Were Women Involved in the Miracle of Chanuka?

In the Chanukah narrative, the spotlight often shines on Yehuda HaMaccabee and his brothers, heroes of the Jewish rebellion against the tyrannical Antiochus IV. While women weren’t directly involved in the military aspects of the revolt or the subsequent rededication of the Beit Hamikdash, deeper investigation unveils a hidden gem in the form of Yehudit, who is associated with the broader Maccabean period.  

Yehudit was a Jewish widow who is described as having a graceful temperament, being very beautiful to behold, having much wealth left to her by her late husband Menashe, and being a God-fearing person. Our sources tell us that she was the daughter of Yochanan, the high priest. Yehudit is from the town of Bethulia, and as the Assyrian forces lay siege to Bethulia, the people grow desperate. She gathers the elders of the city, Uzziah, Chabris, and Charmis, and gave them encouragement to trust in Hashem as He would not forsake them.

We read about Yehudit in none other than the book of Yehudit, an apocryphal work that wasn’t included in the Jewish biblical canon – the Tanach. The story is set during the time of the Assyrian threat to the Israelites. Nebuchadnezzar, the king of the Assyrians, sent his general Holofernes to conquer the nations. Yehudit, as we will see, was a heroine whose story unfolds against the backdrop of an epic struggle for survival.

Who was Yehudit, and What Did She Do?

Yehudit was a Jewish widow who is described as having a graceful temperament, being very beautiful to behold, having much wealth left to her by her late husband Menashe, and being a God-fearing person. Our sources tell us that she was the daughter of Yochanan, the high priest. Yehudit is from the town of Bethulia, and as the Assyrian forces lay siege to Bethulia, the people grow desperate. She gathers the elders of the city, Uzziah, Chabris, and Charmis, and gave them encouragement to trust in Hashem as He would not forsake them.

Yehudit devises a plan to save her people. First, she prays to Hashem for success in her mission:

For Your power is not found in numbers, nor your might in strong men; for you are a God of the afflicted, a helper of the oppressed, an upholder of the weak, a protector of the forlorn, a savior of those who are without hope. I pray to you, I beg you, O God of my father and God of the inheritance of Israel, Lord of the heavens and the earth, Creator of the waters, King of every creature, hear my prayer; and make my speech and deceit to be their wound and stripe, who have resolved cruel things against Your covenant and Your hallowed house… and so make every nation and tribe acknowledge that you are the God of all power and might, and that there is no other who protects the people of Israel but you.  (9:13-17)

She dresses up to make herself look alluring, goes to the Assyrian camp, and ingratiates herself with Holofernes, the military commander of the Assyrian army sent by Nebuchadnezzar, the king of the Neo-Assyrian Empire, deceiving him and gaining his trust. She pretends that she can tell Holofernes how to capture Bethulia without his army suffering any defeat and guide him in this mission. Her plan is to use this trust to ultimately defeat the Assyrians.

Yehudit attends a banquet held by Holofernes, during which he becomes enamored with her. She uses this opportunity to get him drunk. Seizing the moment when alone with Holofernes, who is in a drunken stupor, Yehudit takes his sword and beheads him. (There is another version of the narrative that Yehudit fed him salty cheese and then offered him wine when he was thirsty to make him drunk). She then returns to Bethulia with the severed head, inspiring the Israelites to counterattack.

The Israelites, encouraged by Yehudit’s bravery, launch a successful counteroffensive against the Assyrians. The Assyrian forces retreat, and the people of Bethulia are saved. The Israelites celebrate their victory, and Yehudit is praised for her courage and wisdom. 

The Miracle of Chanuka

The Gemara (Shabbat 23a), in discussing who is obligated to light the Chanukah candles, states:

A woman certainly may light, as Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi said: Women are obligated in lighting the Hanukkah light, as they too were included in that miracle of being saved from the decree of persecution.

There is also a custom for women not to do work for half an hour after candle lighting for this reason. Women lighting Chanuka candles is similar to how women are obligated to hear the Megilla at Purim. The Rashbam (Tosafot, Megilla 4a) explains that on both festivals:

The primary part of the miracle was done by them; Purim – by Esther, Chanukah – by Yehudit, Pesach – for they were saved in the merit of the righteous ones of that generation [Yocheved and Miriam].

Going back to the story of Yehudit, after the Israelites successfully defeated the Assyrians, the High Priest Yehoyakim said to Yehudit:

You are the exaltation of Jerusalem, you are the great glory of Israel, you are the great rejoicing of our nation. You have done all these things by your hand. You have done much good to Israel, and God is pleased with it; you will be blessed by the Almighty Lord for evermore.” And all the people said, “Amen!” (Yehudit 15:10-12)

This Chanuka, may Yehudit’s boldness and daring to defeat the enemy in order to save her people from destruction be an inspiration to us Jewish women as we kindle the Chanuka lights.