Who was Beruriah?

 Shalom aleichem Rabbi Eidensohn.  In Artscroll’s biography of the Chafetz Chaim by Moses Yoshor translated by Charles Wengrov, on page 264, it says “A certain heretic [says the Midrash] asked B’rurya [the daughter of Rabbi Meir], ‘Because she never bore a child, she should sing?’”

This is blatantly incorrect, as Bruriah was R’ Meir’s wife, not his daughter. Who made this mistake, the translator or the author? And was whoever made the error simply retarded, or what’s the p’shat here.  Thanks a lot.

 

I replied:

If your concern is that his wife is called his daughter? But Chazal say Esther was the wife of Mordechai but is said to be his daughter

 

 

This seems to be a reference to Berachos 10a

 

 A certain heretic said to Berurya: It is written: “Sing, barren woman who has not given birth, open forth in song and cry, you did not travail, for more are the children of the desolate than the children of the married wife, said the Lord” (Isaiah 54:1). Because she has not given birth, she should sing and rejoice?

Berurya responded to this heretic’s mockery and said: Fool! Go to the end of the verse, where it is written: “For the children of the desolate shall be more numerous than the children of the married wife, said the Lord.”

Rather, what is the meaning of: “Sing, barren woman who has not given birth”? It means: Sing congregation of Israel, which is like a barren woman who did not give birth to children who are destined for Gehenna like you.