Apprentice

A PLUME BOOK

RAV HISDA'S DAUGHTER

BOOK I: APPRENTICE

MAGGIE ANTON
was born Margaret Antonofsky in Los Angeles, California, where she still resides. Raised in a secular, socialist household, she reached adulthood with little knowledge of her Jewish religion. All that changed when David Parkhurst, who was to become her husband, entered her life, and they both discovered Judaism as adults. That was the start of a lifetime of Jewish education, synagogue involvement, and ritual observance. This was in addition to raising their children, Emily and Ari, and working full-time as a clinical chemist.

In 1992 Anton learned about a women's Talmud class taught by Rachel Adler, now a professor at Hebrew Union College in Los Angeles. To her surprise, she fell in love with Talmud, a passion that has continued unabated for twenty years. Intrigued that the great Talmudic scholar Rashi had no sons, only daughters, Anton researched the family and decided to write novels about them. Thus the award-winning trilogy, Rashi's Daughters, was born.

Still studying women and Talmud, Anton has lectured all over North America and Israel about the history behind her novels. You can follow her blog and contact her at her Web site,
www.maggieanton.com
.

Praise for
Rav Hisda's Daughter

“This is more than a touching story of love and loss, a journey of an independent-minded woman, or a tale of magic and witchcraft. Anton's imagination takes you into the lives of our Talmudic Sages—as young students and venerated teachers, shy fiancés and strong husbands, devoted sons and caring fathers. She also fills in the blank spaces for us—the rich and important lives of women and girls of those times. Researching her material well, Anton recreates Talmudic times, both the day-to-day ordinary existence and life fraught with danger and destruction, yet surviving to bring us Jewish law and wisdom unto this very day.”

—Blu Greenberg, Founding President of JOFA, the Jewish Orthodox Feminist Alliance; and author of
On Women and Judaism: A View from Tradition

“This book is a truly wonderful endeavor to bring the Talmud, the second Jewish Scripture, particularly its Babylonian branch, to life for the reader, and makes it possible for her to come to terms with one serious and holistic attempt to interpret how it presents itself. If you are intrigued by what Judaism is, how it presents itself, and how it came to be what it is today; and if, at the same time, you are a fan of Jane Austen's
Pride and Prejudice
, this is the book for you. There is little doubt that if you are patient enough, you will discover behind the unpronounceable Persian names and exotic setting on the Euphrates River both Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy.”

—Tal Ilan, Professor of Jewish Studies at the Freie Universität Berlin, author of
A Feminist Commentary on the Babylonian Talmud

“Maggie Anton has written an imaginative and meticulously researched story, compelling and rich both intellectually and emotionally.”

—Rachel Adler, Professor of Jewish Religious Thought and Feminist Studies at HUC-JIR (Hebrew Union College–Jewish Institute of Religion) in Los Angeles, author of
Engendering Judaism: An Inclusive Theology and Ethics

“Maggie Anton invites us to imagine the world behind the Talmud. She populates that world with engaging characters and interesting situations. Her work also introduces readers to the history and culture of Jews in Late Antiquity. Finally, Anton reminds us that women, whose voices are largely ignored in the Talmud, were part of the vibrant world that produced the greatest text of classical Judaism.”

—Rabbi Dvora E. Weisberg, PhD, Director of the School of Rabbinic Studies, Hebrew Union College–Jewish Institute of Religion

“Maggie Anton's extensive research into rabbinic and other contemporaneous materials is evident throughout this novel. She skillfully weaves together multiple Talmudic sources to create a vivid picture of what life might have been like for the daughter of a prominent rabbinic family in Sasanian Babylonia and Roman Palestine in the late third century
CE
, wrapped in a story of love, loss, and a young woman's quest to find her purpose and place in an androcentric world.”

—Gail Labovitz, Associate Professor of Rabbinics for the Ziegler School of Rabbinic Studies, American Jewish University; author of
Marriage and Metaphor: Constructions of Gender in Rabbinic Literature

Praise for the Rashi's Daughters Trilogy

“
Miriam
is well-researched and absolutely intriguing to read…what a wonderful story this is!”

—Rabbi Elliot N. Dorff, Rector and Distinguished Professor of Philosophy, American Jewish University, Los Angeles

“
Miriam
gives us a fascinating glimpse into the world of Jewish women long ago. A wonderful read!”

—Rabbi Elyse Goldstein, author of
ReVisions: Seeing Torah Through a Feminist Lens

“Once again, Maggie Anton has delighted us with an engrossing story of the family and the circle of students around Rashi, the medieval commentator on the Bible and Talmud.
Miriam
is a unique historical novel that acquaints the readers with a variety of distinctive men and women who reflect upon and struggle with the powerful forces within and outside of them.”

—Jody Myers, Professor of the Department of Religious Studies, Coordinator of the Jewish Studies Program, California State University, Northridge

“No one who reads [
Rashi's Daughters, Book I
] will ever read Rashi's writings in the same way.”

—Dr. Neil Gillman, Professor of Jewish Philosophy, Jewish Theological Seminary of America; and author of
Sacred Fragments: Recovering Theology for the Modern Jew

“Impressive…Rashi and his entire community spring to life in this intriguing novel.”

—Rabbi Laura Geller, Senior Rabbi, Temple Emanuel, Beverly Hills

BOOK I: APPRENTICE

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•   A NOVEL OF LOVE, THE TALMUD, AND SORCERY   •

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MAGGIE ANTON

A PLUME BOOK