Hannah Rochel Verbermacher, a Hasidic holy woman known as the Maiden of Ludmir, was born in early-nineteenth-century Russia and became famous as the only woman in the three-hundred-year history of Hasidism to function as a rebbe in her own right. This title follows the traces left by the Maiden in both history and legend.
"The first book-length account of one of the most fascinating figures in modern Jewish history. With invigorating prose, The Maiden of Ludmir makes the world of 19th-century Europe come alive. Deutsch is a fascinating, sophisticated, and rare combination of social historian and cultural critic. "-Elliot Wolfson, Abraham Lieberman Professor of Jewish Mysticism and Philosophy, New York University.
"A beautifully written and moving study of a woman who stood alone as a spiritual leader, breaking the bounds of women's spirituality and gender roles to assume the position of a male zaddik, Hasidic leader. Deutsch's own journey to Ludmir lends a unique and charming voice to this compelling story."-David Biale, author of Power and Powerlessness in Jewish History.
