Trailblazing Jewish women who left their mark on Muslim world – From Osnat Barazani heading a yeshiva, through Flora Sassoon who ran a business empire and Jacqueline Kahanov who spearheaded new trends, Jewish women challenged misogynistic attitudes in patriarchal societies | ynetnews

It may be hard to believe, but back in the 17th century in Kurdistan – which covers swaths of northern Iraq – including modern-day cities like Erbil and Kirkuk, a Jewish woman by the name of Osnat Barazani actually served there as the head of a local yeshiva.
„In a historical context, this is indeed a unique phenomenon,“ says author and lecturer Yafa Bnaya. „A truly rare occurrence for the 17th century Kurdistan.“