Book excerpt: Sets out to characterize different types of Jewish women in Eretz- Israel over a period of more than a thousand years, from the biblical period to the time of the Mishna and Talmud, drawing on various biblical and talmudic texts. Contains chapters on heroines, women's literacy, keening women, prayers said by women, sorceresses, and prostitutes. Each chapter presents literary sources in chronological order, followed by discussion of social aspects of historical facts. Annotation copyrighted by Book News, Inc., Portland, OR