In the waning days of the Ottoman Empire, a young Orthodox Jewish woman
in the holy city of Jerusalem is expected to marry and produce many sons
to help hasten the Messiah's arrival. While the feisty Esther Kaminsky
understands her obligations, her artistic talent inspires her to
secretly explore worlds outside her religion, to dream of studying in
Paris--and to believe that God has a special destiny for her. When
tragedy strikes her family, Esther views it as a warning from an angry
God and suppresses her desires in order to become an obedient.
But when a surprising opportunity forces itself on to her preordained
path, Esther finds her beliefs clashing dangerously with the passions
she has staved off her entire life--forcing her to confront the most
difficult and damning question of all: To whom must she be true, God or
herself?