Emily's Musings

Happy Hanukkah, Day 7

We're winding down this year's holiday celebrations.

Today's Hanukkah link of the day is a bit about Judith,

Apparently in Tunis, "Women would specially commemorate the seventh day of Hanukkah on which day the widow Judith is said to have performed her brave acts during the period of Syrian Greek dominance." (GirlPower)

According to the Jewish Women's Archive, Hanukkah festivities used to include "the celebration of two heroes - Judah Maccabee and Judith". They explain:

In the second century B.C.E., as the powerful Assyrian army invades the Near East, the town of Bethulia is besieged by the cruel and domineering Holofernes, foremost general of the Assyrian emperor Nebuchadnezzar. If Bethulia yields, the whole country will fall into Assyrian hands. Discouraged, the city's elders agree to surrender the famine-stricken city if they are not rescued within a few days. Judith, a young widow and most unlikely savior, challenges them to take responsibility for the future of their community. She enters the Assyrian camp where Holofernes, smitten with her remarkable beauty, invites her to a banquet. When he retires to his bed in a drunken stupor, they are left alone in his tent. Judith takes up his sword and decapitates him. With the Assyrian army thrown into confusion, Judith inspires the Israelites to launch a surprise attack from which they emerge victorious.

Since Hanukkah is tied to giving and charity (or tzedakah), another site reminds us that:

Women are obligated to light the Hanukkah menorah,'' says the Talmud (Shabbat 23a), "for they took part in the miracle." One story tells of the daughter of the high priest, facing violation by the Syrian-Greek governor, who shames her brothers into revolt. A second story "borrows" the saga of Judith cutting off the head of the Assyrian tyrant Holofernes. Dedicate one night to a discussion of women and resistance--and give tzedakah to a feminist organization.

That sounds like an excellent 7th night of Hanukkah tradition.

Oh, and according to this site, we should eat cheese things tonight!

The custom of eating cheese pancakes and cheese delicacies on Hanukkah dates back to the Middle Ages and is related to the story of Judith, the daughter of a Hasmonean. According to legend, she fed cheese to Holofernes, the general of Nebuchadnezzar's army and archenemy of the Jews. He became so thirsty that he drank a lot of wine, got drunk, and was beheaded by Judith, leading to a Jewish victory.