According to academic Lawrence H. Fuchs, she was one of the "most noted" women Talmud scholars.
[1] Miriam Shapira-Luria was born sometime in the 13th,[2][1] late 14th or early 15th centuries[3][4][5][6][7] in Konstanz, on the southern German border.
[6] Her father was Rabbi Solomon Shapira, a descendant of Rashi, an 11th century commentator.
"[9] Female community teachers were rare in Jewish tradition but "not unheard of", according to Norma Baumel Joseph, who lists as other examples Huldah, Bruriah, Asenath Barzani, and Nechama Leibowitz.
[10] Shapira-Luria was also known for her beauty, and she taught Talmud to elite young men from behind a curtain so that they would not get distracted by her appearance.