The Rabbi’s Wife, The Bishop’s Wife

by David Jacobson, Chayuta Deutsch

The moving story of Joana Halevi – one brave woman who was willing to give up the most precious things in her life to maintain her faith.

Spain, 1391. Joana, wife of Shlomo Halevi, the Rabbi of Burgos, mother of five, and daughter of a wealthy and respectable family, is living a comfortable, carefree life. Until her world is shattered without warning one summer day.

While her husband Shlomo, now Pablo de Santamaria, joins the Catholic church and takes their family with him, Joana struggles with the unrelenting yearning for her children. Will her soul find relief? Will her children return to her side?

Jerusalem, 2020. Ruth is struggling with personal conflicts when the Covid-19 pandemic shakes her world, adding loneliness and isolation to her struggle. With her new online friend, she embarks on a voyage that will set Joana Halevi’s memory free from oblivion.

Based on the true story of Joana Halevi, The Rabbi’s Wife, the Bishop’s Wife addresses human behavior and condition: true and false alliances, betrayal and loyalty, destruction and redemption.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Jewish, Audiobook, Historical

306 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 29, 2021

Reviews

[Lauri · Rating 2 out of 5]

I did not finish this book, although I tried. It was one of the worst written books I have ever read. The author could not seem to make up her mind on whether she wanted to write a non-fiction book about Jews in Spain and Portugal in the 15th century or a non-fiction book about writing a historical novel or a historical novel about Jews in Spain during the 15th century or a contemporary novel about people who are caregiving for disabled family members while trying to write a historical novel. All of this appeared in this book. There were long passages of information regarding the history that were then repeated almost word for word in the fictional story. By constantly interrupting with conversations between the contemporaries or providing historical information, the novel loss any sense of continuity or emotion. If you want to read an excellent historical novel, read “The Good Wife of Bath “.

[Debbie Rubenstein · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Mixed Bag

While the book could benefit from more editing, it tells an important story for Spanish Jewish history. The main characters were real people although the main character's life had to be pieced together from records about family members remembered in history. It is a sad yet fascinating story.

[Judith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Despite the numerous proofreading errors, which greatly distracted me from the story, I still gave this 5 stars because this novel is a much better look into the period of the history of the Jews in Spain during the 1300a than anything I learned in school when the Spanish Inquisition was briefly studied.

[Marcie · Rating 4 out of 5]

p.8 "Reality is a huge warehouse full of pain," my father used to say. "There are three options, my child," he would tell me. "You can get lost in the darkness and find nothing, just remain inside and rot. You can carve your own way out to the light and air outside, by getting hurt and suffering wounds along the way -- walking into sharp edges -- while trying to get out of the warehouse into other, better places. But there is a third option: To lift yourself up and see the whole picture -- to realize that there are no warehouses and no doors -- by finding the high point of leverage from which to view the pain in the context of the wider reality"


p. 22 - "It was clear to me that the wealth provides safety...

[Carol · Rating 2 out of 5]

I prefer books without dual timelines. I enjoyed Joana's story & the history of the Jews in Spain, as not much is written on their plight. Knowing that it was based on actual person was a plus for sure. However the back & forth between her story & the present day Ruth was too distracting. It was mildly interested regarding the research involved in writing a historical novel, but I felt it was too much in the present & not enough of the historical characters.

[Catlady · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love historical novels, this one is amazing! Go back to 1376, to the Jewish communities in Barcelona and learn of the pogroms of 1391. Follow the story of Joana who becomes the wife of a Rabbi as he converts to Catholicism. Part of Jewish history I had never heard of. I fell in love with Joana’s story and hardships she lived through.
You also follow Ruth’s story as she writes the story during the lockdowns of 2020. I found it to be a remarkable tale.

[Megan Doyle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this book. The 2 timelines tied together very well. I learned a lot about the post plague years after 1490s, and how it effected both Jews and Christians. Especially the Jewish population. I learned a lot of information about this turbulent time in history. Both informative and entertaining.

[mary allen · Rating 5 out of 5]

A history of one brave woman

I thoroughly enjoyed this book about the Jewish and Christian community and the way they have developed over time. One courageous woman, Johanna, lived through the conversion of her Rabbi husband to Christianity and the conversion of their children by their father, while she remained true to her Jewish roots.

[Denise Kruse · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting stories, histories— probably most enjoyed by Jewish readers due to the religious slant. I enjoyed reading the history even if the characters seem a little one-dimensional. Writing that is repetitive and has grammatical errors, such as “whomever” repeatedly used as the subject of sentences (chalk on the blackboard for me…editor?).

[Donn T · Rating 5 out of 5]

the pain of a divided family over one’s faith

Pain is real when one changes deep faith convictions especially when it may turn a family away from one another or is not openly discussed!

[Leon A Bubis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mind blowing!

Amazing story, wonderful writing. I loved how the author juxtaposed the modern day story with the historical one.

Anyone who is interested in Jewish history should read this book.

[Neva · Rating 5 out of 5]

history made into a novel

I thoroughly enjoyed this book….I only wish it had been longer (as I do all enjoyable books!) Two stories in one, left me desiring to study more of this family.

[Vicky · Rating 5 out of 5]

great Historical Nivel

This book was very interesting and informative. The parallel stories kept the interest forward and carried the very interesting history of Jews in Spain during this era.

[diane watkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

powerful insight

This really made me think about how religion twists with politics thru the ages and how the constant diaspora of the Jews was dictated by this.
I enjoyed it immensely.couldn’t wait to get back to reading it

[Yifat Cestare · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would to love to give this book 5 stars, but the amount of typos is extremely distracting. The story was great but I don’t usually enjoy books that jump timelines. The story itself was very interesting and I I would love to read more about that time historically.

[Carol Thurber · Rating 3 out of 5]

Slog through History

The authors have taken the tragic story of the Jews in fourteenth century Spain and confusingly framed it the saga of the covid epidemic. Loved the story, hated the writing.

[Vanessa Ehrlich · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed listening to this book which is a fictionalized version of Rabbi Shlomo HaLevi's life. He went from chief rabbi to Arch Bishop. There is a back and forth from Covid times to the 12th Century. Good storytelling.

[David Cohen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Entirely plausible, and will thought out. This was a collaborative write, so some of this may have been authors' miscommunication, or translator error, but could have flowed better. Great character development and well researched!

[Hagit Ben Hur · Rating 5 out of 5]

ספר נפלא ומרגש עד דמעות❤️

[Lyrical · Rating 2 out of 5]

A disjointed mess with multiple stories going on along with conversations past and present all at the same time. I could not get into it.

[Leorah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enlightening

This novel was recommended to me by a childhood friend. I took a detour from my usual reading: sci-fi, fantasy, and mystery.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this work.

[Grady · Rating 5 out of 5]

‘Joana was aware that her parents were still living in the shadow of the Great Plague…’

Israeli co-authors Dr. David Jacobson and Dr. Chayuta Deutsch have teamed to bring significant history to the forefront as well and creating a fine comparison to the present. David earned his degrees in Economics History, Mechanical Engineering and Finance form Hebrew University and Ben Gurion University and has served as a mechanical engineer in high-tech industries, an investment banker, a diplomat, a lecturer, an educator, and a researcher at multiple universities. Chayuta earned her degree from Bar Ilan University and serves as an editor of books and a lecturer on cinema and legends. Both authors have previously published books.

As warmly interesting as their book on the life of Joana Halevi is, the story of its initiation adds flavor. From Chayuta - ‘Joana knocked on my door shortly before the global Covid-19 pandemic morphed from a distant rumor into a painful reality. She did not do it alone, of course. The person who brought her to me was my neighbor, Dr. David Jacobson, who had carried her story within him for a long time and was looking for someone to tell it… A few days later, the Covid-19 epidemic broke out and with it came lockdowns, social distancing...It was a sign for the beginning of a joint journey of learning, writing, and following a special woman who lived hundreds of years ago, in a world that seems very distant from our time. When David made his offer we did not yet know that, like Joana's parents and their contemporaries in medieval Spain, we too would shortly know what a plague is, and like Joana herself - we would encounter the loneliness of one who is forbidden to meet loved ones. Thus Ruth was born, whose story combines life in the time of the Covid-19 epidemic together with her attempts to trace Joana's story, just like our own attempts. There was so much that we had to reveal and discover - historical and geographical facts, atmosphere and lifestyles, ways of dressing, behaving, and thinking…’

With that rather extraordinary inception, this excellent story, spanning the years 1376 to 2020 unfolds as follows: ‘Spain, 1391. Joana, wife of Shlomo Halevi, the Rabbi of Burgos, mother of five, and daughter of a wealthy and respectable family, is living a comfortable, carefree life. Until her world is shattered without warning one summer day. While her husband Shlomo, now Pablo de Santamaria, joins the Catholic Church and takes their family with him, Joana struggles with the unrelenting yearning for her children. Will her soul find relief? Will her children return to her side? Jerusalem, 2020. Ruth is struggling with personal conflicts when the Covid-19 pandemic shakes her world, adding loneliness and isolation to her struggle. With her new online friend, she embarks on a voyage that will set Joana Halevi’s memory free from oblivion.’

While the content is a biography of an historic figure, the book reads like a novel – rich in atmosphere, characterizations, and drama/romance. The melding of two authors has rarely been so successful as in this superb book. Very highly recommended.