Maggie Anton's Page

Those who have followed my blog since the end of 2006 may recall that while doing a book tour in Israel, I joined Women of the Wall at the Kotel to celebrate Rosh Hodesh Tevet. I was in such a hurry to get there that I forgot my tallit, so that I had to borrow one from another woman when I was given an aliyah. One man came over from the men's side to stop our singing Hallel, but he was quickly led away by police. And when it came time to walk to… Continue

I am finally home from fall book tours and ready to start blogging again. But I'm too tired to be creative tonight so I thought I would share another Talmud limerick from one of my favorite blogs by Chavatzelet Herzliya , this one originally posted Feb 8, 2008. Those who have read RASHI'S DAUGHTERS: BOOK III - RACHEL may recognize this sugia from Chapter 27.

Nedarim [20a)
If he vows "My wife's pleasure in sex
Is a Konam to me," then regrets
What h… Continue

My last speaking event in Miami was at the JCC in Davie, and having arrived early, I looked around for something to occupy myself. Turned out this was easy, since there was an art exhibit going on, not an uncommon occurrence at JCC's. I decided to check it out, especially after learning that this was opening night, so there would be a nice little reception.

The artist, Jackie Olenick, was there as well. Most of her new work appeared to be… Continue

[continuation of previous post]
It is in the third chapter of Genesis, where Eve succumbs to the snake's temptation and eats the forbidden fruit, that Rashi goes against the near universal tradition of blaming Eve. He knows these very well, because in Gen 3:8 he states that he's aware of many midrash about this, including Genesis Rabbah, but he's not concerned with them - only with peshat, the plain meaning of the text. Yet Rashi regularly quotes midrash in his other Torah commentaries, s… Continue

This Sunday, November 8, I will be the keynote speaker at Bible by the Bay in Marin County, CA. My topic will be: "Rashi's Daughters as Torah commentators: fact, fiction or legend?" Which means I have to find some of Rashi's commentaries that show a feminist bent and teach them to my audience. I confess that I have not read all of Chumash with Rashi [shocking], nor have I memorized those parts I have studied. But I had a good idea where to start l… Continue