Questions for 9/23

 What were the two spheres of men’s and women’s lives in the Ashkenazic world?

            Men and women had different roles in the Ashkenazic world. Men had a more dominant role, while women had more domestic role. Men would be responsible for the public matters, whereas women would be in charge of the household and family. Although, both the men and women went to the marketplace with their family. The men had a more “powerful” role over the women while working. For instance, if a family had a tavern, the man would take of the financial matters and get the supplies, while the woman arranged the food and sleeping arrangements. Another example of the gender roles can be seen with the responsibilities of having a store. Again, the husband would deal with the finical matters, as he would secure credit and buy supplies and the wife would take care of the store in the marketplace.

            There was also a difference in language. Boys went to a school that taught them about religious life and Hebrew. Hebrew allowed them to participate in services and understand the Torah  On the other hand, girls learned Yiddish from a family member, a private tutor. Rarely would a girl go to school to learn Hebrew reading.

            Lastly, men would frequently pray in public, while women went to the synagogue on Shabbat and the holidays. All in all, men and women had distinct lives in the Ashkenazic world.

 What does her account of her husband's death reveal of her feelings about him and their marriage?

        Gluckel was heartbroken over her husband’s death and writes, “I truly believe I shall never cease from mourning my dear friend.” She was happily married with her husband and they had twelve children together. Her husband gave her everything that a wife wanted. From this account, one can deduct that her husband was loving, respecting, and honest. She felt he was an upstanding man of the family and the community. Gluckel was grief stricken and devastated over her husband.