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How popular is the women’s sefer Tzena Urena?
not at all – at least not in any circles I’ve ever been in. I wouldn’t know about Chassidish circles.
I think it was popular at one time in Europe. I have never heard of anyone in the US or Israel using it.
Since it’s a “women’s sefer”, my guess is that it was written in the days when women didn’t know how to learn, and that’s why it is not popular today.
There was recently an English translation put out. I think though that since girls/women are educated more than they were in Europe and learn Chumash inside with meforshim, that there really is no need for tzeena ureena as there was in the past. It’s out for nostalgic reasons.
I thought I saw an english translation about 30 years ago. But it could have been hebrew. It was definitely one of those 2 languages.
1. It’s been translated.
2. It reads in many ways like a late medieval/early modern version of the “Medrash says” type books, which are very popular (and which I suspect were based on, or at least heavily influenced, by it).
3. While written for women, it was popular with anyone who couldn’t read Hebrew. While we likely to think that all our ancestors were all Talmid Hachams, in reality there were many people who barely knew enough Hebrew to daven.
4. It should be considered one of the greatest classics of Yiddish literature, but the professors who decide what is a greatest classic tend to be anti-Torah.
“It reads in many ways like a late medieval/early modern version of the “Medrash says” type books, which are very popular (and which I suspect were based on, or at least heavily influenced, by it).”
I can’t imagine they were based on it. I’ve been told by relatives of the author of “The Medrash Says” that she is super-intellectual. She does tons of learning and research for her Sefarim. That is what she does the whole day – researches Medrashim for her Sefarim.
That being said – it’s possible that she was influenced by it.
What is Tzena U’rena based on? Is it Medrashim or Mefarshim? Does it bring sources? Just curious.
LU: Who is the “she” you are referring to?
I really like the tzenah urenah. The english version is an easy read, and I always learn something new when I go through the parsha. Probably cus I don’t read it so often.
It was the main source of Torah for pre-Bais Yaakov movement women in Europe, right before Sara Schenirer stepped in, so it also makes me feel connected to my roots in that way.
The Midrash Says is written by a lady. I forgot her name, but Weissman sounds familiar. It’s possible she wrote it under her husband’s name.
Since it was published in the 70’s or 80’s (I think – I know it was out by 1984), it makes sense that she would have published it under her husband’s name.
I know some of her relatives – that’s how I know she wrote it, even though I forgot her name.
My grandmother always read Tzena Urena on Tisha B’Av especially, but also on Shabbos. We are not Chassidish at all, I think it’s just the way things used to be and it’s looked at as continuing the mesorah.
I read it. It was great but there are better sources of information nowadays
I confirmed it – the name is Weissman, and it was written by the wife, but it was published under the husband’s name. At least the earlier Sefarim were, but the later ones might be under her name.
The title sounds like the name of a planet
LB, it means “Go out and see”
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