A Woman's Voice: Sarah Foner, Hebrew Author of the Haskallah
translated by Morris Rosenthal
Dailey International Publishers : Wilbraham, MA 01095
ISBN 0-9666251-2-9 (hardcover) October, 2001 302pp 18.66USD
or http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0...
Sarah Menkin Foner, 1854-1936, the first woman novellist in Hebrew, eshewing popular Yiddish magazines in her time. Her short memoir, "A Girl Can't Be a Gaon," which was published in New York in 1919, recounts how she came to study in the schul alongside her male colleagues at a time when few women were educated at all. Her mother was educated in Hebrew, studying the commentaries of Rashi and ibn Ezra for the weekly parasha or Torah readings. Her knowledge of traditional rabbinic studies is clearly visible in the beautiful parable, "The Children's Path."
In Talmudic discussion, a device to present diverse opinions is used is through debating rabbis in a stylized dialogue. Their comments reflect different opinions regarding a particular subject which is then used for extended discussion and argument among students to understand different aspects of a particular problem. In Judaism, there is no real dogma, but real argument drawn from rabbinic sources. Even the decrees in Heaven are debated in the Heavenly Court, pitting the arguments of the angels against the decisions of the Almighty, or the protests of the moon against the dominance of the sun.*
Foner uses parable to illustrate the importance of vocation. Two things in life are most difficult to obtain: a good profession and a suitable mate-and without one or the other or both, life can become unbearable. Man is not meant to be alone, but man can also not live without a reason for his existence or purpose to his life.
The formula is familiar: A man had three sons-- We all know the story of the farmer's sons who set off on their horses to win the fair princess and the youngest had only a hobby-horse made from a broomstick. Each seeks a fortune; but Foner uses the formula to stress the importance of a suitable profession and personal application. The formula alludes to the Pesach Haggada with the four questions fielded by the four sons. The personalities are contrasted purposely to engage the participant at the seder to involve himself in discussion and reflection of his life. It is a time of personal inquiry, searching within oneself.
Through allusion, Foner strengthens the story, developing the natural conflicts that existed within society during the time of the Second Temple: Romans vs Jews; Hellenism vs Judaism. The conflicts exists today. Personal vs public, private vs state, ethics vs mob rule. Moreover, the pressing problems of vocation remain the same in every generation whether one becomes a recognized academic or a CIA spy. The conflicts between self and world conflict on every level, as well as the often painful choice regarding personal beliefs vs political protocol.
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