I have always had a fascination with the women in Jewish history. I feel as though their lessons, traits, and values transcend time, especially in the way that we carry on their presence with our own names. For instance, Rivka is my middle name, and I was not just named after my great-great grandmother, but also after one of our foremothers. Since I never knew very much about my great-great grandmother, I would read about our foremother’s life in the Bible and see how those passages applied to me. I have convinced myself that I am like her (and that if we ever met we would be friends). So when I first read Biblical Beauty: Ancient Secrets and Modern Solutions by Rachelle Weisberger, I was instantly intrigued to find more connections with the matriarchs.
I was surprised to learn about a book full of information about women and beauty, even though I am a fairly knowledgeable woman in the studies of Tanach. Weisberger explores every source of Judaic teachings; the entire Tanach, the Talmud, Midrashim, Apocrypha, and even the Zohar. I expected to read about the presence of beauty in Megillat Esther and Megillat Ruth, obviously. But, text and information about beauty in the Gemara and the Zohar? This was news to me, and I had to read on.
The first part of the book, titled Outer Beauty, informatively explains skin care, sun care, makeup, hair care, fragrance, jewelry, and healthy aging. Each of these sections contain “Ancient Secrets” which tell its Biblical origin, then the following chapter discusses its “Modern Solutions.” The “Ancient Secrets” are interesting explorations in the history of each specific subject while the “Modern Solutions” chapters are informative about the fundamental ideas about the subject. In addition to the ancient and modern thoughts, Weisberger shares her professional advice. For instance in the “Ancient Secrets: Rahab” Weisberger explores the makeup regimen she may have used to enhance her beauty, as the Sages tell us she is “among the four most beautiful women who ever lived, along with Sarah, Abigail and Esther.”
Weisberger captures the reader’s attention by explaining that the pukh the Bible mentions Rahab used was likely an Arabic substance called kohl, used often by Egyptians creating a “cat eye” look, a look we all strive to perfect even today. She then explains in the “Modern Solutions” section, “Even though eyeliners and pencils are frequently labeled “kohl,” they bear no resemblance to traditional kohl formulas that are still used in much of the world. Because it present a lead risk, kohl is illegal in the United States.”
Although she does give a great facial chart in the makeup chapter, I had hoped for more images throughout. For instance, when explaining some of the archeological findings of jewelry or the painting depictions of the women, she could have included specific photographs of the jewelry she mentions in order to have the subject further resonate with the reader and brighten the text. She writes that Judith’s hair style, specifically, has been depicted in many ways by various artists like Gustav Klimt who depicted her with a bob, “styling her hair elaborately with every strand perfectly in place, just like her plan.” But no visual accompanies this description.
Despite this visual lacks, Weisberger explores the history of hair styling originated by the Assyrians around 1500 BCE. She explains how the Talmud describes how, “God adorned her [Eve] before presenting her to Adam,” by braiding her hair. In the “Modern Solutions” Weisberger applies how we too use our hair as fashion statements as well as a tool to achieve goals and, dare I say, to allure men. She advises that, “essential omega-3 fatty acids found in salmon, mackerel, sardines, herring and lake trout have a direct impact on the condition of scalp and hair.” Throughout the first section of the book it is full of tidbits, steps in make up, and routines to maintain glowing, youthful skin, hair, nails, and much more.
The second part of the book, titled Inner Beauty, details each of the matriarchs’ struggle and our modern struggles as women. It consists of “Choices in Motherhood” and “Feminine Leadership.” As a woman studying at SCW and having just finished midterms, my mind immediately debates with Weisberger’s tales. She does cite textual passages but weaves together Midrash, Talmud, and Kaballah without always differentiating between the sources, which is misleading. For instance Weisberger writes that, “after the birth of her natural son, Isaac, Sarah …demanded Abraham make Isaac his sole heir, and not Ishmael, who had become an idol worshipper like his mother.” I’m not exactly sure where she got this idea from but from what I just learned in my Biblical Narrative course, taught by Mrs. Gross, there is no textual proof in this situation that Ishmael became an idol worshipper. Rather, it says in Genesis 21:9 “And Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian, whom she had borne unto Abraham, making sport.” I happen to know that there is a midrash that explains that perhaps Sarah saw Ishmael acting like an idol worshipper so because of this she knew he needed to leave but Weisberger fails to distinguish this. Whatever its flaws, this section stood out as extremely essential because it gave the reader a more dynamic understanding of beauty, rather than just focusing on surface beauty in an anti-feministic way.
Weisberger discusses the struggle between Rachel and Leah, as many of our matriarchs suffered from severe infertility. Because Rachel could not bear children but had the love and devotion of their husband Jacob, Leah was blessed with fertility. Rachel then decided to give her maid Bilhah to Jacob as a surrogate and treated the sons born from her as her own. Weisberger draws upon this in the “Modern Solutions” when examining the many ways women can deal with issues of infertility today, whether through IVF treatment, adoption, or as our foremothers did, surrogacy. Weisberger gives factual information on fertility, working mothers, higher education and business executives; the inspiration from the women in the Bible becomes clear.
Biblical Beauty: Ancient Secrets and Modern Solutions is a very interesting expedition of the women we have all learned about at the Shabbat table or in our classrooms. It informs the reader about historical facts and paints a picture of the lives of the matriarchs. Weisberger connects the professional and authentic material to our own lives. I would recommend it to any woman in my life; particularly it would make a great gift to any woman. Weisberger has done what I have always loved about the matriarchs – connecting their lives with the every day modern life of my own as woman, and because of that I enjoyed it and plan on wearing my name proudly.