I still can't drive, but I can use the computer, the result of which is that I'm up to Chapter Ten of RAV HISDA'S DAUGHTER. And if my previous books are any indication, that means I'm approximately one third done with the first draft.
On a subject related to my previous novels, someone recently sent the website of Tefillin Barbie, to which I commented that while women may have worn tefillin in Rashi's time, neither they nor Rashi would be wearing such a tallit, as prayer shawls weren't invented until the 13th century. This generated the following question from Rabbi Rick Brody: "I know you're rigorous about your historical research so I trust you but am just so surprised -- prayer shawls weren't invented until the 13th century?!?! Please elaborate or direct me to some sources. What did people wear before then? Seriously curious."
Rather than reply to him individually, I thought I'd address his question here, especially since I'm due for another blog post. I probably shouldn't have used the word 'invented' for prayer shawls, since 'popular' or 'worn in synagogues' would explain the situation better. According to Mahzor Vitry pious men and women in Rashi's community observed the mitzah of tzitzit by attaching the fringes to the four corners of their cloaks, a garment that was not specific to any one gender. But this was apparently uncommon, as Rashi's grandson Rabbenu Tam refuses to allow a man to be buried with tzitzit, as people didn't generally wear them when alive.
There is no mention of any particular garment with tzitzit worn at services until late 12th century, when Rabbenu Tam threatens to excommunicate anyone who removes the prayerbook or tallit from the leader's table at synagogue. This indicates that there was only one prayerbook and one tallit, which the prayer leader used, and without which, services could not be held. Indeed we see this in medieval Jewish art depicting synagogue life, where a 12th century woodcut shows the service leader wearing a prayer shawl while the men in the congregation are not. We only see the congregation wearing prayer shawls from the 13th century on.
As I am only an expert on medieval Jewish women in Ashkenaz between the years 1000-1200 CE, I have no idea what Jews wore to synagogue before this time. I hope this answers all Rick's questions. Shabbat shalom to everyone.
I'm still recovering from retina surgery, with my main problem that my two eyes don't work together, resulting in some very annoying double vision that makes reading or using the computer impossible unless I close one eye. But I can do that.
I have an important, and maybe fun/interesting, request for you all. With my new series coming out next year, my webmistress will need to design a new website that incorporates my two different book series. I'd love to hear about some websites of other novelists with two [or more] different series so we can see what features they use and how they work, or don't.
We've been looking at a few already and it's amazing how poorly designed some of them are, considering that these are big name authors who theoretically have lots of money to put into the project. But even a mediocre website can have some good elements, and our goal is to find the components that will best meet our needs.
So have fun surfing the web, and let me know what you find either by replying to this post or emailing me directly at author@rashisdaughters.com
No excuses for blog posting delays anymore; it only seems to invite the Evil Eye [on which I am becoming an expert, thanks to research for RAV HISDA'S DAUGHTER.
Two days after my last post, I walked out of a movie theatre and noticed I couldn't see out a corner of my right eye. Thinking it was hair in the way or dirty glasses, I attempted to remedy the situation - to no avail. After spending most of that night in the ER, I learned that I had suffered a retina detachment, a medical emergency that required surgery as soon as possible. General anesthesia was needed and I had already eaten dinner, so that night was out. Sunday surgery was planned, but three other more pressing emergencies would have delayed mine until the night, so my ophthalmologist and I decided to wait until Monday, when he would have his regular eye surgery team and we would be guaranteed our time slot in the operating room. In the meantime, I had both eyes patched and had to lie as still as possible. As I was having no pain, to be suddenly blind and bed-ridden was quite a shock.
On top of this, my son was getting married in Phoenix in less than a week!
My son flew out to Los Angeles to help with getting me around and the surgery went as scheduled, although I didn't get home until 9 pm. Then I had to keep my head elevated, my face down, and not moving until I saw the doctor the next morning, so my husband fixed up a rube Goldberg device of pillows, a bed desk and multiple scarves which enabled me to maintain this position while I tried to sleep on the couch. At least I was allowed to use my 'good' left eye, so I was no longer completely blind, but reading and computer use was forbidden.
Next morning, we learned that while the surgery was a success - that is, my retina was reattached - blood from the procedure was clouding my vision and I had some air bubbles there too. In order to go to Phoenix, and to heal faster, my doctor recommended that I use my exercycle for minimum of 2 hours a day. This would get blood and oxygen flowing to my eye without me moving my head very much. This was my life for 4 days: lie in bed on my right side, eyes drops of some kind every hour, use the exercycle for 30-45 minutes, listen to radio, podcasts or audiobooks.
Two days before the wedding, doctor said we could drive to Phoenix [air travel was out]. I was able to stand under the huppah with my son and his bride, dance the horah, and pose for wedding photos. Two days after wedding, I could resume reading and computer use [hence this blog post]. According to him, I'm allowed to drive, but my right eye is completely useless as all I can see is lots of swirling grey clouds of blur. I have no idea when/if my vision will improve although the internet says people normally return to work after 3 weeks even though final recovery of sight can take 1-2 years.
Yikes!
My reaction has been remarkably zen, considering what a controlling and type A person I am. As they say in the Talmud, tzoat happens, and I just went along with it. My anxiety was, and still is, remarkably mild. What I can't do, I don't do. Computer allows me to make the font as large as I like, so I can resume writing soon. I have a new empathy for Rav Sheshet and other Talmudic figures who were blind, as well as for all those in the world who lack the medical technology to fix problems that lead to blindness. And considering how illness can come so suddenly, I completely understand how people, both in the past and today, can believe these things are caused by the Evil Eye, curses, and demons.