Komish Bat Machlafta
A Fake Biography of a Real Woman
By: Dorit Kedar
Once upon a time, at the beginning of
the 5th century, Komish Bat Machlafta
was born. She had the nerve to rush out of her mother's womb as a female. On
top of that, 6 fingers adorned her palms. The anomaly of multiple thumbs
forecast her future as a sorceress.
The fake biography of the real
Komish begins at the age of nine. During this time she discovers her sexuality
and the essence of the human kind. The reader accompanies Komish during her
forced marriage at the age of eleven, through her escape to a monastery in the
desert and eventually to her flamboyant life in the prostitutes’ alley in
Jerusalem.
Komish’s story, which is written in a
Talmudic language woven into a unique rhythm, is divided into 3 life stages:
1.
Pre-adolescence
- Komish discovers her inner secret
world and the difficulties of the external world. Step by step her complex
relationship with her family is exposed, as well as her connection to a
sorceress neighbor and her liaison to Joseff the dwarf.
2.
Forced marriage
and escape – Komish is forced to marry a released slave who
abuses her. She runs away to the desert,
there she discovers the monastic world as well as a cosmos resonant with magic
and witchcraft. Her death wishes transform into plans for a colorful future.
3.
Sorcery
- Komish transforms herself into a
high-class sorceress. She
encounters Rabbis and
their Talmudic Midrash, Roman officers and their unstable commands and one big
love.
There are 3 sources for
Komishes fifth century initiation story:
Talmudic stories and legends, Romans legislation against the Jews, and
magic texts from incantation bowls.
More information:
Komishe's
Facebook:
Book launch party:
Eli Eshed: "Komish bat Machlafta – Confession of
a Sorceress" NRG:
Rona Gershon: "The literary supplement – a
radio interview:
