Jerusalem Maiden

More about the book

Set during the decline of the Ottoman Empire, the story follows Esther Kaminsky, a young Orthodox Jewish woman in Jerusalem, torn between her religious duties and her artistic aspirations. While she grapples with societal expectations to marry and bear children, her dreams of studying in Paris and fulfilling a unique destiny linger. A family tragedy leads her to suppress her desires, compelling her to conform as a "Jerusalem maiden," highlighting the struggle between personal ambition and cultural obligations.