Shlomzion: An Unknown Queen, A Timeless Legacy

It’s an enigma why a queen described as “one of the greatest women of Jewish history”¹ is little known today. Shlomzion HaMalka (the Queen, in Hebrew) stood steadfast with strong values and delicate poise in a degenerate and tumultuous environment, surrounded by Jews who battled each other for decades and Greeks seeking to destroy Judaism. 

She has a strong record of accomplishments, from transitioning the Jewish nation to a decade of peace after years of murder, violence, and bloodshed to shifting the nation from Hellenistic assimilation to pious Torah observance. Although Shlomzion ruled over the Jewish people around 2000 years ago, the traits she embodies and the lessons she imparts remain relevant today.

Shlomzion HaMalka (141–67 BCE) was born into a prestigious, very devout Jewish family. She was the daughter of Shetach Ben Yossi and the granddaughter of Yossi Ben Yochanan Ish Yerushalayim, who was a Torah leader in the early Mishnaic era. Despite severe religious differences, Shlomzion married Yehuda Aristobulus, the son of the fourth Hasmonean² ruler, Yochanan Hyrcanos. When Hyrcanos died, Aristobulus declared himself king, making Shlomzion the queen. 

Following Aristobulus’ death, she released his imprisoned brother, Alexander Yannai, whom she then married under the halacha of yibum³. During much of the Hasmonean period, great political and military conflicts were waged against the Jews by outside nations, while internal religious conflicts created a tumultuous Jewish society and civil war between the more devout Pharisees and the Hellenistic-supporting Sadducees who did not accept Torah’s Oral Law. Shlomzion’s greatness as a leader was because her personality and spirituality remained untouched by it.

Following the death of King Alexander Yannai in 76 BCE, a new era began when Queen Shlomzion took the reins of the kingdom. Peace prevailed, spiritual growth flourished, and the economy prospered. Yet the impressiveness of Shlomzion is more than just her successful accomplishments, but also the way she achieved them. It’s not just about what she did, but how she did it, that makes her a role model for us.

Like most women, Shlomzion had to multitask and juggle a lot on her plate; she understood the need to strategize her priorities. Among her first steps as queen was to alleviate conflicts coming from outside their borders so she could focus on internal affairs. Mishlei⁴ informs us that a wise woman builds her home, but a foolish one tears it down. Shlomzion sagaciously understood that peace at home, within her Hasmonean kingdom, was vital to the productivity and prosperity of her people. Devoid of any military background, she successfully strengthened the kingdom’s borders and engaged in international diplomacy to secure peace with enemies. That’s why, although she was called Shlomit Alexandra (Salome Alexandra) at birth, she is usually referred to as Shlomzion, because she was the only successful Hasmonean ruler to establish peace (shalom) for the Jews (Zion) for such a length of time.

Despite holding the most powerful position in the land, Shlomzion’s modest and dignified behavior exemplified the standards of tzniut (modesty), which she used to have a powerful but hidden influence. She had been asked by her late husband on his deathbed to take over the king’s responsibilities, because he believed she would be more successful than one of their sons. She stepped into the position assured of her qualifications, abilities, and skills to altruistically do what was best for the people. Yet she did not demand the spotlight on herself with promotion of self-grandeur, and instead chose to lead from behind the scenes by delegating most of the public positions and spokesman activities. 

Shlomzion used her feminine traits to be a lady-like leader in a very masculine and male-dominated era. She had been married to a ruthless, violent, and volatile ruler but did not allow it to affect her personality during her marriage, nor after.

Shlomzion appointed her brother, Shimon ben Shetach, as a key government advisor⁵, and he is usually credited for efforts she initiated. The Talmud⁶ cites that the world was desolate of Torah until Shimon ben Shetach restored its glory, greatly impacting subsequent generations⁷. The Talmud⁸ also reports that in the time of Shimon ben Shetacḥ, “wheat kernels grew as big as kidneys, barley as big as olive pits, and lentils as golden dinars.” Those blessings bestowed onto the Jewish people are a testament to the hard work, spiritual righteousness, and meaningful intentions of Shlomzion, regardless of what is publicly attributed to her. Shlomzion shows us that people can selflessly change the world for the sake of doing good while maintaining high levels of modesty.

Shlomzion used her feminine traits to be a lady-like leader in a very masculine and male-dominated era. She had been married to a ruthless, violent, and volatile ruler but did not allow it to affect her personality during her marriage, nor after. She ruled with strength but not toughness, with nobility not aggressiveness. By maintaining a regal and refined manner, she had great influence on those around her, as demonstrated already during her husband’s reign: Shlomzion’s brother had fled to Egypt because of religious differences with King Alexander Yannai. Rather than antagonistically demanding her brother’s return, Shlomzion bid her time, held her tongue, waited patiently for the right moment to do or say something. 

Her personality won over her subjects and, because she was so beloved as queen, Shlomzion was able to obtain their acceptance of more stringent halachic practices. In accordance with the Mishlei, “Do not forsake the Torah of your mother,”⁹ Shlomzion was uncompromising on her stringent Pharisees religious values and beliefs. Torah practices previously prohibited by the Sadducees were restored, and control of the Beit Hamikdash was returned to the Pharisees. Shlomzion also ensured government support for a religious educational system, creating a structured network of Torah schools. 

She also championed the value of women in the Jewish community and home. Shlomzion used her position to influence and engage the Rabbis in aiding women through Jewish law. With her support, the Jewish laws of marital contracts were refined, within the confines of Torah, to financially protect the Jewish woman in divorce and “strengthen the rights of the wife so as to prevent the husband from quickly and unjustly divorcing her.”¹⁰

Today, we are confronted by rising global antisemitism, exploding and polarized internal religious conflicts, and outside influences that inject religious liberalism and declined moral values into our community, similar to what Shlomztion faced when she began her reign. Despite ruling over 2000 years ago, Shlomzion remains an example of how to use our innate femininity and maternal instincts to combat the challenges and strengthen our Jewish communities. Shlomzion epitomizes the verse in Tehillim, “Kol kevuda bat melech pnima,” every Jewess is considered the daughter of a King, a princess whose honor and beauty come from within¹¹. Let us learn and teach about Shlomzion, so all can emulate her.

¹ Wein, Rabbi Berel, Echoes of Glory, Shaar Press, New York, 2014, p. 91.

² The last surviving son of Matityahu the Maccabi, Shimon, signed a peace agreement with the Greeks, regaining Jewish sovereignty over Israel. Shimon’s descendants created the Hasmonean (Chashmonaim) monarchy, appointing Jewish kings who ruled over Israel for 103 years. They largely assimilated with the Greeks, denied the validity of Oral Torah Law, and created civil war among the Jews.

³ Mindel, Nissan. “Queen Salome Alexandra.” Chabad.org, 2023, www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/112049/jewish/Queen-Salome-Alexandra.htm. Yibum is the act mandated by the Torah when a widow of a childless married man marries his surviving brother.

⁴ Mishlei, 14:1

⁵ Wein, Rabbi Berel, Echoes of Glory, Shaar Press, New York, 2014.

⁶ Kiddushin, 66a.

⁷ Domnitch, Larry. “Queen Shlomtzion: In the Spirit of the Maccabees.” Aish.Com, 19 Dec. 2021, aish.com/queen-shlomtzion-in-the-spirit-of-the-maccabees/.

⁸ Taanit, 23a.

⁹ Mishlei, 1:8.

¹⁰ Wein, Rabbi Berel, The Oral Law of Sinai, John Wiley & Sons, 2008.

¹¹ Tehillim, 45:14.