Osnat and Her Dove: The True Story of the World's First Female Rabbi

Osnat and Her Dove: The True Story of the World’s First Female Rabbi takes place about 500 years ago, when a Jewish girl living in Mosul (in today’s Iraq) achieved her goal of becoming a Torah scholar through persistence and determination in the face of discouraging obstacles.

Osnat lived in the 16th century, a time when few believed that girls should learn to read. Refusing to accept this, Osnat persuaded her father, a respected scholar and rabbi, to teach her. She went on to teach others and became a renowned scholar in her own right. After the deaths of her father and husband, she assumed leadership of their yeshiva, becoming the world’s first female rabbi.

In addition to her roles as a student, teacher, and leader, Osnat was said to have performed miracles, including healing a dove injured by a hunter and saving a congregation from a fire.

Through this inspiring story, students in grades K-5 learn how perseverance and courage can open doors, even when no clear path exists, and how individuals can challenge expectations to shape their own futures.