A Price Below Rubies: Jewish Women as Rebels and Radicals

by Naomi Shepherd

Why, in the late nineteenth century, did Jewish women suddenly march en masse into the pages of radical history? A Price Below Rubies explores this question and introduces us to these women―particularly, Anna Kuliscioff, Rosa Luxemburg, Esther Frumkin, Manya Shochat, Bertha Pappenheim, Rose Pesotta, and Emma Goldman. Naomi Shepherd’s collective biography of these seven women and others tells the story of a revolution that began at home, in communities whose limits stirred women to rebel.

Genres: Judaism, Jewish, Feminism, Religion

Paperback

First published September 1, 1993

About the author

Naomi Shepherd was born and educated in Britain but has lived most of her adult life in Israel. She is also a prize-wining historian, biographer, journalist and documentary maker.

Reviews

[Elaine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Frankly, I haven't finished the whole book but I did finish (with great delight) the biography of Esther Frumkin, a founder of the Jewish Bund, a Bolshevik, an advocate for Yiddish at the Cernowitz conference, a woman who was arrested at least four times by the Tsarist police and escaped from prison just as many! She's the woman I was looking for!

[Bruce · Rating 5 out of 5]

The first part of this work is a is a discussion of the 'religious' attitude toward women. Women did not need to be educated because they were wombs and 'homemakers'. The women whose lives are described in this book were intelligent and rebelled against the prevailing patriarchy. While the fathers of several of them provided for some education they did not allow the women to take part in Talmudic discussions and made sure the girls knew their 'place.' Some of the girls ran away at a young age to avoid pre-arranged marriages. Many remained childless and several did not marry. Though it is a discussion of Jewish women, it also provides insight in women's history as a whole and their involvement in groups advocating progressive ideas e.g, safe working conditions, 8 hour days, etc.

[Roberta · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was hoping for some interesting personal info. about these women, but it was mostly about the politics. Depressed me. Most died in prison or during the Holocaust.