Four Jewish Brides: A Novel

by Liora Ayalon

They were not given a choice. But they will make their own fate.

Sheindel is hardly more than a child when she is wed to Jacob Isaac, the Holy Jew of Peshischa. Just a girl, she helplessly tries to fill the shoes of her widowed husband’s late wife – her beloved sister Feigaleh.

Just a town away, Miriam is ecstatic on her wedding day to the other Jacob Isaac, the Seer of Lublin, only to be cast aside on her first night as a married woman. In his old age, the Seer marries young, beautiful, energetic Beilah, who never wanted to be a rabbi’s wife.

Four Jewish brides, sisters in fate if not in blood, embody the strong, silent Jewish women of the 19th century. Kept in the shadow of their righteous husbands, history has forgotten them. But these courageous women were no docile girls.

Four Jewish Brides reveals how the wives behind the great religious leaders pulled the strings, influencing political intrigue, entire communities, and the very fabric of Jewish life.

Genres: Historical Fiction

153 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 29, 2024

Reviews

[Linda Surritte · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interesting premise. Made up 'history' of the four wives of two historical men as told by one of the wives....

[Janet · Rating 2 out of 5]

Long and repetitive
I struggled getting through this book, I admit, and breathed a sigh of relief when I finally got to the end. I still don't know what the point was, and I don't care how well it was reviewed. I have to admit that although I began it with high hopes and expectations, in the end, I really didn't like it very much. I suggest that anyone contemplating reading it have a good knowledge of Jewish, and particularly of Hasidic, lore before starting it, or you will be hopelessly lost somewhere in the middle of it. I have a pretty good knowledge of both, even though I am not Jewish myself, and I got bogged down myself and barely managed to finish it. The beginning of each chapter was exactly the same. By the end, I asked myself what the point of the book was. I'm still wondering.

[Rita Hochstedler · Rating 1 out of 5]

Did not finish. It was bad and jumped around. Other reviews agreed. Moving on to something better. There are too many good books to waste time on a bad one.

[Píaras Cíonnaoíth · Rating 5 out of 5]

A well-crafted drama exploring courageous Jewish Women...

"Four Jewish Brides" by Liora Ayalon immerses readers in the enthralling chronicles of four extraordinary women, bound by the twists of fate and determined to carve their destinies in a world that frequently relegated them to the background.

Sheindel, scarcely more than a child, is thrust into matrimony with Jacob Isaac, revered as the Holy Jew of Peshischa. Confronted with the formidable challenge of filling the void left by her late sister Feigaleh, Sheindel grapples with the intricate interplay of love, loss, and the weighty burden of tradition.

In an adjacent town, Miriam's nuptials to the Seer of Lublin, Jacob Isaac, transform from bliss to disenchantment as she's abruptly set aside on her inaugural night as a married woman. The Seer, in the twilight of his years, opts for youth and beauty in Beilah, a woman unprepared for the role of a rabbi's wife.

Bound together by destiny, these four Jewish brides transcend the role of mere companions to their illustrious husbands. Ayalon's narrative meticulously unravels the sagas of these brave women who, despite the constraints of their virtuous husbands' shadows, were anything but submissive. They emerged as unsung heroines, deftly orchestrating events behind the scenes, etching an indelible legacy on political intrigue, communities, and the tapestry of Jewish life in the 19th century.

"Four Jewish Brides" stands as a poignant odyssey of resilience, influence, and the enduring fortitude of these women, relegated to the sidelines of history yet pivotal in shaping the narratives of their era. Ayalon, with adept skill, illuminates their stories, offering readers a glimpse into a realm where the silent strength of these brides reverberates across time. Highly recommended. I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this captivating novel.

[Vivian · Rating 4 out of 5]

On this book the author gives voice to the forgotten women in the hassidic world, specifically four wives of two prominent hassidic rabbis of the 19th century Europe. You see in that history only the names of the men and the male offsprings are recorded and the females are only mentioned as the source of a distraction or as a culprit for bad deeds.
The author decided to give voice to this forgotten women and tell their stories. Stories of resilience, bravery and love.
Even though I have knowledge of the hassidic world, this book at times is very complexed and dense especially when it deals with Jewish mysticism, I don't feel this book is one for every reader and not for someone who has no knowledge of this subject, mostly because the reader won't understand fully the complexities, interactions, actions and repercussions of this acts that are portrait in this book.

[Kelly Hudson · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was a complicated story and I feel it is complicated to review. The structure and writing style were not at all to my taste. One device was repetition at the beginning of many chapters. Another was POV shifting from the narrator and a ghost figure. Another was all the mysticism and miracles attributed to the rabbis. As an American Christian, I welcome deeper knowledge of Judaism in the present or past. I didn’t learn much from this book.

[Tanya · Rating 5 out of 5]

Follow four Jewish women as they get married and how their lives may change. Each one will take you on a different journey as they try to find the happiness they deserve. A wonderful and inspiring read
I received an advance copy from hidden gems and I want to review

[Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

A story of 4 Jewish brides in the Hasidic community around the turn of the last century, and how marriage affected them all. I fpund it fascinating that the Hasidic community believes in reincarnation and performss magic rites, esp. since Torah is. clear that magic, sorcery, witchcrart, and the occult are all forbidden practices, and the Bible says specifically that a human dies once, then is judged. This means, to me, that the claims of holiness of some of the Hasidic community are false, because the occult is Satanic, which means any miracles are done by Satan in response to magical spells and prayers to angels and spirits. So it was eye opening to me since I figured if this group studied Torah, Tanakh, prophecy, from the Old Testament, they would reject dealing with the occult and the Kabbala.

[Gail Atkins · Rating 3 out of 5]

I struggled to read this book. I was determined to finish it though. Unfortunately I can not really recall enough to write a review.

[Jessica Piggush · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is unlike anything I have read before. It follows four strong and resilient Jewish women and the author makes you feel as if you are there with them. I read this as an ARC