Talk:Bruriah

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[edit] The seduction and suicide of Beruriah?

I believe that this story is not actually in the Talmud, but rather is in medieval commentaries that date from centuries later. Rashi mentions the story. By that time, Beruriah had become something of a legend. The stories that circulated about her in the Middle Ages have more the flavor of Medieval France than of the Talmudic period. These stores were, in effect, a way of questioning the wisdom and propriety of letting a woman become educated. I notice that some contemporary commentaries about her simply omit this material, apparently because it was nothing more than a scandalous legend that served a purpose at a later time in history. --Metzenberg 23:00, 27 March 2007 (UTC)

It's been suggested that certain more embarrassing stories were edited out of the Talmud during the Geonic period (can't remember where I saw it). I would hardly think Rashi made it up, more likely he had the text of some medrash. And there are numerous women mentioned in the Talmud in some capacity as a sage just usually not by name (again can't remember of hand but try the end of the sixth perek of Brachot).Wolf2191 01:23, 29 April 2007 (UTC)