Rebekah Hyneman’s The Black Izba: The Moscovite Jews and the Tzar’s Jewish Doctor’s Triumph over an Anti-Semitic Plot

Abstract

ABSTRACT Rebekah Hyneman, born in Pennsylvania in 1816, played a significant role in documenting Jewish existence. Beyond her unique historical novel, The Black Izba: A Tale of Ancient Russia,1 serialized in 1855 in The Masonic Mirror and Keystone, she made a noteworthy contribution through her extensive oeuvre. Raised by a Jewish-German father and a Christian mother, Hyneman converted to Judaism in 1845. Despite her multifaceted literary output, her substantial contributions have been overlooked. This paper seeks to rectify the historical neglect surrounding Hyneman's work by shining a light on her novel, The Black Izba. This novel stands out as a rare piece by a nineteenth-century Jewish female writer. It offers a unique perspective on Jewish women, exploring a female literary culture documenting its own story, its relationship with prevailing Christian norms, and striving to uphold religious and cultural values in restrictive contexts. Through an examination of Hyneman's work, the paper underscores her portrayal of Jewish women and their role in preserving their identity. Hyneman's poetry and prose extend beyond mere artistic expression; they harbor political and social agendas. She believed that Christians' unfamiliarity with Jewish traditions fostered alienation. Through her writings, Hyneman endeavors to bridge this gap, emphasizing mutual recognition.