The Fruit of Her Hands: The Story of Shira of Ashkenaz

Editorial Reviews. From Publishers Weekly. With a powerful immediacy, Cameron's leondumoulin.nl: The Fruit of Her Hands: The Story of Shira of Ashkenaz eBook: Michelle Cameron: Kindle Store.
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The novel recounts over and over the blood myth that Jews use the blood of Christian children to make matzoh and engage in ritual murder of Christian children. The focus becomes one of Christian-Jewish relations, which is obviously very sad and poignant. The author does a good job of making the reader understand that the Jews were reviled outsiders, useful to nobility and the Church only as a source of fundraising and not much else.

Unfortunately, the characters in the novel are not that well developed. While the author tells us that Shira is intelligent and she is well-versed in Scriptures, she was a flat character. Similary, the author tells us that Meir is a great scholar but I didn't develop a strong sense of who he was as a person until the last two chapters of the novel. The novel took large leaps in time to get from one horrible historical attack on Jews to another, with little plot or character development in between.

The Fruit of Her Hands

The characters became tools to tell the story of medieval Jews rather than Shira and Meir's story. At times the plot seems contrived simply to get Shira in the "wrong place at the wrong time" or is it the right place at the right time? I also have to comment on the poor cover art. The woman depicted on the cover is intended to be Shira, I presume. However, her clothing would never have been worn by a medieval Jew.

The shoulders are virtually uncovered and the attire is immodest. Also the woman is depicted as writing, but Left to Right. Hebrew, in contrast, is written from Right to Left and the "real" Shira would have primarily written in Hebrew, not in the languages of her Christian neighbors. Overall this is a good novel. It didn't quite rise to the level of a four star novel to me but it wasn't a three star novel either. It isn't perfect, but a good book in a rather vacant area of historical fiction. None of them are die hard historical fiction readers like me, so they're probably less picky.

But all of them are Jewish and enjoyed this look at Jews in the middle ages.


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If you fall into this category, I definitely think you should read this book. Sep 30, Misfit rated it liked it Shelves: Cameron retells the story of her ancestor with the fictional character of Shira - daughter of a rabbi in 13C France she is eventually wed to esteemed scholar Meir ben Baruch and they settle in Paris.

The persecutions of the Jews reach new heights and Meier is among those who defend the Talmud but to no avail. They leave France to start a new life in Germany which is happy and successful at first, although the persecutions of the Jews in Europe continue to increase. That's pretty much the basic p Cameron retells the story of her ancestor with the fictional character of Shira - daughter of a rabbi in 13C France she is eventually wed to esteemed scholar Meir ben Baruch and they settle in Paris.

That's pretty much the basic plot outline, although of course there's quite a bit more to it than that - I'm just not too inspired today. I think those more interested in this topic might find it more interesting than I did, if you're not sure get it from the library.

It's a good book; it's just not a great one. View all 12 comments. Nov 17, Dawn rated it really liked it Shelves: This was an entirely wonderful story. I added this to my ever growing list of books to read during a time when I was becoming very interested in the history of the Jewish people. I have read a few books since that time that expanded my knowledge of the political ramifications and general attitudes of the Christian world to them.

This story gave me a wholly different view. It was a personal story and told one woman's story of her struggles with her own community and with the surrounding Christian This was an entirely wonderful story. It was a personal story and told one woman's story of her struggles with her own community and with the surrounding Christian population.

It gave me a fascinating look into a Jewish community, their practices, ideas, restrictions and views of themselves and outsiders. Sep 27, Marie Z. Johansen rated it really liked it Shelves: Studying my own ancestral lines gave me an appreciation of the pleasure that knowing where you came from can bring. I totally understand how amazing the story of Rabbi Meir ben Baruch is and how fascinated Ms. Cameron must have been when she discovered that he was her ancestor. An amazing amount of research went into the writing of this book! The central character in this book is names 'Shira' and the story of her life offers us a clear portrait what it must have been like to have been Jewish in Studying my own ancestral lines gave me an appreciation of the pleasure that knowing where you came from can bring.

The central character in this book is names 'Shira' and the story of her life offers us a clear portrait what it must have been like to have been Jewish in medieval times. Anti-semitism has, most unfortunately, had a long history and this book allows us to live through some of the darkest of times along with 'Shira as she moves through this tale spanning several generations of this Jewish family.

The book is historically very well researched and is also very well written; teaching us not only about the history but also about Jewish traditions,travails and triumphs during this time of upheaval in Europe. An amazing first book for this author. I will be waiting for her next book! Jul 28, Amanda rated it liked it Shelves: I didn't enjoy this novel as much as the Rashi's daughters' series, despite the fact that I think it was somewhat better written.

The writing is very lyrical, but the plot doesn't seem to really go anywhere. Some of the rituals seem a bit anachronistic as well -- meant to appeal to us in our present time, but I'm not convinced completely as they were done in time of the characters. Jun 19, Laurel Corona rated it it was amazing.

The Story of Shira of Ashkenaz

This book is a must read for anyone interested in medieval Jewish life. I hope to read more by Michelle Cameron. Jan 29, Michael Alan Grapin rated it really liked it. This is the story of a dauntless woman who chose to defy tradition and study like a man of the Jewish faith in 13th century Europe. Although an historical fiction, much of the story has a bases in fact and rings of truth. Excellent Read A well crafted story filled with rich characters, wisdom, and an insightful perspective of history.

Would highly recommend to others. Sep 22, Cheryl rated it really liked it. Since than her father and nursemaid, Jeanne, a Christian have raised her.

At an early age, Shira was very interested in books and learning. Shira grows into a lovely, educated young lady. Two of those young men are Nicholas Donin and Meir ben Baruch.


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    • Meir ben Baruch would later become a very respected and famous Rabbi scholar. Nicholas and Shira were serious with each other to the point that they almost married but Shira refused him. Shira and Meir grew close and became husband and wife. They were very dedicated to their religion and the words of the Talmud. Years later, a huge battle between Christianity and Judaism would take place. The man leading the charge against the Jews and the book of Talmud would be none other than Nicholas Donin.

    Shira will have to make a choice whether to stand strong in her faith or discard all her beliefs in order to save her people. I know nothing about Rabbi Meir ben Baruch and his life or his teachings. All I know is that after reading this book, I have now found myself a new favorite author in Michelle Cameron. The Story of Shira of Ashkenaz is one of the best books of ! I had mixed feelings about this book, even before I picked it up and started reading it.

    Instantly I was transported to another world. I liked how this book was split into different sections. Each one covering a different time period expansion. Pick up a copy of The Fruit of Her Hands: The Story of Shira of Ashkenaz for yourself. Sep 19, Sandie rated it really liked it Shelves: This wonderful saga puts into perspective not only the religious struggles faced by the Jewish community of 13th century Ashkenaz, a region of Europe that encompassed portions of France and Germany, but the traditions, values and rituals practiced in their every day lives.

    Author, Michelle Cameron has skillfully blended the life experiences of her creation, Shira, with that of actual historical characters and given her readers a book that is not only historically accurate but entertaining and informative as well. The story follows Shira from her childhood home in Normandy and her marriage to Meir ben Baruch, to a yeshiva in Paris and later to Rothenberg, Germany. Non-Jewish readers will come away with a better understanding of the Talmud and the Torah as well as the customs, culture, and history of Judaism.

    Hatred and intolerance seems to have been the order of the day with both Christians and Jews misinterpreting the others religion and beliefs. Mar 15, jordan rated it it was amazing. Historical fiction is always a delicate dance between accuracy and steps off that path taken to weave a successful novel; Michelle Cameron moves deftly in "The Fruit of Her Hand: The Story of Shiraz of Ashkenaz. Intelligent, opinionated, and passionate, through her eyes we see the pivotal events of her Jewish Community as they struggle against persecution and violence.

    While Shi Historical fiction is always a delicate dance between accuracy and steps off that path taken to weave a successful novel; Michelle Cameron moves deftly in "The Fruit of Her Hand: While Shiraz is fictive, many of the other characters are drawn from individuals who played a part in this crucial period. The same is true of the villain Nicholas Donin, a Franciscan Friar and converted Jew who preached making bonfires of holy books and caused the murder of thousands of Jews throughout the land of modern France.

    Shiraz stands at her husband's side after the great Rabbis debate with Donin before the Queen of France, and watches the torment of Paris's Jewish community as houses are defiled, pages burn, and the street runs with blood. Through the device of Shiraz's children, she travels far and wide through Christian Europe, including witnessing the blood libel leveled against the Jewish community of Lincoln in Britain for the death of "Saint" Hugh, including the hanging of eighteen Jews for this imagined crime. In the end, however, "The Fruit of Her Hand," is most of all a historical romance, and a passionate one at that.

    While Shiraz as a character can at times be less than complex, one never doubts her ardor for husband or her love for her children. It is this, as much as the rich historical detail, which carries the reader from one page to the next, in what is a page turning good read. Readers who enjoyed works like "Rashi's Daughters" will enjoy this novel which benefits both from superior research and a less melodramatic style. Oct 02, graveyardgremlin formerly faeriemyst rated it liked it Shelves: The book is a mixed bag as far as I'm concerned. Overall, the book was informative and easy entertainment, but it lacked depth.

    For the most part the characters were either good or bad, with no shades of grey, which made them unrealistic and led to my feeling of detachment. Shira was a sympathetic and capable main character during the first third of the book and looked to be an interesting Medieval wife. Unfortunately, after she became married, she lost her personality.

    I realize that it was an accurate portrayal of Jewish wives back then, but Shira had been scholarly, while still seeing to her duties, up until this point and then turned into a boring protagonist. What set her apart and made me want to read about her was her attitude about learning the Talmud like the men. What interested Meir in the first place was Shira, who he thought unusual; not that I was shown their love, I was just told about it.

    The chemistry was lacking between them, but that may be in part that I didn't get a good sense of who Meir was as a person, other than he was brilliant, a revered scholar, et cetera. No one felt real in this book and that's a shame. What was perhaps done best were the details and information about the Jewish people and their faith. Generally, it was written into the story quite well, even if Shira was conveniently placed right in the way of big events.

    I learned much and am grateful for the history of that time. My one problem with it was that although I felt the pain and suffering the Jewish endured, it was just a little too clean. More realism and grit would have added much to the book. Perhaps the scope of the book did a disservice to the story as a whole, and it might have benefited a few scenes taken out. As a whole, it's a decent book and a good debut, but it still lacks that something that makes me what to say "read it".

    Sep 04, Harvee rated it really liked it. From the Author's Note: I had never known that in an apostate Jew named Nicholas Donin, having been excommunicated by the chief rabbi of Paris, convinced the Pope and French royals to burn every copy of the Talmud in a Paris market square.

    My ancestor, Rabbi Meir ben Baruch, was among the witnesses I learned how, years later, Meir ben Baruch settled in Rothenberg, founded a Jewish seminary, and became known throughout Europe for the wisom of his responsa, letters written in response to Talmudic questions. Although she knew little about his wife, the author recreated her, Shira of Ashkenaz, as the main character in her book. The novel details the childhood of Shira and her interest in biblical studies, created a love connection to the apostate Nicholas Donin, and gave him an additional motive for his hatred of the Jewish religion - his unsuccessful bid for Shiraz's hand in marriage.

    The book develops the character Shira as the perfect woman and mother, a "pearl" of a wife to Meir ben Baruch. Those interested in the history of religion in 13th century France, Germany, and England, and in the conflict between the Jews and Christians on an official basis and in the daily life of the time, will be fascinated by the research as well as by the fictional story of Shira as wife and mother.

    View all 4 comments. Jul 07, Korri rated it liked it Shelves: Other than Rashi's Daughters , I haven't come across much Jewish fiction set in the the middle ages, let alone one with a female protagonist, so I was excited to read The Fruit of Her Hands. Cameron makes her ancestor Rabbi Meir ben Baruch accessible through the fictionalized life of his wife, Shira, herself a formidable scholar. It was difficult to see Shira's talent stifled under the need to support the yeshiva through endless drudgery and housework. Since Shira's knowledge and intelligence are Other than Rashi's Daughters , I haven't come across much Jewish fiction set in the the middle ages, let alone one with a female protagonist, so I was excited to read The Fruit of Her Hands.

    Since Shira's knowledge and intelligence are the qualities that made her interesting, I found myself a bit disconnected from her as the novel wore on. Shira always managed to be in the wrong place at the wrong time--Paris for the burning of the Talmud, Lincoln for the blood libel against the Jews. The tightening restrictions against Jewish life are historically accurate and the well-traveled Jewish family made sense considering the diaspora--even if Shira's eyewitness accounts seem a bit too fortuitous. Shira made an excellent witness to these events, but I wish her personality shone through more.

    Cameron describes many of the prayers, rituals, and customs, which would be interesting for a reader unfamiliar with Judaism. Since I know what a mikveh and mishloach manot are, I wish the author would've spent more time talking about the emotional significance of these customs to Shira. I finished this on the 9th of Av. Oct 07, Shannon rated it really liked it.

    This book was a total chance readI walked by it set out at the library and gave it a try. It was definately worth the read. It tells the fictional story of the wife of one of Europe's most respected Rabbis in the 's. It starts when she is about 9 and continues until the end of her life.

    It spends a lot of time focusing on the horrible treatment of Jews during this time period, and showing how it affected Shira's life and that of her family. The life inside the Rabbinical school that her f This book was a total chance readI walked by it set out at the library and gave it a try. The life inside the Rabbinical school that her father, and then husband, ran was intersting to read about.

    It makes me want to reread The Chosen soon. The parts that have stuck with me most since I finished it are those where she deals with her husband being unreasonable. Sometimes she pushes back, but most of the time she swallows her pride and hurt feelings and smooths things over. The author quotes often from the chapter in Proverbs about A Virtuous Woman and Shira exemplifies many of the qualities honored there.

    I still can't decide if that is something to admire and emulate or scorn and refute. I know I generally can't swallow my pride and anger, even if it is for the greater good. I hope someday to find someone who has read this so I can discuss this with them May 24, Julie rated it liked it Shelves: The title of this novel is misleading.

    It was a good premise, accurately reflecting the period and the history of Jews in Europe, including Talmud burnings and pogroms. However, I felt that the same story could have been tol The title of this novel is misleading. However, I felt that the same story could have been told using half of the pages. I found myself reading 50 pages and feeling like nothing happened.

    I liked the portrayal of Meir as a wise man in his community, a devoted teacher, and a loving husband and father, but Shira did not arouse much sympathy. In Meir, Shira finds her soulmate. Married to Meir in Paris, Shira blossoms as a wife and mother, savoring the intellectual and social challenges that come with being the wife of a prominent scholar. After witnessing the burning of every copy of the Talmud in Paris, Shira and her family seek refuge in Germany.

    Yet even there they experience bloody pogroms and intensifying anti-Semitism. As Shira weathers heartbreak and works to find a middle ground between two warring religions, she shows her children and grandchildren how to embrace the joys of life, both secular and religious.

    The Fruit of Her Hands | Book by Michelle Cameron | Official Publisher Page | Simon & Schuster

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    The video content is misleading. The ad is too long. The ad does not play. The ad does not inform my purchase. The video does not play. There is too much buffering. The audio is poor or missing. Video is unrelated to the product. Please fill out the copyright form to register a complaint. Share your thoughts with other customers. Write a customer review. Read reviews that mention jewish historical cameron century jews fiction meir rabbi michelle woman period europe talmud ben events baruch father paris fictional scholar.

    There was a problem filtering reviews right now. Please try again later. The title of this book is misleading as Shira of Ashkenaz is a fictional character. He settled in Rothenberg, founded a Jewish seminary, and became known throughout Europe for the wisdom of his responsa, letters written in response to Talmudic questions. As his reputation as a great scholar grows, his family expends as well.

    When every copy of the Talmud in Paris is confiscated and burned, they seek refuge in Germany. Overall, this is an interesting story and well-written. Kindle Edition Verified Purchase. Imagine living in a world where males thank their creator for not making them females. Where even good, loving men embrace institutional sexism as the natural order of things. Under the yoke of traditional feminine obedience, Shira strives for a life where she can feel joy and eke out opportunities to engage her considerable intellect.

    Though set in the s, Shira's world is disturbingly familiar. Today's headlines are echoes of her community's struggled. Centuries pass, yet groups of the willfully ignorant still persecute other humans through sexism, extremism, antisemitism, racism and all the other isms. Politicians continue to use bigotry as a tool for rallying their base. Lusty and loyal to the end, Michelle Cameron's soulmates demonstrate that the connection between a well-bonded couple can grow ever deeper. Their fights ring true, as does Shira's commitment to stand by her man, no matter the personal cost.

    Together, she and Meir are fruitful and multiply. We know the generations that follow will experience torment, but also triumph. Hopefully, some day soon, the world will learn from Shira of Ashkenaz's story and allow love to trump over isms. One person found this helpful. The recorded history of Rabbi Meir, who is Cameron's ancestor, says nothing about his family other than he had a son, Suesskind, and several unnamed daughters.

    But Cameron reasoned that such a remarkable man would have had an equally remarkable wife, and so she invents Shira, the only daughter of a widowed French rabbi with a thirst for learning and a mind of her own. The novel deftly weaves Meir and Shira into some of the darkest chapters of medieval Jewish history: The Paris disputation trial and mass burning of the Talmud in , the blood libel of Little St. Hugh of Lincoln in , and King Rudolph I's decision in to enslave the Jews of Germany, which forced Meir to flee to Palestine, only to be captured en route and imprisoned for ransom.

    Meir and Shira also become entangled, politically and personally, with the villainous Nicholas Donin, a radical Jewish scholar who is rejected as a suitor for Shira's hand, excommunicated by the Chief Rabbi of Paris, and eventually becomes a Franciscan monk. Cameron stays true to history and does not inflate Shira's role unduly.