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The Woman Who Saved the Day
 | The sun had already begun to set when Yehudit wound her way toward the enemy's camp. "I have an important message for your commander," she said to the sentry. "Take me to him at once!"
42 Comments Posted
Found it very interesting, the courage of a virtuous women. Prayer, how much do we in the west take it to heart? Thank you for sharing of the story.
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I recentaly found out that I have jewish blood in me and that my family came over during the war... I love the story and I am please to have this religon...
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I enjoyed reading the story of Yehudit. It was very well written. This evening I had a neighbor of mine search the Talmud for a good period of time to try to find the story. In the end, he found a few sources which referred to the story, but no story. I understand that it appears in the Sefer HaMaccabeim--which neither of us had. Thanks for the easy find! Happy Chanukah.
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Is the moral of this story that, In the war between men and women, some wariness and distrust is warranted, and that he who does not think with his head is liable to lose it? (This is really just the story of Samson and Delilah told from the other side.)
Seriously, this is a rare instance of a story in which a female trickster/seductress is portrayed as a hero rather than a villain.
Also:
It's interesting that Yehudit proclaims that surrender to Holofernes is worse than death, yet she puts herself in a position that will inevitably raise questions about her own personal surrender to Holofernes. At least she's a widow, so that no one could accuse her of having been unfaithful to her husband (or even of her having sacrificed her virginity).
What if she HAD been forced to commit adultery to save her people? Would that indeed have sullied her reputation (in a way the commission of political assassination in cold blood apparently did not), or would her actions have been perceived as all the more noble, since they involved sacrifice as well as courage? Either way, I think that if this had been a Greek story, Yehudit's deed could not help coming across as somewhat tainted, and the tale would not be considered to have a "satisfactory" ending unless it included Yehudit's own death.
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So well written, it brings the ancient text to real life. Once again a job well done. Thank you.
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I am glad after finding this name that there was a good story of bravey and courage.
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As a young jewish girl, nearly bas mitzvah, I found that this story about a strong jewish woman really inspired me. It is nice to have a brave woman to look up to, to hear the story of her bravery.
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This story seems to be another story like the Book of Esther. The heroine winds up in the company of the leader of the enemy and manages through her femininity to savce her people. JewishEncyclopedia.com reads Holofernes was a general under Nebuchanezzar which predates the story of Esther and was in the time of Daniel. Perhaps this story was overshadowed by the writings of Daniel and was only brought to light after the victory of the Maccabees, much like the story of Hannah and her seven sons. Oddly enough, even with stories like these, by the 1st century C.E. the place of women is still that of "property" or at best a 2nd class citizen which continued well into the 20th century C.E. in most western cultures and still remains in many eastern cultures.
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I have been fascinated with the story of Judith. So much so that I wrote a full length play called The Judith Code with a journalist friend, Dody Denman from Texas, USA. The play is a modern day version of the Judith story and she fights terrorists instead of Assyrians. The play has been staged with great success here in the Cayman Islands, so much so that it is returning for a three week run in Feb/March 2007.
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Such a delightful and inspiring story of true faith....
The power of BELIEVING in FAITH and PRAYER...... We TRULY have an AWSOME GOD......
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I enjoyed the story of Yehudit, but I have a question. I am just discovering my Jewish roots and embraceing them. I have been raised in the Christian environment and as such taught that it is against the Commandments to kill, or murder. Isn't this what she did, or am I missing something very important about the way G-D has meant us to understand this. I am just learning so please be patient with me.
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I have enjoyed the story of Yehudit.
Thank you.
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To answer the anon person from Edinburgh, VA. I am a Christian too but David slew Goliath.... Judith slew a man (Holoferenes) who had slaughterd, raped, pillaged and violated anyone (men, women and children) and desecrated God's temples. Judith herself was going to be raped by Holoferenes and then given to his men. Her town of Bethuliah was going to have the same fate. The men were giving in without a fight. She berated them and showed that a mere woman (a widow) could defeat this terrible man because IT WAS GOD'S WILL so by her example the men did overthrow the enemy. This was war.
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Even though I already know the story it was nice reading it again because the author put really well especially with all the details!!!!!
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My mom wrote the Yehudis story and had it published but she can't find it.
This is the best yet, besides mom's!
I am posting it to a bunch of single moms around town to give them strength-if Yehudis can do something like that, we can surely do our parenting with the same brevity and valor.
Thanks for your Chanuka special, I think you've covered everything.
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This is a sweet story. Did they really have to eat their cats and dogs? I wouldn't. I love my dogiepoo
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when will we learn to kill with kindness and love our enemies rather than be like tyhem?
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In response to your question: I do believe that the point if this story is that Yehudit did “kill her enemy with kindness”, only she used a sword too. Maybe in surgery you go in with kindness for the patient, but you use a scalpel as well to cut out the parts that are causing harm when need be? Sometimes what looks cruel at first glance is really not so cruel but actually a deep level of love?
For me, this very difficult story speaks of Yehudit's great love for her people and her desire to end their painful suffering.
I have a great respect for you and love your work. Sometimes there is evil that is so dark we must cut it out. We each have a different task and for some that means killing the enemy with a sword. This is not an easy story and we are not all called to do this difficult task.
It is the primary mission of all Jews, especially in this season, to be like the light of the Chanukah candle and dispel darkness. Your holy mission is to spread light and love. May you always have the strength and blessing to carry on. May the love that others have for you nourish you. And may we all be blessed with the understanding to know what is right action.
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very interesting story tov meod*
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thank you. there are times when we can eliminate things from our life when our well being is not being threatened without hurting anyone and using love as the weapon but when our health and lives are at risk we need to take more active role and eliminate what threatens us or is killing us. i have kiled with a sword and cured with a scalpel and learned that wordswordswords can become swordswordswords too.
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My name is YeHudit and I happened to play Yehudit in school. I still remember how scared everyone was as they watched me do the head severance. They all said that it looked almost real.
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It is wonderful to read your comments on Judith and I was especially touched by Laya's and Bernie's. "I have killed with a sword and cured with a scalpel". Judith did exactly that all those thousands of years ago. Her words were like a scalpel to the men who did nothing but her sword cured the 'cancer' that would have killed them all.
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I think that most people transpose the concepts into a modern peace language.
We are so lucky we do not have to go out and personally kill the enemy.
What defenses had they in ancient days? The moral meaning of Judiths' story is to win the enemys' confidence, find the enemys' weaknesses and use them to advantage,but then prevent violence toward ones' own people. No-one is commanding you to cut off heads these days.Yuck.
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What a wonderful legacy our brave and intelligent Jewish women have left us. They were cunning and resourceful in their everyday lives and when it was important to overcome an enemy or situation. We can learn much from women the likes of Ruth, Haddasah and Yehudit.
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Thank you Chabad.org that you wrote this.I rarely see this story. And we can learn from this never to turn away from G-D!!!!!!Never!!!! Thank you again.
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It's great that you're finding your roots! Remember that there's a difference between the christian 10 commandments, and the actual ones. Killing and murdering aren't the same thing- the Torah says "Thou shalt not commit murder", however, killing your enemy to save your life & the rest of the Jewish people's is well permitted; just read your Torah. There are multiple examples when our people had to kill in order to preserve their own posterity, but this is not murder. Murder is the shedding of innocent blood.
We consider Yehudith a hero, but I'm sure the enemy would call her a villain. Remember that whoever is on G-d's side is the hero.
I encourage you to read the Torah and familiarize yourself with Law as it's written there, instead of getting a mortal's interpretation. I also grew up christian before I found out about my hebrew heritage- you have a lot of learning to do, but you've finally found the truth, so it's well worth it. Welcome to the family, Shalom!
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As a Roman Catholic, well aware of my roots in Israel, I want to share that we believe and honor this 'story' of Judith.
With affection, as we celebrate Chanukah, Shalom.
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I have learned that FETA cheese is a good thing! Only JOking ,but it is true! I like to know that women can be strong. This story helped me to remember to keep my faith in G_d no matter how dark it gets!
I love you G_d!
PS Chabad.Org, you have given me so much in such a short period of time. Thank you for helping me to see the light!
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No they didn't eat them.
They were not that desperate yet.
They were still keeping kosher.
Dogs and cats are not kosher.
Horses and donkeys are also not kosher.
Most animals are not kosher.
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My Hebrew name is Yehudit. After reading this story, I feel a renewed passion for the history of my ancestors.
In so many instances, we roll over and "play" dead instead of fighting for our rights in a civil manner. We must do something, anything, to improve the quality of life for those who suffer endlessly.
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Today I had read this history, and gave me the strength to keep going in my life not matter what, because G-d is with me, I am not alone. We have to wait for his help, only G-d knows how,and where is the moment for everything we do.
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The inspiring story of Yehudit's unyielding faith in G-d is a lesson for all of us to wait on Him!
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What an inspiriing story! She had the strength of a 100 horses in her faith that G-d is her Protector and Deliverer. In life, we will always have bullies to destroy us, but G-d remains faithful to us, may we do the same towards Him.
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this is a long story can't you make it shorter
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Her story has inspired me to continue on my quest for G-d and make sure that I follow her example and stay faithful and strong even when the enemies of our time come and try to take what is rightfully ours. I will stand on G-d's Word. For what He did way back then He will do for us now. Trust in G-d my earthly family.
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It is the first time I read this story, and it is wonderful to me. I am just now, learning how to celebrate shabbat, chanukah, shavuot and the other feasts of YHWH and I want to tell this story to my children. Do you have any other stories that it is usual to tell on the high feasts and shabbats? Please send them to me.
Thanks a lot, Shalom!
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What more can I say? My namesake!
:-)
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The comments are very moving. Except one: annabelle from malibu, california thinks the story is too long and wants it shortened! HAHAHAHA. This is so typical.
I want to thank all the rest of the faithful for their comments and insights.
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I first learned this story when I took an art class in college and learned about Michael Angelo's Judith and Holefernes. Although I was raised a Jew I had not known the story of Judith until then. I named my first favorite doll Judy when I was growing up-I think it was a popular name in the 1950s
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It's really a wonderful story, thank you for this. It truly made my faith in G-d strong.
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This is the first time I read this story- it's wonderful-
I am proud to be named after this brave and wise woman
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if you say this, of course you hear the word JEW within.
She was, brave and wise. And she did save many people. And yes, it is a difficult story, because it did involve, what she did, to save others.
There are times, in extreme circumstances, when it seems the choices are not easy, and she did what others could not do with great bravery and moral strength.
Yes, we did and do have people who "bully" us, and it seems there are times, we must defend ourselves. That too. And I wonder when it will be time for all this pain, for all this, to end, so the story has a good ending, for us all. What happened to humanity and this notion that humane people do not kill each other to resolve conflicts?
Will the world ever get it right? Or are we doomed to keep on circling endlessly, this same by now very old story.
I think faith has been tested, again and yet, again, and these are the heroic stories that continue on, even unto the present.
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