Maiden of Ludmir

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The Maiden of Ludmir, (full name: Hannah Rachel Verbermacher), (1805-1888), also known as the "Ludmirer Maud", is popularly known as one of the only female Rebbes in the history of the Hasidic movement.

She was born in the early nineteenth century in Ukraine to Hasidic parents. Her father was a devout Hasid of Rabbi Mordechai Twerski, known as the "Maggid of Chernobyl," as well as a wealthy businessman. He provided an extensive education for his only daughter, which included many fields of Torah study.

She appears not to have been a remarkable child, but underwent a transformation in her late teens. Declining marriage, she started to fulfill all the positive and negative commandments, including those not incumbent among women, and increased her Torah study. She gained fame as a scholar and holy woman with powers to perform miracles.

As her fame grew she assumed functions generally reserved for Hasidic Rebbes, such as receiving audiences and accepting kvitlech (prayer request notes), and to preside over a Tish (the traditional Sabbath meal in the company of one's Hasidim) at which she'd offer Torah teachings and pass shirayim (leftovers from a Rebbe's meal). She is said to have done all this from behind a curtain separating her from her male followers so as not to violate the traditional norms of gender separation.

However, she remained an anomaly and had to withstand strong opposition from the fiercely traditional Hasidic community, who were made ill at ease by this unusual woman. At some point the pressure for her to refrain from her activities grew strong, and her father asked her to consult with his Rebbe, the Maggid of Chernobyl, on the matter. The Rebbe convinced her to discontinue her unusual behavior, and encouraged her to marry and assume the traditional role for Hasidic women.

After the visit to the Rebbe, Hannah Rachel temporarily halted her activities as a Hasidic leader and teacher. She even married, although the marriage was never consummated and the couple divorced within a week.

Later she moved to the land of Israel and settled in Jerusalem. There she attracted a small group of followers. On Shabbat afternoons, they would come to hear her recite words of Torah, and on Rosh Chodesh she would accompany them to Rachel's Tomb for prayer. She passed away on the 22nd day of the Hebrew month of Tammuz, and is buried on the Mount of Olives.

In recent years, there have been some raising awareness about her life, and small numbers have begun visiting her grave to recite prayers.

[edit] References

The Maiden of Ludmir: A Jewish Holy Woman and Her World by Nathaniel Deutsch (University of California Press) ISBN 978-0-520-23191-7
They Called Her Rebbe: The Maiden of Ludomir by Gershon Winkler (Israel Book Shop Press) ISBN 9780910818902
From Sarah to Sarah: And Other Fascinating Jewish Women Both Famous and Forgotten by S. Feldbrand (Lishmoa Lilmod U'Lelamed) ISBN 9780976694618