Asenath Barzani, from the Iraqi Kurdistan region, was the first known woman rabbi in Jewish history. Born in 1590, she was the daughter of the eminent Rabbi Shmuel b. Netanel Ha-Levi of Kurdistan. Her father, a scholar and mystic with a large following, aimed to rectify the plight of his brethren, namely, the dearth of educated leaders. He built a yeshiva in Mosul where he hoped to train young men who would become community leaders and scholars. Since he had no sons, he trained his daughter to be a learned scholar of the highest order.
After Asenath’s father died, her husband technically became the head of the Yeshiva, but in fact it was Asenath who taught the students who had come for rabbinic training. But she also wrote poetry in Hebrew and was famous for it. Today we’ll spotlight some of her poetry.
Music:
Kurdit by Reuven Yamin
What a great idea to have your daughter open the podcast. She is following in her teacher’s footsteps as did Asenath…
Great read
Loved the background music
Thanks so much, Joanie!
Asenath Barzani was my relative. My Grandmother’s family fled Spain and settled in Iraq living amongst the Kurds, in Kurdistan. From there they migrated to Palestine in Haifa which is now Jerusalem. My Grandmother’s Nephew was Moshe Barazini and was a hero and died defending Jews. He is buried in the cemetery of heroes. Began wrote in his will that he be buried next to Moshe Barazini.