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Miriam Shapira-Luria, also known as Rabbanit Miriam, was a Talmudic scholar of the Late Middle Ages. According to academic Lawrence H. Fuchs, she was one of the "most noted" women Talmud scholars.[1]
Miriam Shapira-Luria | |
---|---|
Born | |
Other names | Rabbanit Miriam |
Known for | Woman Talmudic scholar |
Spouse | Yochanan Luria |
Parent | Solomon Shapira |
Miriam Shapira-Luria was born sometime in the 13th,[2][1] late 14th or early 15th centuries[3][4][5][6][7] in Konstanz, on the southern German border.[6] Her father was Rabbi Solomon Shapira, a descendant of Rashi, an 11th century commentator.[4][5][7] Shapira-Luria's brother was the noted rabbi, Peretz of Konstanz.[7] Her husband, Yochanan Luria[4] was a rabbi who was known to interpret the Talmud liberally.[1]
Shapira-Luria, also known as Rabbanit Miriam,[3] taught in Padua, Italy.[8] She conducted a yeshiva (a higher institution for the study of central Jewish texts) and gave public lectures on Jewish codes of law.[5][6] She was thoroughly conversant in rabbinical writings,[7] and Nahida Ruth Lazarus writes that her "Talmudic disputations with other distinguished scholars of her time created a great sensation."[9] Female community teachers were rare in Jewish tradition but "not unheard of", according to Norma Baumel Joseph, who lists as other examples Huldah, Bruriah, Asenath Barzani, and Nechama Leibowitz.[10]
Shapira-Luria was also known for her beauty, and she taught Talmud to elite young men from behind a curtain so that they would not get distracted by her appearance.[3][6]
Shapira-Luria was the ancestress of the Luria rabbinical family,[7] the grandmother of Solomon Luria (Maharshal), a posek (Jewish law decisor).[4]
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