(no subject)
Jerusalem, 06 C.E
"Look at that, Lazarus, "Miriam's mother said, pointing at a rabbi as he passed on his way to the Temple. "See how everyone is watching the priest?"
"That's what you could be if you study hard enough!" her father lectured. Miriam hopped up and down, trying to see the processions.
"Abba! Pick me up!" she complained. Her father obliged, Miriam clung to his shoulder as she took in the sights of her first Passover in Jerusalem. Miriam's eyes were drawn not to the ordinary rabbis, but to the high priests in their expensive robes, marching through the crowd with an air of authority.
"Wouldn't it be wonderful to say "my son, the rabbi?" Her mother sighed.
"I could do that, "Miriam said.
She couldn't, for a moment, understand why they all laughed at her.
"First you would have to be a boy, my little princess, "her father explained. "Being a high priest or rabbi requires years and long hours of Torah study. Women are not allowed to. How can someone who can't read or write study Scripture? It isn't logical, Miriam. "
"But why?" She asked.
"For the same reasons women aren't to go into battle," Lazarus sniffed. "Women are weak, and they were created for men. To bear and raise more children to keep the race alive."
"Devra was a warrior,"Miriam said.
"She was special, "Miriam's mother said. "You're not. You'll be just as happy married to Yeshua and having his babies. Yeshua is a boy who is going places. He could be a rabbi, and that would be nice, wouldn't it?"
"Yes.."Miriam whispered, her cheeks burning.
"She just wants to blow the horn, "her father laughed. He cuddled her. "I'll buy you a shofer, you can make as much noise with it as you want, how does that sound?"