Jewish Book Reactions: “The Madwoman in the Rabbi’s Attic”

Shalom friends! Welcome back to #JewishBookReactions! In which I talk about Gila Fine’s INCREDIBLE book “The Madwoman in the Rabbi’s Attic: Rereading the Women of the Talmud” and offer my own (OBVIOUSLY unprintable, but HIGHLY enthusiastic) blurb! Shout out to @pardesinstituteofJewishStudies @korenpublishers for this excellent #Jewish book. #Talmud #Jewishwomen #DafYomi

[@brookechang4942]

This sounds like a fascinating book-one might even call it a Fine work! I also so, so appreciate the "tho(ugh)t" pun. 😂

[@MiriamAnzovin]

THANK YOU for appreciating that joke! I just…thot of it. 😂 and yes I resisted the urge to make a Fine joke! I wish I could have tagged her but can’t find her on social. She’s prob too wise to be out here in these social media streets

[@brookechang4942]

@@MiriamAnzovin "thot of it"! Oh, you! 🤣

[@magician531]

Oooh. This sounds great. Im recommending it to my book club now. This sounds like our jam.

[@MiriamAnzovin]

Yesssss I bet it is EXACTLY the jam for you!

[@davidlasoff8261]

Miriam, I am a 65 year old man, a Jew, an Israeli since making a far too late Aliyah in 2012. I can't stomach listening to sanctimonious bearded penguins who think they're rabbis or worse, actually are. But you? My goodness, a fucking breath of fresh air and if you ask me, Judaism could use a lot more women explicating Talmud. I really look forward to hearing your take. Something huge resonates. So, thanks! ❤❤❤

[@MiriamAnzovin]

Thank you for this comment - I entirely agree that the more different voices we have in Talmud learning, the better! All my favorite Talmud teachers are women, and I think Judaism is better off when all of us - not just SOME of us with beards - have a way to be heard!

[@bobbergerson5401]

Good evening most awesome 1

[@tomgarven]

Best kind of review. Your excitement about this book is infectious.

[@MiriamAnzovin]

I really did stay up until 2 am! It was that good!

[@tomgarven]

@@MiriamAnzovin I'll be honest. I kind of like that feeling. When you realize it is more worth it to just keep reading and sleep be damned.

[@bobbergerson5401]

It amazes me how much power jewish women had back then

[@MrDesoto33]

She's too beautiful!!

[@allisons.1155]

I need a book allowance so badly 😭 This seems amazing, and I'm putting it on my list. I always appreciate your book reviews and reactions! Thank you!

[@MiriamAnzovin]

I hope you can get it! It’s really good! Someone on tiktok said they got sent 4 by accident. I wonder if I can set up a book exchange…

[@allisons.1155]

@@MiriamAnzovin I would cry with joy. The struggle is real when on SSDI.

[@MiriamAnzovin]

I wanted to circle back to this because alas that person did not have some to spare after all 😭 I am so sorry!!! I want you to have this book! I’ll keep thinking

[@allisons.1155]

@@MiriamAnzovin thank you so much for thinking of me. It's on my list. It will take a while, but it's there! I appreciate you!

[@antburman]

Thank you! That was fascinating.

[@MiriamAnzovin]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@danafriedman]

Fabulous review and summary. Thank You! I've recommended this to the Rov of my shul, and will get my own copy.

[@MiriamAnzovin]

I know you are gonna love it. I didn't even talk much about the other chapters, but they are ALSO GREAT!!!

[@jdm314]

This sounds great, thank you.

[@abilevitt3334]

Yayyyy for what you get when women study and teach Talmud! ❤❤❤❤❤

[@MiriamAnzovin]

That's right!!!

[@FrumiousBandersnatch42]

Sounds really cool. Gonna order it now.

[@MiriamAnzovin]

yay!!!!

[@bobbergerson5401]

Hahahaha u r the best

[@trans-forming]

Is this a book that would be comprehensible to a group of adult Jews who have not previously studied Talmud? I'm thinking if recommending it for a book club selection in our small rural Jewish community where the religious education levels range from "has learned some prayers by rote" through to "total Talmud nerd"

[@MiriamAnzovin]

I think you could do it, as she has an excellent introduction with clearly laid out descriptions of the Talmud and it's component parts, it's timeline, purpose, etc so it provides the kind of baseline info you'd need to grasp the stories in the book even if one hasn't done a ton or any Talmud before :-) I think it's good for both the newbies and the talmud nerds!

[@cindywright4591]

Got to get the book….

[@MiriamAnzovin]

I think you won’t regret it! I feel a lot smarter already!

[@alanrosenthal6958]

All *6* of them? What about Queen Helena who had to be a nezirah for 21 years instead of just 7? Also, that Rashi on Beruriah has three explanations of the incident, and if I recall correctly, the other two aren't misogynistic.

[@matthewosterman4671]

An important thing to add, as someone who has been her student, is she also considers these women the protagonists of their own story.

[@MiriamAnzovin]

Exactly, this is the caveat she provides in the introduction when she talks about how she selected the stories and why!

[@MiriamAnzovin]

Just one rotten Rashi is enough to have decimated her character backwards through time, alas

[@claralowen]

that was healing even just listening to you share the tip of the iceberg! like refreshing icecubes for a wanderer in the scorching hot desert🏜

[@MiriamAnzovin]

amen!!