Beruriah: The Final Act

Abstract

Perhaps the most acclaimed woman to grace the pages of Talmud, Beruriah’s scholarly prowess and personality are legendary. But in an ironic twist of history, she is a character whose end is shrouded in mystery, devoid of closure. Scholars have dissected the story of her horrible fate. This paper chooses to analyze her tragedy through a different lens. To investigate the psychological dynamics surrounding Beruriah's husband, the noted Rabbi Meir, perpetrator of the infamous scheme leading to her suicide. In so doing, trying to answer the question: Does the evidence suggest this celebrated Talmudic sage was capable of such a treacherous plot?