UGH THIS IS SO GOOOOOD!!!! All of it!! And a cherry on top with Grohl and Karen O’s “Heads Will Roll” hot damn that was fire. Thank you again, Rabbi, for your wit and wisdom and sass and sanctuary in this space. Chag sameach.
Didn't know anything about the salty cheese before reading your commentary. Is this widely known and Am I just out of it. Also didn't know that the 8th night if Hannukah is associated with the story of Judith!
It's a thing! Like the Rema (the Ashkenazi commentator) on the Shulchan Aruch (the authoritative 16th c. law code) says: "Some say that cheese should be eaten during Hanukkah, because a miracle was done though milk which Yehudit fed the enemy. ([and then he cites as sources] [unknown author, maybe 15th c.] Kol Bo and [14th c.] Nissim of Gerona)."
It has taken me a little while to figure out some of the things troubling me about the Judith story and the various ways it can be approached.
Before that I want to thank you for sharing the links to Kehinde Wiley's artwork, also Karen O's music for the Hanukkah Sessions 2022, and the other paintings.
A minor point, but I don't think using Assyria as the evil kingdom was about being circumspect. Judith 4:4 seems to establish that the people of Judea (at least those taken captive by Nebuchadnezzar) were newly returned to Judea after the Babylonian captivity. So mentioning Nebuchadnezzar at all seems a bit chancy. By then Assyria had already carried off the ten tribes of the North Kingdom ( and they don't get a chance to return ). So Assyria fits the bill for a scary kingdom. (Assuming the Judeans have forgotten their uneasy relationship with the Northern Kingdom.)
Some of my awkwardness, comes from realizing that Judith is a superwoman and clearly designed for the male gaze, even without considering Jan Sanders van Hemessen's artwork. It would be nice to have a story where the woman does not have to be beautiful, rich, and powerful to help save her people. And I have to wonder about Judith never remarrying someone in Manasseh's family to have an heir for Manasseh. It may be another reason Judith doesn't make the cut for the TaNaKh.
Another downside is that Judith is the very definition to privilege. Her servant, her right-hand woman was a slave. If I am reading it correctly, she is still a slave until Judith frees her on her deathbed (or maybe in her will). Was her servant Jewish, or a slave acquired in Babylon. She certainly was loyal to Judith and clearly extremely competent.
I don't have access, but just the Extract of "Chapter 7. What Shall We Do with Judith? A Feminist Assessment of a Biblical ‘Heroine’" caught my attention.
I do hope that we don't reach the point where quoting authors, who have disappointed us in some ways, is no longer acceptable. All authors that move us have the capacity to disappoint us. And yes, I thought putting the comment in a footnote was appropriate.
I appreciate the patience of anyone who is read this far.
Thanks for this Jeff. I'm late and catching up . One note I'd make as I weigh these thoughts. I wholeheartedly agree with your assessment on this, but I think we do have stories- many and in every history/tradition - where women who are not rich, powerful, beautiful help to save their people. They exist, but we don't prioritize them, they aren't the stories we pay attention to - often because we do not know their names (such and such's wife....), but they are there, always. It takes a little more work to find them, but I think the issue is more about what we choose to give our attention to, to preserve and to pass down.
Sarah - Thanks! I love reading stories from different strands of history/tradition and have found new material here in Life is a Sacred Text (lots of good recommendations). As you noted, “what we choose to give our attention to” is vital. I knew from a young age that what we choose to preserve and pass down was not self-evident. I was lucky to know all of my grandparents. Some shared a lot of stories and some very few. In addition to history/tradition, we need to think of the stories we have been/are part of. I have left certain traditions behind and been adopted into new ones. Like many families, there are disagreements about the past, present, future of what is worth paying attention to, to preserve, to pass down, and also what should change in my family, my circle of friends/acquaintances, and the larger world I am part of. I’m still working on what I will pass down through my living and shared thoughts.
I don’t know but there’s a wonderful reflection on the Yael / Sisera story by AS Byatt in one of her short story collections. It all hinges on the fact that her mother, whenever she got the butter out of the fridge, would say “here is the butter in a lordly dish” (a quote from the story).
the paintings included throughout made my art history brain happy and the text/commentary made my religious-feminist nerd brain happy. all-around amazing piece.
Omigosh, I loved everything about this article, Rabbi! The art, the humor...everything. (I, too, recognized the author you alluded to and share your opinion on the smug picture she shared after the demise of Roe v. Wade.) I am always enlightened and captivated by your writing. Thank you!
I appreciate the link to the article. That helps put your comment into context. I agree that it's not an expression of empathy. However, not for nothing, for me, injecting it into your otherwise fun presentation of Judith was a distraction. But, hey, others might find it spot on. Meaningful writing provokes and evokes so I'm cool with it, especially with your sharing the link about where the comment about smugness came from. Happy 8th day of Hanukkah.
Oh and additional moral of the story: don’t hang your sword near your bed while you’re asleep. (And don’t leave guns lying around the house.)
Awesome! And you mentioned Artemisia Gentileschi too 💖
Look, I've been saying for years that Fig Newtons are the best.
UGH THIS IS SO GOOOOOD!!!! All of it!! And a cherry on top with Grohl and Karen O’s “Heads Will Roll” hot damn that was fire. Thank you again, Rabbi, for your wit and wisdom and sass and sanctuary in this space. Chag sameach.
Sometimes some heads need to roll ;)
Fantastic writeup! Excellent -- 10s across the board.
I love this so very much. Thanks!!
Great story, great art, great writing: Maybe my favorite to date
Didn't know anything about the salty cheese before reading your commentary. Is this widely known and Am I just out of it. Also didn't know that the 8th night if Hannukah is associated with the story of Judith!
It's a thing! Like the Rema (the Ashkenazi commentator) on the Shulchan Aruch (the authoritative 16th c. law code) says: "Some say that cheese should be eaten during Hanukkah, because a miracle was done though milk which Yehudit fed the enemy. ([and then he cites as sources] [unknown author, maybe 15th c.] Kol Bo and [14th c.] Nissim of Gerona)."
It has taken me a little while to figure out some of the things troubling me about the Judith story and the various ways it can be approached.
Before that I want to thank you for sharing the links to Kehinde Wiley's artwork, also Karen O's music for the Hanukkah Sessions 2022, and the other paintings.
A minor point, but I don't think using Assyria as the evil kingdom was about being circumspect. Judith 4:4 seems to establish that the people of Judea (at least those taken captive by Nebuchadnezzar) were newly returned to Judea after the Babylonian captivity. So mentioning Nebuchadnezzar at all seems a bit chancy. By then Assyria had already carried off the ten tribes of the North Kingdom ( and they don't get a chance to return ). So Assyria fits the bill for a scary kingdom. (Assuming the Judeans have forgotten their uneasy relationship with the Northern Kingdom.)
Some of my awkwardness, comes from realizing that Judith is a superwoman and clearly designed for the male gaze, even without considering Jan Sanders van Hemessen's artwork. It would be nice to have a story where the woman does not have to be beautiful, rich, and powerful to help save her people. And I have to wonder about Judith never remarrying someone in Manasseh's family to have an heir for Manasseh. It may be another reason Judith doesn't make the cut for the TaNaKh.
Another downside is that Judith is the very definition to privilege. Her servant, her right-hand woman was a slave. If I am reading it correctly, she is still a slave until Judith frees her on her deathbed (or maybe in her will). Was her servant Jewish, or a slave acquired in Babylon. She certainly was loyal to Judith and clearly extremely competent.
I don't have access, but just the Extract of "Chapter 7. What Shall We Do with Judith? A Feminist Assessment of a Biblical ‘Heroine’" caught my attention.
https://www.bloomsburycollections.com/book/tobit-and-judith-the-feminist-companion-to-the-bible-second-series/ch7-what-shall-we-do-with-judith-a-feminist-assessment-of-a-biblical-heroine. I'm sure I've heard this anecdote before, maybe even here in Life is a Sacred Text.
I do hope that we don't reach the point where quoting authors, who have disappointed us in some ways, is no longer acceptable. All authors that move us have the capacity to disappoint us. And yes, I thought putting the comment in a footnote was appropriate.
I appreciate the patience of anyone who is read this far.
Thanks for this Jeff. I'm late and catching up . One note I'd make as I weigh these thoughts. I wholeheartedly agree with your assessment on this, but I think we do have stories- many and in every history/tradition - where women who are not rich, powerful, beautiful help to save their people. They exist, but we don't prioritize them, they aren't the stories we pay attention to - often because we do not know their names (such and such's wife....), but they are there, always. It takes a little more work to find them, but I think the issue is more about what we choose to give our attention to, to preserve and to pass down.
Sarah - Thanks! I love reading stories from different strands of history/tradition and have found new material here in Life is a Sacred Text (lots of good recommendations). As you noted, “what we choose to give our attention to” is vital. I knew from a young age that what we choose to preserve and pass down was not self-evident. I was lucky to know all of my grandparents. Some shared a lot of stories and some very few. In addition to history/tradition, we need to think of the stories we have been/are part of. I have left certain traditions behind and been adopted into new ones. Like many families, there are disagreements about the past, present, future of what is worth paying attention to, to preserve, to pass down, and also what should change in my family, my circle of friends/acquaintances, and the larger world I am part of. I’m still working on what I will pass down through my living and shared thoughts.
Has anyone done a good side-by-side comparison of the Judith/Holofernes story with the Yael/Sisera story (which IS in the Tanakh)?
I don’t know but there’s a wonderful reflection on the Yael / Sisera story by AS Byatt in one of her short story collections. It all hinges on the fact that her mother, whenever she got the butter out of the fridge, would say “here is the butter in a lordly dish” (a quote from the story).
the paintings included throughout made my art history brain happy and the text/commentary made my religious-feminist nerd brain happy. all-around amazing piece.
Omigosh, I loved everything about this article, Rabbi! The art, the humor...everything. (I, too, recognized the author you alluded to and share your opinion on the smug picture she shared after the demise of Roe v. Wade.) I am always enlightened and captivated by your writing. Thank you!
I appreciate the link to the article. That helps put your comment into context. I agree that it's not an expression of empathy. However, not for nothing, for me, injecting it into your otherwise fun presentation of Judith was a distraction. But, hey, others might find it spot on. Meaningful writing provokes and evokes so I'm cool with it, especially with your sharing the link about where the comment about smugness came from. Happy 8th day of Hanukkah.
Totally agree that it's a buzzkill. I moved it to be a footnote--it's a fair critique. Happy Hanukah!!
"Worth the ride" for sure!
omg judith!!!!!! love her ❤️