Yehudit

Twilight descended on the beleaguered city of Bethulia, Judea, casting the city in a shadow of despair. Only that morning, the famine-struck inhabitants resolved to surrender to the Greeks, should relief not arrive within five days. Yehudit, the aristocratic daughter of Yochanan the High Priest, disagreed.

“A Jew should always have faith in G-d and never place time limits on his salvation,” she adamantly insisted. Unable to witness the distress of her brethren, Yehudit decided to take action. She would attempt to seduce the Greek general and bring deliverance for Bethulia.  With firm faith and resolve, the beautiful young widow and her faithful maid wound their way past the city gates and into the enemy encampment below. 

General Holefernus was charmed by her beauty, and invited Yehudit to a private feast in his tent. With guile and cunning, Yehudit fed the unsuspecting general salted cheese and aged, undiluted wine. As Holefernus fell into a drunken stupor, Yehudit unsheathed his sword, murmured a silent prayer, and promptly chopped off his head. She hastily returned with her grisly prize and roused the townspeople to wage war against their oppressors. the Greek soldiers panicked at the loss of their general, and the Jews secured a miraculous victory.

Yehudit merited salvation because of her unrelenting faith and bravery. She infused pride and courage in the hearts of her brethren and ultimately inspired the Maccabees in their fight to preserve Judaism.

This is why Jewish women have a custom to refrain from working while the Chanuka candles are lit. The Greeks passed many harsh decrees against the Jews, but the decrees against the Jewish women were particularly appalling. The Jewish women never despaired, and the Chanukah story is replete with valiant women like Yehudit, who courageously defended the Jewish way of life. This Chanuka, as we light the menorah and celebrate the great miracles, let us reflect upon the heroic women of our past, and resolve, like them, to uphold our Jewish values and inspire our people.