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The Fruit of Her Hands: The Story of Shira of Ashkenaz
Based on the life of the author’s thirteenth-century ancestor, Meir ben Baruch of Rothenberg, a renowed Jewish scholar of medieval Europe, this is the richly dramatic fictional story of Rabbi Meir’s wife, Shira, a devout but rebellious woman who preserves her religious traditions as she and her family witness the rise of anti-Semitism in Europe.
Raised by her widowed rabbi father and a Christian nursemaid in Normandy, Shira is a free-spirited, inquisitive girl whose love of learning shocks the community. When Shira’s father is arrested by the local baron intent on enforcing the Catholic Church’s strictures against heresy, Shira fights for his release and encounters two men who will influence her life profoundly—an inspiring Catholic priest and Meir ben Baruch, a brilliant scholar. In Meir, Shira finds her soulmate.
Married to Meir in Paris, Shira blossoms as a wife and mother, savoring the intellectual and social challenges that come with being the wife of a prominent scholar. After witnessing the burning of every copy of the Talmud in Paris, Shira and her family seek refuge in Germany. Yet even there they experience bloody pogroms and intensifying anti-Semitism. With no safe place for Jews in Europe, they set out for Israel only to see Meir captured and imprisoned by Rudolph I of Hapsburg. As Shira weathers heartbreak and works to find a middle ground between two warring religions, she shows her children and grandchildren how to embrace the joys of life, both secular and religious.
A multi-generational novel that vividly brings to life a period rarely covered in historical fiction.
Raised by her widowed rabbi father and a Christian nursemaid in Normandy, Shira is a free-spirited, inquisitive girl whose love of learning shocks the community. When Shira’s father is arrested by the local baron intent on enforcing the Catholic Church’s strictures against heresy, Shira fights for his release and encounters two men who will influence her life profoundly—an inspiring Catholic priest and Meir ben Baruch, a brilliant scholar. In Meir, Shira finds her soulmate.
Married to Meir in Paris, Shira blossoms as a wife and mother, savoring the intellectual and social challenges that come with being the wife of a prominent scholar. After witnessing the burning of every copy of the Talmud in Paris, Shira and her family seek refuge in Germany. Yet even there they experience bloody pogroms and intensifying anti-Semitism. With no safe place for Jews in Europe, they set out for Israel only to see Meir captured and imprisoned by Rudolph I of Hapsburg. As Shira weathers heartbreak and works to find a middle ground between two warring religions, she shows her children and grandchildren how to embrace the joys of life, both secular and religious.
A multi-generational novel that vividly brings to life a period rarely covered in historical fiction.
448 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2009
18 people are currently reading
1104 people want to read
About the author
Michelle Cameron
12 books99 followersMichelle Cameron’s Babylon: a novel of Jewish Captivity (Wicked Son, 2023), is the epic saga of a Judean family exiled to Babylon. Beyond the Ghetto Gates, which was awarded a Silver Medal in Historical Fiction by the Independent Book Publishers, won First Place/Best of Category in the Chanticleer Goethe Awards and was a Foreword Indies finalist (She Writes Press, 2020), describes the effect on the lives of Italian Jews and Catholics when Napoleon demolishes Italy’s ghetto gates. The Fruit of Her Hands: the story of Shira of Ashkenaz, (Simon & Schuster’s Pocket Books, 2009), is based on the author’s 13th-century rabbi ancestor. Michelle’s novel-in-verse, In the Shadow of the Globe (Lit Pot Press, 2003), a fictionalized account of William Shakespeare and the Globe Theatre, was named Shakespeare Theatre of NJ’s 2003-4 Winter Book Selection and performed at the Stella Adler Studio’s Shakespeare Benefit.
A director of The Writers Circle, Michelle teaches creative writing to children, teens, and adults in NJ and virtually. Residing with her husband in Chatham, NJ, Michelle has two grown sons of whom she is inordinately proud.
A director of The Writers Circle, Michelle teaches creative writing to children, teens, and adults in NJ and virtually. Residing with her husband in Chatham, NJ, Michelle has two grown sons of whom she is inordinately proud.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 62 reviews
November 22, 2014
Why did I decide to read this book? It's about a medieval woman who studied Talmud and married a very prominent Rabbi. I have read Maggie Anton's books about Rav Hisda's daughter, and I'm interested in reading about other Jewish women who were scholars. Unlike Rav Hisda's daughter, who is mentioned in the Talmud, the protagonist of this novel is fictional.
The description of this book says that the protagonist, Shira, was rebellious. Shira's father, a Rabbi in Falaise, France, had allowed Shira to study in the same classroom as his own students when she was a small child. She never assumed that she would be limited to the domestic sphere when she married. Considering how repressive her husband was toward women in general in his official pronouncements, modern readers might not think she was rebellious enough. Although her relationship with her husband, Meir, had its stormy periods, she evidently loved him and was notably loyal to him even when she didn't agree with his opinions. She tried to do what was expected of her as a Rabbi's wife. As such, she played a supportive role in his life.
As students of medieval history know, the situation for Jews in medieval Europe continuously declined. Shira and her husband had to deal with all the terrible manifestations of Christian persecution. If there was any peace and joy to be had in Shira's life, it was temporary. I was impressed by Shira's ability to persevere and recover from every horrible trauma that she and her community endured. Shira may not have been a feminist in our terms, but she was a strong woman. I am here today because there were women like Shira who sustained their families, and picked themselves up after every disaster.
For the blog version of my review see
http://shomeretmasked.blogspot.com/20...
September 5, 2018
Shira of Ashkenaz is a fictional character. She tells the story of a famous Rabbi Meir ben Baruch of 13th century, “who spent his youth traveling the area of Europe known as Ashkenaz (France/Germany). He settled in Rothenberg, founded a Jewish seminary, and became known throughout Europe for the wisdom of his responsa, letters written in response to Talmudic questions.”
Shira is a daughter of a rabbi, smart and eager to learn the Talmud, Jewish writings. At the age of 19, she is betrothed to one of her father’s students, Meir ben Baruch. As his reputation as a great scholar grows, his family expends as well. When every copy of the Talmud in Paris is confiscated and burned, they seek refuge in Germany.
Overall, this is an interesting story and well-written. However, sometimes the story is more of being told through words rather than being expressed through action. Nevertheless, it is rich in Jewish cultural traditions, making it an interesting read.
@FB: Best Historical Fiction
Shira is a daughter of a rabbi, smart and eager to learn the Talmud, Jewish writings. At the age of 19, she is betrothed to one of her father’s students, Meir ben Baruch. As his reputation as a great scholar grows, his family expends as well. When every copy of the Talmud in Paris is confiscated and burned, they seek refuge in Germany.
Overall, this is an interesting story and well-written. However, sometimes the story is more of being told through words rather than being expressed through action. Nevertheless, it is rich in Jewish cultural traditions, making it an interesting read.
@FB: Best Historical Fiction
October 19, 2010
I have encountered few novels that deal wholly with Jewish life in the Middle Ages. Thus, I was delighted to discover this novel, as it combines several areas of interest for me - Jewish history, the middle ages, and more generally, medieval Jewish culture. Because of this dearth of similar novels (I haven't seen too many others set at this time, other than the Rashi's daughters series) I think the book tries to do too much - tell the story of one man and his wife as well as the story of the entire Jewish community of Europe in thirteenth century Europe.
The Fruit of Her Hands begins with the story of the fictional Shira of Ashkenaz, the wife of the great Jewish scholar, Rabbi Meir ben Baruch, ancestor to the author of the novel. The novel begins in Normandy, in the town of Falaise with Shira as a young girl living with her widower father, a great Rabbi. Shira studies in her father's yeshiva, an unconventional role for a girl. While at her father's yeshiva, Shira becomes swept into a debate enrapturing her community regarding the validity of Maimonedes' view that the Torah, and not the Talmud, should be the center of Jewish study by a fiery pupil named Nicholas Donin. Donin is eventually expelled from the Jewish community and Shira reencounters him in Paris, where she is living as the wife of Meir ben Baruch. Donin becomes a Franciscan monk and uses his role in the church to revenge himself on the Jews who rejected him. Ultimately, Shira's family settles in Germany where they find some peace - but not for long. The novel recounts over and over the blood myth (that Jews use the blood of Christian children to make matzoh and engage in ritual murder of Christian children). The focus becomes one of Christian-Jewish relations, which is obviously very sad and poignant.
The author does a good job of making the reader understand that the Jews were reviled outsiders, useful to nobility and the Church only as a source of fundraising and not much else. Unfortunately, the characters in the novel are not that well developed. While the author tells us that Shira is intelligent and she is well-versed in Scriptures, she was a flat character. Similary, the author tells us that Meir is a great scholar but I didn't develop a strong sense of who he was as a person until the last two chapters of the novel. The novel took large leaps in time to get from one horrible historical attack on Jews to another, with little plot or character development in between. The characters became tools to tell the story of medieval Jews rather than Shira and Meir's story. At times the plot seems contrived simply to get Shira in the "wrong place at the wrong time" (or is it the right place at the right time?) so that the author can bring up a particularly horrific account of extreme anti-semitism during the period.
I also have to comment on the poor cover art. The woman depicted on the cover is intended to be Shira, I presume. However, her clothing would never have been worn by a medieval Jew. The shoulders are virtually uncovered and the attire is immodest. Also the woman is depicted as writing, but Left to Right. Hebrew, in contrast, is written from Right to Left and the "real" Shira would have primarily written in Hebrew, not in the languages of her Christian neighbors.
Overall this is a good novel. It didn't quite rise to the level of a four star novel to me but it wasn't a three star novel either. It isn't perfect, but a good book in a rather vacant area of historical fiction.
UPDATE: My Mother read this book and LOVED it, as did all of her friends. None of them are die hard historical fiction readers like me, so they're probably less picky. But all of them are Jewish and enjoyed this look at Jews in the middle ages. If you fall into this category, I definitely think you should read this book.
***Reviewed for Amazon Vine.
The Fruit of Her Hands begins with the story of the fictional Shira of Ashkenaz, the wife of the great Jewish scholar, Rabbi Meir ben Baruch, ancestor to the author of the novel. The novel begins in Normandy, in the town of Falaise with Shira as a young girl living with her widower father, a great Rabbi. Shira studies in her father's yeshiva, an unconventional role for a girl. While at her father's yeshiva, Shira becomes swept into a debate enrapturing her community regarding the validity of Maimonedes' view that the Torah, and not the Talmud, should be the center of Jewish study by a fiery pupil named Nicholas Donin. Donin is eventually expelled from the Jewish community and Shira reencounters him in Paris, where she is living as the wife of Meir ben Baruch. Donin becomes a Franciscan monk and uses his role in the church to revenge himself on the Jews who rejected him. Ultimately, Shira's family settles in Germany where they find some peace - but not for long. The novel recounts over and over the blood myth (that Jews use the blood of Christian children to make matzoh and engage in ritual murder of Christian children). The focus becomes one of Christian-Jewish relations, which is obviously very sad and poignant.
The author does a good job of making the reader understand that the Jews were reviled outsiders, useful to nobility and the Church only as a source of fundraising and not much else. Unfortunately, the characters in the novel are not that well developed. While the author tells us that Shira is intelligent and she is well-versed in Scriptures, she was a flat character. Similary, the author tells us that Meir is a great scholar but I didn't develop a strong sense of who he was as a person until the last two chapters of the novel. The novel took large leaps in time to get from one horrible historical attack on Jews to another, with little plot or character development in between. The characters became tools to tell the story of medieval Jews rather than Shira and Meir's story. At times the plot seems contrived simply to get Shira in the "wrong place at the wrong time" (or is it the right place at the right time?) so that the author can bring up a particularly horrific account of extreme anti-semitism during the period.
I also have to comment on the poor cover art. The woman depicted on the cover is intended to be Shira, I presume. However, her clothing would never have been worn by a medieval Jew. The shoulders are virtually uncovered and the attire is immodest. Also the woman is depicted as writing, but Left to Right. Hebrew, in contrast, is written from Right to Left and the "real" Shira would have primarily written in Hebrew, not in the languages of her Christian neighbors.
Overall this is a good novel. It didn't quite rise to the level of a four star novel to me but it wasn't a three star novel either. It isn't perfect, but a good book in a rather vacant area of historical fiction.
UPDATE: My Mother read this book and LOVED it, as did all of her friends. None of them are die hard historical fiction readers like me, so they're probably less picky. But all of them are Jewish and enjoyed this look at Jews in the middle ages. If you fall into this category, I definitely think you should read this book.
***Reviewed for Amazon Vine.
November 9, 2009
Cameron retells the story of her ancestor with the fictional character of Shira - daughter of a rabbi in 13C France she is eventually wed to esteemed scholar Meir ben Baruch and they settle in Paris. The persecutions of the Jews reach new heights and Meier is among those who defend the Talmud but to no avail. They leave France to start a new life in Germany which is happy and successful at first, although the persecutions of the Jews in Europe continue to increase.
That's pretty much the basic plot outline, although of course there's quite a bit more to it than that - I'm just not too inspired today. While I did enjoy learning about a period and culture that I know little about, the author just didn't *suck* me into her world. I think those more interested in this topic might find it more interesting than I did, if you're not sure get it from the library. It's a good book; it's just not a great one.
That's pretty much the basic plot outline, although of course there's quite a bit more to it than that - I'm just not too inspired today. While I did enjoy learning about a period and culture that I know little about, the author just didn't *suck* me into her world. I think those more interested in this topic might find it more interesting than I did, if you're not sure get it from the library. It's a good book; it's just not a great one.
December 25, 2014
This was an entirely wonderful story.
I added this to my ever growing list of books to read during a time when I was becoming very interested in the history of the Jewish people. I have read a few books since that time that expanded my knowledge of the political ramifications and general attitudes of the Christian world to them. This story gave me a wholly different view. It was a personal story and told one woman's story of her struggles with her own community and with the surrounding Christian population.
It gave me a fascinating look into a Jewish community, their practices, ideas, restrictions and views of themselves and outsiders.
I added this to my ever growing list of books to read during a time when I was becoming very interested in the history of the Jewish people. I have read a few books since that time that expanded my knowledge of the political ramifications and general attitudes of the Christian world to them. This story gave me a wholly different view. It was a personal story and told one woman's story of her struggles with her own community and with the surrounding Christian population.
It gave me a fascinating look into a Jewish community, their practices, ideas, restrictions and views of themselves and outsiders.
January 12, 2022
Based on the author’s own ancestor, The Fruit of Her Hands is the story of Rebbetzin Shira, wife of Rabbi Meir ben Baruch of Rothenberg. Shira was the daughter of a widowed rabbi, raised in Paris in the thirteenth century. A rebellious child, she shirked the conventions of her gender, favoring the study of sacred texts with her father and his yeshiva students. She then meets her husband and flourishes as a wife and mother. After enduring persecution and violence from the Parisian Catholics, the family resettles in Germany.
Cameron crafts a well-told story of her early ancestor. I found a number of interesting parallels between Shira of Ashkenaz and Queen Esther. Both are vivacious in their youth, seeking to push the limits of their sex in their early days. Both find love in their respective marriages and are confronted by vengeful men seeking to destroy the Jewish people.
The book is very well researched and places the reader at the center of Jewish life in thirteenth-century Europe. It was a perilous time in history. The frequent references to scholarly commentators like Rashi and Maimonides helps to frame the time period of the setting.
If you enjoy the writings of Anita Diamant and Maggie Anton, this should be your next read.
Cameron crafts a well-told story of her early ancestor. I found a number of interesting parallels between Shira of Ashkenaz and Queen Esther. Both are vivacious in their youth, seeking to push the limits of their sex in their early days. Both find love in their respective marriages and are confronted by vengeful men seeking to destroy the Jewish people.
The book is very well researched and places the reader at the center of Jewish life in thirteenth-century Europe. It was a perilous time in history. The frequent references to scholarly commentators like Rashi and Maimonides helps to frame the time period of the setting.
If you enjoy the writings of Anita Diamant and Maggie Anton, this should be your next read.
September 27, 2009
Studying my own ancestral lines gave me an appreciation of the pleasure that knowing where you came from can bring. I totally understand how amazing the story of Rabbi Meir ben Baruch is and how fascinated Ms. Cameron must have been when she discovered that he was her ancestor. An amazing amount of research went into the writing of this book!
The central character in this book is names 'Shira' and the story of her life offers us a clear portrait what it must have been like to have been Jewish in medieval times. Anti-semitism has, most unfortunately, had a long history and this book allows us to live through some of the darkest of times along with 'Shira as she moves through this tale spanning several generations of this Jewish family. The book is historically very well researched and is also very well written; teaching us not only about the history but also about Jewish traditions,travails and triumphs during this time of upheaval in Europe.
An amazing first book for this author. I will be waiting for her next book!
The central character in this book is names 'Shira' and the story of her life offers us a clear portrait what it must have been like to have been Jewish in medieval times. Anti-semitism has, most unfortunately, had a long history and this book allows us to live through some of the darkest of times along with 'Shira as she moves through this tale spanning several generations of this Jewish family. The book is historically very well researched and is also very well written; teaching us not only about the history but also about Jewish traditions,travails and triumphs during this time of upheaval in Europe.
An amazing first book for this author. I will be waiting for her next book!
July 28, 2010
I didn't enjoy this novel as much as the Rashi's daughters' series, despite the fact that I think it was somewhat better written. The writing is very lyrical, but the plot doesn't seem to really go anywhere. Some of the rituals seem a bit anachronistic as well -- meant to appeal to us in our present time, but I'm not convinced completely as they were done in time of the characters.
February 4, 2014
This book is a must read for anyone interested in medieval Jewish life. I hope to read more by Michelle Cameron.
November 28, 2021
An excellent novel based on the author's XIIIth century ancestor, Rabbi Ben Baruch who was a renowned scholar.
Written in the first person, this novel is told by Ben's wife and gives a direct insight into Ben's life at home and as a scholar. Whereas much is known about Ben, his wife Shira's character has been imagined by the author as not much is known about her. I enjoyed this novel because, completely immersed in the Jewish life in those days, I learned a lot historically, religiously and socially speaking. Shira is shown as a learned woman who also fought against the place of women at home and their intellectual abilities. I found very interesting and fascinating to witness how in some ways, her absolute faith made her accept some of the rules without questioning them, and other ways when she wanted to be heard. She reflected a lot about faith in God itself, in what God, how she would react if born in another religion. Thought provoking. My second book by the author (Beyond the Ghetto Gates was the first I read and reviewed), and I do hope she will write more. Highly recommended!
Written in the first person, this novel is told by Ben's wife and gives a direct insight into Ben's life at home and as a scholar. Whereas much is known about Ben, his wife Shira's character has been imagined by the author as not much is known about her. I enjoyed this novel because, completely immersed in the Jewish life in those days, I learned a lot historically, religiously and socially speaking. Shira is shown as a learned woman who also fought against the place of women at home and their intellectual abilities. I found very interesting and fascinating to witness how in some ways, her absolute faith made her accept some of the rules without questioning them, and other ways when she wanted to be heard. She reflected a lot about faith in God itself, in what God, how she would react if born in another religion. Thought provoking. My second book by the author (Beyond the Ghetto Gates was the first I read and reviewed), and I do hope she will write more. Highly recommended!
March 19, 2023
This is a fast-reading book that illustrates the difficulties of being a scholarly Jewish woman in the Middle Ages and a Jew, period, in Christian Europe. It gives us a fictional character, Shira, as an acute observer of real historical persons including Rabbi Meir of Rothenberg, Queen Blanche of France, and the insidious Nicholas Donin. It dramatizes how Christian tolerated Jews as long as they could think of us as historical oddities, stuck in our ways from Jesus' time, but persecuted and massacred Jews who were engaged in making Judaism relevant to their present day. It's a hard period of history, but this is an easy and enjoyable way of learning about it.
January 29, 2018
This is the story of a dauntless woman who chose to defy tradition and study like a man of the Jewish faith in 13th century Europe. Her story is a multi-generational tale that brought her in direct contact with some of the most influential rabbis of her time, but it it also the story of religious intolerance between Jew and Gentile, persecution and attempted eradication through exile and/or assimilation. Although an historical fiction, much of the story has a bases in fact and rings of truth.
April 26, 2020
I had read several novels involving the treatment of the Jews during the Middle Ages but this is the first that was really from a women's perspective. The issues a woman who wanted to learn, but had a hard time doing so because of her sex and her religious traditions, who becomes the wife of a well known rabbi and lives through some of the worst times in Medieval Europe. She survives to an old age, raises children and still never loses her sense of self. A truly good read.
January 3, 2024
This story is based on a historical character, an ancestor of the author. Fiction and non-fiction weave this into an interesting look at European Jewish life and the atrocities of the Christian rulers and townspeople during the 1200's. These events are historical and put into the context our humanity and inhumanity to each other. This is an excellent book to open our eyes and seriously respond to the rise of anti-semitism in our current world.
November 8, 2021
I love historical fiction. I love when it's accurate, follows real events and I learn from it while engaged in a story. This one was a tad too long and the information I learned was dumped on me throughout. It didn't flow and had me glazing at certain points, which is sad.
But I did learn - and wow, what a story.
But I did learn - and wow, what a story.
April 17, 2020
This is a beautifully written novel, with fascinating details about Jewish life in the Middle Ages. The story is engrossing, and it is easy to empathize with the characters. I not only greatly enjoyed the novel, I learned a lot about a time and community that is not often written about.
December 27, 2021
I could not put this book down. The writing was excellent. It was a part of Jewish history in the 1200's of which I learned so much. Beautiful characters and strength of love make this a wonderful story. This one will stay with me for awhile.
August 18, 2024
I see this book as a much easier way to find out about life for Jews in Medieval Europe than reading a dry history book full of facts and figures. It is very enjoyable and interesting but I would not describe it as a great novel.
December 15, 2025
A friend described this book as "chick-lit" and I wouldn't pretend that it is a work of scholarship. Nevertheless, I found it to be an easier read than some other historical novels- a low-stress way of entertaining myself on a bus or airplane trip.
June 29, 2018
Excellent Read
A well crafted story filled with rich characters, wisdom, and an insightful perspective of history. Would highly recommend to others.
A well crafted story filled with rich characters, wisdom, and an insightful perspective of history. Would highly recommend to others.
May 11, 2020
What a wonderful tale of a strong woman during a time when women were not allowed to be strong, and Jewish women even less so. Great character strength, great love story.
December 13, 2021
I really loved this look into Jewish history. It was fascinating while still having a very personal feel. Loved how it focused on Shira and her story/outlook.
January 15, 2022
The BEST Judaic genre book I have yet to read. Well researched, well written, and fantastically thought provoking.
September 24, 2009
Shira grew up a rabbi’s daughter. Shira’s mother died when she was about five years old. Since than her father and nursemaid, Jeanne, a Christian have raised her. At an early age, Shira was very interested in books and learning. While it was not usually a woman’s place to learn in the schools as the boys, Shira’s father could not deny her in his class room. Shira grows into a lovely, educated young lady.
One day, Shira’s father introduces her to a group of new students. Two of those young men are Nicholas Donin and Meir ben Baruch. Meir ben Baruch would later become a very respected and famous Rabbi scholar. Nicholas and Shira were serious with each other to the point that they almost married but Shira refused him. It was just as well as because due to Nicholas’s arguments against the lessons taught in the Talmud and his refusal to accept the Jewish ways, he was excommunicated.
Shira and Meir grew close and became husband and wife. They were very dedicated to their religion and the words of the Talmud. Years later, a huge battle between Christianity and Judaism would take place. The man leading the charge against the Jews and the book of Talmud would be none other than Nicholas Donin. Shira will have to make a choice whether to stand strong in her faith or discard all her beliefs in order to save her people.
I know nothing about Rabbi Meir ben Baruch and his life or his teachings. All I know is that after reading this book, I have now found myself a new favorite author in Michelle Cameron. The Fruit of Her Hands: The Story of Shira of Ashkenaz is one of the best books of 2009! I had mixed feelings about this book, even before I picked it up and started reading it. Instantly I was transported to another world. I lost myself in Shira and Meir’s story. I liked how this book was split into different sections. Each one covering a different time period expansion. Michelle Cameron didn’t just tell a story, she painted a portrait. Don’t just take my word for how good this book is. Pick up a copy of The Fruit of Her Hands: The Story of Shira of Ashkenaz for yourself.
One day, Shira’s father introduces her to a group of new students. Two of those young men are Nicholas Donin and Meir ben Baruch. Meir ben Baruch would later become a very respected and famous Rabbi scholar. Nicholas and Shira were serious with each other to the point that they almost married but Shira refused him. It was just as well as because due to Nicholas’s arguments against the lessons taught in the Talmud and his refusal to accept the Jewish ways, he was excommunicated.
Shira and Meir grew close and became husband and wife. They were very dedicated to their religion and the words of the Talmud. Years later, a huge battle between Christianity and Judaism would take place. The man leading the charge against the Jews and the book of Talmud would be none other than Nicholas Donin. Shira will have to make a choice whether to stand strong in her faith or discard all her beliefs in order to save her people.
I know nothing about Rabbi Meir ben Baruch and his life or his teachings. All I know is that after reading this book, I have now found myself a new favorite author in Michelle Cameron. The Fruit of Her Hands: The Story of Shira of Ashkenaz is one of the best books of 2009! I had mixed feelings about this book, even before I picked it up and started reading it. Instantly I was transported to another world. I lost myself in Shira and Meir’s story. I liked how this book was split into different sections. Each one covering a different time period expansion. Michelle Cameron didn’t just tell a story, she painted a portrait. Don’t just take my word for how good this book is. Pick up a copy of The Fruit of Her Hands: The Story of Shira of Ashkenaz for yourself.
November 3, 2009
For readers craving great historical fiction, or a realistic romance novel, or a book about religion’s place in history, THE FRUIT OF HER HANDS will more than satisfy your appetite. This wonderful saga puts into perspective not only the religious struggles faced by the Jewish community of 13th century Ashkenaz, a region of Europe that encompassed portions of France and Germany, but the traditions, values and rituals practiced in their every day lives.
Author, Michelle Cameron has skillfully blended the life experiences of her creation, Shira, with that of actual historical characters and given her readers a book that is not only historically accurate but entertaining and informative as well. The story follows Shira from her childhood home in Normandy and her marriage to Meir ben Baruch, to a yeshiva in Paris and later to Rothenberg, Germany. Throughout her life and travels Shira’s life is plagued by Nicholas Donin, a man whose marriage proposal and unorthodox religious beliefs she once rejected and who now seeks revenge against the Jewish community.
Non-Jewish readers will come away with a better understanding of the Talmud and the Torah as well as the customs, culture, and history of Judaism. I, personally, was amazed to learn that Jews of that era were required to wear a rouelle (“golden wagon wheel”) stitched to their clothing to identify them…. just as Hitler enforced the wearing of the Star of David circa WWII. Hatred and intolerance seems to have been the order of the day with both Christians and Jews misinterpreting the others religion and beliefs.
Michelle Cameron has managed to intrigue her readers with an interesting approach to Jewish history that not only brings to life a long forgotten era, but also provides us with a moving story of one woman’s love and devotion to her family, friends and a way of life. Although Shira was a creation of the author’s imagination, Meir of Rothenberg and Nicholas Donin were actual men and I now feel compelled to learn more about their place in history.
Author, Michelle Cameron has skillfully blended the life experiences of her creation, Shira, with that of actual historical characters and given her readers a book that is not only historically accurate but entertaining and informative as well. The story follows Shira from her childhood home in Normandy and her marriage to Meir ben Baruch, to a yeshiva in Paris and later to Rothenberg, Germany. Throughout her life and travels Shira’s life is plagued by Nicholas Donin, a man whose marriage proposal and unorthodox religious beliefs she once rejected and who now seeks revenge against the Jewish community.
Non-Jewish readers will come away with a better understanding of the Talmud and the Torah as well as the customs, culture, and history of Judaism. I, personally, was amazed to learn that Jews of that era were required to wear a rouelle (“golden wagon wheel”) stitched to their clothing to identify them…. just as Hitler enforced the wearing of the Star of David circa WWII. Hatred and intolerance seems to have been the order of the day with both Christians and Jews misinterpreting the others religion and beliefs.
Michelle Cameron has managed to intrigue her readers with an interesting approach to Jewish history that not only brings to life a long forgotten era, but also provides us with a moving story of one woman’s love and devotion to her family, friends and a way of life. Although Shira was a creation of the author’s imagination, Meir of Rothenberg and Nicholas Donin were actual men and I now feel compelled to learn more about their place in history.
October 13, 2009
I'm having a remarkably hard time gathering up my thoughts to review THE FRUIT OF HER HANDS. The book is a mixed bag as far as I'm concerned.
Overall, the book was informative and easy entertainment, but it lacked depth. For the most part the characters were either good or bad, with no shades of grey, which made them unrealistic and led to my feeling of detachment. Shira was a sympathetic and capable main character during the first third of the book and looked to be an interesting Medieval wife. Unfortunately, after she became married, she lost her personality. I realize that it was an accurate portrayal of Jewish wives back then, but Shira had been scholarly, while still seeing to her duties, up until this point and then turned into a boring protagonist. What set her apart and made me want to read about her was her attitude about learning the Talmud like the men. What interested Meir in the first place was Shira, who he thought unusual; not that I was shown their love, I was just told about it. The chemistry was lacking between them, but that may be in part that I didn't get a good sense of who Meir was as a person, other than he was brilliant, a revered scholar, et cetera. No one felt real in this book and that's a shame.
What was perhaps done best were the details and information about the Jewish people and their faith. Generally, it was written into the story quite well, even if Shira was conveniently placed right in the way of big events. I learned much and am grateful for the history of that time. My one problem with it was that although I felt the pain and suffering the Jewish endured, it was just a little too clean. More realism and grit would have added much to the book.
Perhaps the scope of the book did a disservice to the story as a whole, and it might have benefited a few scenes taken out. As a whole, it's a decent book and a good debut, but it still lacks that something that makes me what to say "read it".
Overall, the book was informative and easy entertainment, but it lacked depth. For the most part the characters were either good or bad, with no shades of grey, which made them unrealistic and led to my feeling of detachment. Shira was a sympathetic and capable main character during the first third of the book and looked to be an interesting Medieval wife. Unfortunately, after she became married, she lost her personality. I realize that it was an accurate portrayal of Jewish wives back then, but Shira had been scholarly, while still seeing to her duties, up until this point and then turned into a boring protagonist. What set her apart and made me want to read about her was her attitude about learning the Talmud like the men. What interested Meir in the first place was Shira, who he thought unusual; not that I was shown their love, I was just told about it. The chemistry was lacking between them, but that may be in part that I didn't get a good sense of who Meir was as a person, other than he was brilliant, a revered scholar, et cetera. No one felt real in this book and that's a shame.
What was perhaps done best were the details and information about the Jewish people and their faith. Generally, it was written into the story quite well, even if Shira was conveniently placed right in the way of big events. I learned much and am grateful for the history of that time. My one problem with it was that although I felt the pain and suffering the Jewish endured, it was just a little too clean. More realism and grit would have added much to the book.
Perhaps the scope of the book did a disservice to the story as a whole, and it might have benefited a few scenes taken out. As a whole, it's a decent book and a good debut, but it still lacks that something that makes me what to say "read it".
March 16, 2010
Historical fiction is always a delicate dance between accuracy and steps off that path taken to weave a successful novel; Michelle Cameron moves deftly in "The Fruit of Her Hand: The Story of Shiraz of Ashkenaz." The narrator Shiraz, a creation of Cameron's imagination, is the daughter of a prominent rabbi in 13th century France. Intelligent, opinionated, and passionate, through her eyes we see the pivotal events of her Jewish Community as they struggle against persecution and violence.
While Shiraz is fictive, many of the other characters are drawn from individuals who played a part in this crucial period. Shiraz's husband, Rabbi Meir ben Baruch of Rothenburg, was one of the outstanding leaders of European Jewry in the Middle Ages. The same is true of the villain Nicholas Donin, a Franciscan Friar and converted Jew who preached making bonfires of holy books and caused the murder of thousands of Jews throughout the land of modern France. Shiraz stands at her husband's side after the great Rabbis debate with Donin before the Queen of France, and watches the torment of Paris's Jewish community as houses are defiled, pages burn, and the street runs with blood. Through the device of Shiraz's children, she travels far and wide through Christian Europe, including witnessing the blood libel leveled against the Jewish community of Lincoln in Britain for the death of "Saint" Hugh, including the hanging of eighteen Jews for this imagined crime.
In the end, however, "The Fruit of Her Hand," is most of all a historical romance, and a passionate one at that. While Shiraz as a character can at times be less than complex, one never doubts her ardor for husband or her love for her children. It is this, as much as the rich historical detail, which carries the reader from one page to the next, in what is a page turning good read. Readers who enjoyed works like "Rashi's Daughters" will enjoy this novel which benefits both from superior research and a less melodramatic style.
While Shiraz is fictive, many of the other characters are drawn from individuals who played a part in this crucial period. Shiraz's husband, Rabbi Meir ben Baruch of Rothenburg, was one of the outstanding leaders of European Jewry in the Middle Ages. The same is true of the villain Nicholas Donin, a Franciscan Friar and converted Jew who preached making bonfires of holy books and caused the murder of thousands of Jews throughout the land of modern France. Shiraz stands at her husband's side after the great Rabbis debate with Donin before the Queen of France, and watches the torment of Paris's Jewish community as houses are defiled, pages burn, and the street runs with blood. Through the device of Shiraz's children, she travels far and wide through Christian Europe, including witnessing the blood libel leveled against the Jewish community of Lincoln in Britain for the death of "Saint" Hugh, including the hanging of eighteen Jews for this imagined crime.
In the end, however, "The Fruit of Her Hand," is most of all a historical romance, and a passionate one at that. While Shiraz as a character can at times be less than complex, one never doubts her ardor for husband or her love for her children. It is this, as much as the rich historical detail, which carries the reader from one page to the next, in what is a page turning good read. Readers who enjoyed works like "Rashi's Daughters" will enjoy this novel which benefits both from superior research and a less melodramatic style.
September 10, 2009
From the Author's Note:
" I don't remember the first time my mother told me I was descended from a famous rabbi who lived in Europe in the 1200s....I stumbled upon a reference to Rabbi Meir ben Baruch of Rothenbert, the Maharam....
I had never known that in 1242 an apostate Jew named Nicholas Donin, having been excommunicated by the chief rabbi of Paris, convinced the Pope and French royals to burn every copy of the Talmud in a Paris market square. My ancestor, Rabbi Meir ben Baruch, was among the witnesses.... I learned how, years later, Meir ben Baruch settled in Rothenberg, founded a Jewish seminary, and became known throughout Europe for the wisom of his responsa, letters written in response to Talmudic questions."
I was amazed and impressed by the way in which the author took her research on her ancestor, Rabbi Meir ben Baruch, and wrote an historical novel based on his life. Although she knew little about his wife, the author recreated her, Shira of Ashkenaz, as the main character in her book.
The novel details the childhood of Shira and her interest in biblical studies, created a love connection to the apostate Nicholas Donin, and gave him an additional motive for his hatred of the Jewish religion - his unsuccessful bid for Shiraz's hand in marriage. The book develops the character Shira as the perfect woman and mother, a "pearl" of a wife to Meir ben Baruch.
Those interested in the history of religion in 13th century France, Germany, and England, and in the conflict between the Jews and Christians on an official basis and in the daily life of the time, will be fascinated by the research as well as by the fictional story of Shira as wife and mother.
My thanks to the author/publisher for an advance copy of The Fruit of Her Hands and the opportunity to review it.
" I don't remember the first time my mother told me I was descended from a famous rabbi who lived in Europe in the 1200s....I stumbled upon a reference to Rabbi Meir ben Baruch of Rothenbert, the Maharam....
I had never known that in 1242 an apostate Jew named Nicholas Donin, having been excommunicated by the chief rabbi of Paris, convinced the Pope and French royals to burn every copy of the Talmud in a Paris market square. My ancestor, Rabbi Meir ben Baruch, was among the witnesses.... I learned how, years later, Meir ben Baruch settled in Rothenberg, founded a Jewish seminary, and became known throughout Europe for the wisom of his responsa, letters written in response to Talmudic questions."
I was amazed and impressed by the way in which the author took her research on her ancestor, Rabbi Meir ben Baruch, and wrote an historical novel based on his life. Although she knew little about his wife, the author recreated her, Shira of Ashkenaz, as the main character in her book.
The novel details the childhood of Shira and her interest in biblical studies, created a love connection to the apostate Nicholas Donin, and gave him an additional motive for his hatred of the Jewish religion - his unsuccessful bid for Shiraz's hand in marriage. The book develops the character Shira as the perfect woman and mother, a "pearl" of a wife to Meir ben Baruch.
Those interested in the history of religion in 13th century France, Germany, and England, and in the conflict between the Jews and Christians on an official basis and in the daily life of the time, will be fascinated by the research as well as by the fictional story of Shira as wife and mother.
My thanks to the author/publisher for an advance copy of The Fruit of Her Hands and the opportunity to review it.
October 10, 2009
This book was a total chance read---I walked by it set out at the library and gave it a try. It was definately worth the read. It tells the fictional story of the wife of one of Europe's most respected Rabbis in the 1200's. It starts when she is about 9 and continues until the end of her life. It spends a lot of time focusing on the horrible treatment of Jews during this time period, and showing how it affected Shira's life and that of her family. The life inside the Rabbinical school that her father, and then husband, ran was intersting to read about. It makes me want to reread The Chosen soon.
The parts that have stuck with me most since I finished it are those where she deals with her husband being unreasonable. Sometimes she pushes back, but most of the time she swallows her pride and hurt feelings and smooths things over. The author quotes often from the chapter in Proverbs about A Virtuous Woman and Shira exemplifies many of the qualities honored there. I still can't decide if that is something to admire and emulate or scorn and refute. I know I generally can't swallow my pride and anger, even if it is for the greater good. I hope someday to find someone who has read this so I can discuss this with them....
The parts that have stuck with me most since I finished it are those where she deals with her husband being unreasonable. Sometimes she pushes back, but most of the time she swallows her pride and hurt feelings and smooths things over. The author quotes often from the chapter in Proverbs about A Virtuous Woman and Shira exemplifies many of the qualities honored there. I still can't decide if that is something to admire and emulate or scorn and refute. I know I generally can't swallow my pride and anger, even if it is for the greater good. I hope someday to find someone who has read this so I can discuss this with them....
June 3, 2010
The title of this novel is misleading. While it is told from the perspective of Shira, it is really about her husband Meir ben Barucha, Cameron’s ancestor. Meir was a Talmudic rabbi during the 13th century and, as Cameron states in her Author’s note, she uses the fictional Shira as a vehicle to tell Meir’s story. It was a good premise, accurately reflecting the period and the history of Jews in Europe, including Talmud burnings and pogroms. However, I felt that the same story could have been told using half of the pages. I found myself reading 50 pages and feeling like nothing happened. I liked the portrayal of Meir as a wise man in his community, a devoted teacher, and a loving husband and father, but Shira did not arouse much sympathy. I just didn’t care for her character, and as she is the narrator, the whole novel lacked a certain depth. I typically love Jewish historical fiction, but The Fruit of Her Hands just wasn’t engaging.
I received a complimentary copy of this book via the Amazon Vine Program.
I received a complimentary copy of this book via the Amazon Vine Program.
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