Asenat was the daughter of the holy rabbi Shmuel b. Netanel HaLevi of Kurdistan who founded a number of centers of learning and was head of the yeshiva in Mosul. He lived in great poverty and was regarded as a saint. He had no sons, but had a daughter who he loved dearly. The holy rabbi was a master of the written and oral Torah, agaddah, and Jewish mysticism. He lovingly taught his daughter every day until he had to leave to the World of Truth.
The holy rabbi taught his daughter the secrets of the revealed and hidden Torah and many of the secrets of heaven. Asenat adored her father, and regarded him as a King of Israel. In a letter, she described her upbringing:
I never left the entrance to my house or went outside;
I was like a princess of Israel…
I grew up on the laps of scholars, anchored to my father of blessed memory.
I was never taught any work but sacred study, to uphold, as it is said: “And you should recite it day and night (Joshua 1: 8)”
Long ago, in the Kurdish town of Mosul, there lived a young woman named Asenat who was known for performing wonders. Her blessings were often sought by women who wished to be blessed with children, or by sick people who wished to be cured. Her touch had healing powers, especially for children.
It was whispered among the people that the spirit of her father rested upon her, and for this reason she was known as Rabbi Asenat.
After Rabbi Shmuel died, he often came to his daughter in dreams. He would reveal dangers to her and tell her how to avoid the threats, saving many lives. One night Asenat dreamed that her holy father told her to go to the Kurdish town of Amadiyah for Rosh CChodesh, the celebration of the new moon. He told her that the Jewish people of Amadiyah needed her protection.
When it became known that Rabbi Asenat was planning to travel to Amadiyah, the people of her town pleaded with her not to go, for things had become dangerous for the Jewish people living there. “All Jewish people have been warned to stay away from Amadiyah,” they warned her. “If you go, you will surely be risking your life!” Asenat could not overlook her holy father’s message. She took leave of her town and began her journey.
When Rabbi Asenat reached the town that she had visited so often, she was given great respect as a holy woman. The people seemed to be upset when she told them that they should celebrate Rosh Chodesh outdoors, so they could see the crescent of the new moon, as was their custom.
The people wanted to stay in the safety of the synagogue, for they knew they were surrounded by enemies and that their very lives were in danger. “Don’t be afraid,” she told them. The emunah (faith) in the Holy One Blessed, be He and their trust in her were so great that they agreed to keep to the tradition of greeting the new moon as in the past, despite the danger.
The night of Rosh Chodesh saw almost all the people come out to celebrate the new moon and the new month. At first they were cautious, yet soon they were singing and dancing in the town square with abandon. Suddenly, shouts disrupted the celebration as people saw flames leaping towards the sky. The synagogue had been set on fire! Baruch Hashem – Blessed be G-d that no one had been inside. The people were heartbroken to see their synagogue consumed in flames. Many men had to be held back so they wouldn’t run inside and be burned to death while trying to save the Torah scrolls. Everywhere people wept, falling to their knees, for they knew the flames were fast approaching the Aron haKodesh (Holy Ark) where the Torah scrolls were kept.
Rabbi Asenat closed her eyes in prayer and whispered a secret name of Hashem, one that she had learned from her father. All at once the people heard a loud flapping and a great wind swirled around them, and they thought that a flock of birds must be overhead. But when they looked up, they saw a flock of angels descending to the roof of the synagogue. The angels beat the flames with their wings, until every last spark had been put out. Then they rose up into the heavens like a flock of white doves and were gone.
The people were fascinated. They cried out, “Angels! Angels!” And when the smoke cleared, they saw that another miracle had taken place: the synagogue had not burned. Nor was a single letter of any of the Torah scrolls touched by the flames.
When the enemies of the Jewish community learned of the miracle of the angels and saw how the synagogue had been saved from the fire, they dared not harm the hair of even a single Jewish person.
A day opf celebration was declared as the people prayed and thanked the Holy One, blessed be He for saving this day for them and their beloved synagogue. The Jewish community was so grateful to Rabbi Asenat that they renamed the synagogue after her, and it is still standing to this day.
And all this came to pass because of Rabbi Asenat’s courage and loyalty in honoring her father’s wish, conveyed in a dream, that she go to that town for the celebration of the new moon.
May all your tales end with Shalom (peace)
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I am surprised that the Rabbi would share such a story about a Female Rabbi. I’m truly impressed.
From a historical perspective, Asenat Barzani, (1590–1670), was a renowned Kurdish Jewish woman. Her writings demonstrate her mastery of Hebrew, Torah, Talmud, Midrash, and Kabbalah. She is considered the first female rabbi of Jewish history by some scholars.
A woman Rabbi in the Middleast? When was this? I liked the story about a strong woman leader.