MAID OF LUDOMIR

(1805-92)

Ukrainian Hasidic leader. Her real name was Hannah Rachel and she was the daughter of Monesh Werbermacher. After an illness, she followed Hasidic customs, built her own synagogue, and observed the religious duties of men (putting on tallit and tefillin when she prayed). She later emigrated to Palestine where she continued her mystical studies and practised rituals designed to hasten the coming of the Messiah.