A Flock of Angels”. After Rabbi Samuel died, he often came to his daughter in dreams. He would reveal dangers to her and tell her how to ward them off, saving many lives. On one occasion, inspired by her father, she encouraged the Jews of Amadiyah to celebrate Rosh Hodesh outdoors, despite dangers from their enemies. As they proceeded with the celebration, there were shouts and they saw flames shoot up into the sky. The synagogue had been set on fire! Thank God, no one had been inside it. At that very moment, Rabbi Asenath whispered a secret name, one that she had learned from her father. The people saw a flock of angels descending to the roof of the synagogue. The angels beat the flames with their wings, until every last spark had been put out. Then they rose up into the heavens like a flock of white doves and were gone. And when the smoke cleared, they saw that another miracle had taken place: the synagogue had not burned. Nor was a single letter of any of the Torahs touched by the flames. And they were so grateful to Rabbi Asenath that they renamed the synagogue after her, and it is still standing to this day.

http://www.answers.com/main/ntquery;...2_1&sbid=lc07a

Any relation to the current Barzani Family?

[Ghanbari]

Any relation to the current Barzani Family?

I don't really know but I think that they are from the same area in Kurdistan.

[Leah]

Does anything in the scriptures Torah, talmud, Mischna prohibit the appointment of females into Rabbinical rows? I.e. There was huge controversy over an American women wanting to become an Imam leading a mixed gender congretion to prayer. Death threats followed suit and muslim scholars seemed disgusted with the whole idea citing islamic reference against females in imamat.

So I was reading this topic and came to think of this in jewish context. Bearing in mind the different sects in Judaism I am looking for a more general overview. Could it be plausible that the school of Kaballah is more progressive on this issue and allows this. Is there anything in judaism which objects to this in any way no matter how small?

[Aviva]

Does anything in the scriptures Torah, talmud, Mischna prohibit the appointment of females into Rabbinical rows?

No. As far as I know, there's no halachic prohibition of a woman being a rabbi. In Reform, Liberal and Progessive Judaism there are lots of female rabbis. There are even one or two Orthodox women rabbis who have recently been ordained. There's one in Israel but I don't know what she plans to do with her ordination.

So it's just tradition that has prevented women from beoming Orthodox rabbis - not Jewish law.

So I was reading this topic and came to think of this in jewish context. Bearing in mind the different sects in Judaism I am looking for a more general overview. Could it be plausible that the school of Kaballah is more progressive on this issue and allows this. Is there anything in judaism which objects to this in any way no matter how small?

Kaballah isn't really a "sect" of Judaism - it's an approach mystical thought that comes from Judaism. It's directed at anyone, not just Jews.

[Cato]

Todays Barzani family are from the same area as Asenath Barzani, but they are not related, it is no uncommon practice for the last name to point to your city.