דאמר רבי יהושע בן לוי נשים חייבות בנר חנוכה שאף הן היו באותו הנס
Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi said: Women are obligated in lighting the Hanukkah light, as they too were included in that miracle.
היו באותו הנס - שגזרו יוונים על כל בתולות הנשואות להיבעל לטפסר תחלה ועל יד אשה נעשה הנס:
Were in the same miracle - that the Greeks decreed that all the engaged virgins would be violated by an officer first, and the miracle was by the hand of a woman.
כיון שראו יוונים שאין ישראל מרגישין בגזירותיהם עמדו וגזרו עליהם גזירה מרה ועכורה, שלא תכנס כלה בלילה הראשון מחופתה אלא אצל ההגמון שבמקום ההוא. כיון ששמעו ישראל כך רפו ידיהם ותשש כחם ונמנעו מלארס, והיו בנות ישראל בוגרות ומזקינות כשהן בתולות, ונתקיים עליהם בתולותיה נוגות והיא מר לה (איכה א׳:ד׳), והיו יוונים מתעללות בבתולות ישראל, ונהגו בדבר הזה שלש שנים ושמונה חדשים,
עד שבא מעשה של בת מתתיהו כהן גדול שנשאת לבן חשמונאי ואלעזר היה שמו, כיון שהגיע יום שמחתה הושיבוה באפריון, וכשהגיע זמן הסעודה נתקבצו כל גדולי ישראל לכבוד מתתיהו ובן חשמונאי שלא היו באותו הדור גדולים מהם, וכשישבו לסעוד עמדה חנה בת מתתיהו מעל אפריון וספקה כפיה זו על זו וקרעה פורפירון שלה ועמדה לפני כל ישראל כשהיא מגולה ולפני אביה ואמה וחותנה.
כיון שראו אחיה כך נתביישו ונתנו פניהם בקרקע וקרעו בגדיהם, ועמדו עליה להרגה, אמרה להם שמעוני אחיי ודודיי, ומה אם בשביל שעמדתי לפני צדיקים ערומה בלי שום עבירה הרי אתם מתקנאים בי, ואין אתם מתקנאים למסרני ביד ערל להתעולל בי! הלא יש לכם ללמוד משמעון ולוי אחי דינה שלא היו אלא שנים וקנאו לאחותם והרגו כרך כשכם ומסרו נפשם על ייחוד של מקום ועזרם יהוה ולא הכלימם, ואתם חמשה אחים יהודה יוחנן יונתן שמעון ואלעזר, ופרחי כהונה יותר ממאתים בחור, שימו בטחונכם על המקום והוא יעזור אתכם שנאמר כי אין מעצור ליהוה להושיע וגו׳ (שמואל א י״ד:ו׳).
ופתחה פיה בבכיה ואמרה רבש״ע אם לא תחוס עלינו חוס על קדושת שמך הגדול שנקרא עלינו ונקום היום נקמתנו.
באותה שעה נתקנאו אחיה ואמרו בואו ונטול עצה מה נעשה, נטלו עצה זה מזה ואמרו בואו ונקח אחותינו ונוליכנה אצל המלך הגדול ונאמר לו אחותנו בת כהן גדול ואין בכל ישראל גדול מאבינו, וראינו שלא תלין אחותינו עם ההגמון, אלא עם המלך שהוא גדול כמותינו, ונכנסנו עליו ונהרגהו ונצא, ונתחיל אח״כ בעבדיו ובשריו, והשם יעזרנו וישגבנו, נטלו עצה וכו׳ ועשה להם הקב"ה תשועה גדולה.
It is written (Jeremiah 50:33) "Thus said the LORD of Hosts: The people of Israel are oppressed, And so too the people of Judah etc." and it is written (ibid 34) "Their Redeemer is mighty, His name is LORD of Hosts. He will champion their cause— So as to give rest to the earth, And unrest to the inhabitants of Babylon." They said in the days of the Greeks, This verse endangers [the Jews] because it reveals a secret about Israel. They said, Come let renew upon them decrees until they have forsaken their God, and they will believe in our foreign worship. They stood up and decreed: Any Israelite who makes a latch or bolt on his door will be stabbed with they sword. (What was the reason for this [decree]? [It was] in order that there should not be honor and privacy in Israel, because any house that does not have a door has no honor or privacy. And any who wants to enter can enter whether day or night.) Since Israel saw this, they got up and removed all doors of their houses. They were unable to eat, drink or have relations, because of thieves, robbers, and Greek invaders. They did not sleep day or night. The verse was fulfilled upon them, "You will be afraid night and day" (Deuteronomy 28:66). They said before The Holy One Blessed is He (THOBH), Master of the world how much are we able to carry? He said to them, [This decree is] with the sin of Mezuzzah, but even so room was found in this decree. Israel was living without doors, and there is nothing that removes the evils of a wife from upon her husband like a door. As it says "Go my people, come into your rooms etc." (Isaiah 26:20) They endured the decree for three years. When the Greeks saw that Israel endured the decree and no one violated it in any way, they stood up and decreed another decree. They spread a rumor: Any person from Israel who has an ox or sheep, he should inscribe on its horns that it has no portion in the God of Israel. (What was the reason for this [decree]? In order that Israel would not eat meat, milk, or cheese, and they would not be able to plow.) They said we know that they cannot endure this decree. When Israel heard this they were pained a great pain. They said O mercy! that we will be atoned with our God. They stood up and sold their animals whether pure or impure, and Israel was traveling on foot. Upon them [the verse] was fulfilled, "I have seen slaves on horseback etc." (Ecclesiastes 10:7) THOBH said to them, [This decree is] with the sin that you withheld yourselves from ascending to Jerusalem on the three pilgrimage festivals, bringing the sacrifices, and giving the priestly gifts. Therefore [the verse] is fulfilled upon you "Your ox shall be slaughtered before your eyes" (Deuteronomy 28:31) But even so room was found in this decree. The deer, the rams and all species of pure birds were coming into and entering the houses of Israel, because they did not have doors. Israel came and grabbed them and slaughtered and ate meat. They gave praise to THOBH and they said, Blessed is he that flipped the intentions of our enemies for good. Because if their houses had doors, how could all game enter to them. THOBH answered them, You were meciful on my honor and you did not deny me, So I have prepared for you game. When the Greeks saw that Israel endured this decree, they stood up and decreed: Anyone whose wife goes to immerse herself, he will be stabbed with the sword. And the one who catches her [going to immerse] will have her as a wife and her children as slaves. When Israel saw this they refrained from having relations. When they Greeks heard this they said, since Israel is not using their beds, we will attach ourselves to them [beds]. When Israel saw this, they returned to their wives without immersion, [because] they were forced to. They said, Master of the world we are forced [to have relations] without immersion.
שאף הן היו באותו הנס. פירש רשב"ם שעיקר הנס היה על ידן בפורים על ידי אסתר בחנוכה על ידי יהודית בפסח שבזכות צדקניות שבאותו הדור נגאלו.
Since they were also part of the same miracle. Rashbam explained, that the primary part of the miracle was done by them; Purim - by Esther, Chanukah - by Judith, Pesach - for they were saved in the merit of the righteous ones of that generation.
1 Now the children of Israel, that dwelt in Judea, heard all that Holofernes the chief captain of Nebuchanezzer king of the Assyrians had done to the nations, and after what manner he had spoiled all their temples, and brought them to nought.
2 Therefore they were exceedingly afraid of him, and were troubled for Jerusalem, and for the temple of the Lord their God:
3 For they were newly returned from the captivity, and all the people of Judea were lately gathered together: and the vessels, and the altar, and the house, were sanctified after the profanation.
1 Now at that time Judith heard thereof, who was the daughter of Merari, the son of Ox, the son of Joseph, the son of Ozel, the son of Elcia, the son of Ananias, the son of Gedeon, the son of Raphaim, the son of Acitho, the son of Eliu, the son of Eliab, the son of Nathanael, the son of Samael, the son of Salasadal, the son of Israel.
2 And Manasses was her husband, of her tribe and kindred, who died in the barley harvest.
3 For as he stood overseeing them that bound sheaves in the field, the heat came upon his head, and he fell on his bed, and died in the city of Bethulia: and they buried him with his fathers in the field between Dothaim and Balamo.
4 So Judith was a widow in her house three years and four months.
5 And she made her a tent upon the top of her house, and put on sackcloth upon her loins and ware her widow's apparel.
6 And she fasted all the days of her widowhood, save the eves of the sabbaths, and the sabbaths, and the eves of the new moons, and the new moons and the feasts and solemn days of the house of Israel.
7 She was also of a goodly countenance, and very beautiful to behold: and her husband Manasses had left her gold, and silver, and menservants and maidservants, and cattle, and lands; and she remained upon them.
8 And there was none that gave her an ill word; and she feared God greatly.
9 Now when she heard the evil words of the people against the governor, that they fainted for lack of water; for Judith had heard all the words that Ozias had spoken unto them, and that he had sworn to deliver the city unto the Assyrians after five days;
10 Then she sent her waitingwoman, that had the government of all things that she had, to call Ozias and Chabris and Charmis, the ancients of the city.
11 And they came unto her, and she said unto them, Hear me now, O ye governors of the inhabitants of Bethulia: for your words that ye have spoken before the people this day are not right, touching this oath which ye made and pronounced between God and you, and have promised to deliver the city to our enemies, unless within these days the Lord turn to help you...
28 Then said Ozias to her, All that thou hast spoken hast thou spoken with a good heart, and there is none that may gainsay thy words.
29 For this is not the first day wherein thy wisdom is manifested; but from the beginning of thy days all the people have known thy understanding, because the disposition of thine heart is good.
30 But the people were very thirsty, and compelled us to do unto them as we have spoken, and to bring an oath upon ourselves, which we will not break.
31 Therefore now pray thou for us, because thou art a godly woman, and the Lord will send us rain to fill our cisterns, and we shall faint no more.
32 Then said Judith unto them, Hear me, and I will do a thing, which shall go throughout all generations to the children of our nation.
33 Ye shall stand this night in the gate, and I will go forth with my waitingwoman: and within the days that ye have promised to deliver the city to our enemies the Lord will visit Israel by mine hand.
34 But enquire not ye of mine act: for I will not declare it unto you, till the things be finished that I do.
35 Then said Ozias and the princes unto her, Go in peace, and the Lord God be before thee, to take vengeance on our enemies.
36 So they returned from the tent, and went to their wards.
1 Judith fell upon her face, and put ashes upon her head, and uncovered the sackcloth wherewith she was clothed; and about the time that the incense of that evening was offered in Jerusalem in the house of the Lord Judith cried with a loud voice, and said,
2 O Lord God of my father Simeon, to whom thou gavest a sword to take vengeance of the strangers, who loosened the girdle of a maid to defile her, and discovered the thigh to her shame, and polluted her virginity to her reproach; for thou saidst, It shall not be so; and yet they did so:
8 Throw down their strength in thy power, and bring down their force in thy wrath: for they have purposed to defile thy sanctuary, and to pollute the tabernacle where thy glorious name resteth and to cast down with sword the horn of thy altar.
9 Behold their pride, and send thy wrath upon their heads: give into mine hand, which am a widow, the power that I have conceived.
10 Smite by the deceit of my lips the servant with the prince, and the prince with the servant: break down their stateliness by the hand of a woman.
(א) ויהי ככלותה להתחנן ותקם ותקרא לאמתה ותרד אל ביתה אשר ישבה שם בימי שבת ומועד ותסר את שקה ואת בדי אלמנותה מעליה:
(ב) ותרחץ את בשרה במים ותסך נפשה בשמן ותיטב את ראשה:
(ג) ותשם צניפה על ראשה ותלבש בגדי חמודות כאשר עשתה בימי מנשה בעלה:
(ד) ותשם נעלים ברגליה וצמידים וטבעות על ידיה ונזמים באוזניה ותעד כל עדיה למען מצוא חן בעיני כל רואיה:
(ה) ותיקח נאד יין וכד שמן ושק קמח ולחם ותאנים ותיתן לאמתה ותלכנה מול שער העיר:
(ו) ותמצא את עוזיה ואת הזקנים עומדים בשער:
(ז) ויהי בראותם את תואר פניה ואת בגדיה החמודות וישתוממו על יופייה ויאמרו לה:
(ח) ייתן יהוה אלוהי אבותינו את חינך בעיני רואיך ויצליח את דרכך לכבוד ישראל וירושלים וישתחוו ליהוה:
(ט) ותאמר פתחו לי את שער העיר לצאת ולעשות כאשר דברתי אליכם:
(י) ויצוו את השומרים לפתוח את השער ויעשו כן:
(יא) ותצא יהודית עם אמתה ואנשי העיר הביטו אחריה עד רדתה מן ההר אל השפלה ולא יספו עוד לראותה:
(יב) ויהי בלכתה בשפלה ותפגע בנציבי אשור הראשונים וישאלוה ויאמרו לה למי את אי מזה באת ואנה תלכי:
(יג) ותען ותאמר עברית אנכי וברחתי כי ראה אנכי את כל העם נופל תחת ידיכם:
(יד) ואמרתי אלכה נא אל הלופרנש שר צבא אשור לדבר אליו דברי אמת:
(טו) והוריתי אותו את הדרך אשר ילך בה לרשת מהר את כל ארץ ההר ולא ייפול מכל מחנהו איש אחד:
(טז) ויהי בשמעם את הדברים האלה וישימו את עיניהם עליה וישתוממו על יופייה ויאמרו אליה:
(יז) הנה הצלת את נפשך כי מהרת לבא אל אדונינו ועתה בואי נא ונשלחה אנשים אתך להביאך לפניו:
(יח) והיה כי תעמדי לפניו אל תיראי ואמרי לו כאשר עם לבבך וייטב לך:
(יט) ויבחרו מאה איש לשלוח אתה ואת אמתה ויביאוה לפני אהל הלופרנש:
(כ) ויהי בהוודע הדבר ויתקבצו מכל המחנה ויקיפוה לראותה בטרם תבוא האהלה וישתאו כולם על יופייה ועל בני ישראל:
(כא) ויאמרו איש אל אחיו לא נכון הוא לבזות את העם הזה כי נשים יפות להם:
(כב) אך לא יותר מהם איש כי אם יישארו והזנו את כל הארץ:
(כג) ויבאו מאנשי הלופרנש וסריסיו ויוליכה פתח האהל:
(כד) והוא סרוח על ערשו במכסה ארגמן וזהב מעולפת על אבני יקר ויקום ויבוא לקראתה ולפידים ביד הסריסים להאיר:
(כה) והיה בעמדה לפניו ויתפלאו כולם על יפי מראה והיא נפלה על פניה ותשתחו:
(1) Now after this, she ceased to cry to the God of Israel, and she completed all these words. She rose where she had fallen down and called her maid; and she went down into the house in which she lived on the sabbath days and on her feast days, and she pulled off the sackcloth which she had on, and put off the garments of her widowhood,
(2) and washed her body all over with water, and anointed herself with precious ointment, and braided the hair of her head
(3) and put a headdress on it, and put on her garments of gladness, which she used to wear during the life of Manasseh her husband.
(4) And she put sandals on her feet, and she put on her bracelets and her chains and her rings and her earrings and all her ornaments, and she decked herself out boldly, to allure the eyes of all men who might see her.
(5) Then she gave her maid a bottle of wine and a cruse of oil, and filled a bag with parched grain and lumps of figs and with fine bread; so she folded all these things together and laid them upon her. Thus they went forth to the gate of the city of Bethulia,
(6) and they found standing there Uzziah and the elders of the city, Chabris and Charmis.
(7) And when they saw her, that her countenance was altered and her apparel was changed, they wondered at her beauty very greatly and said to her,
(8) May God, the God of our fathers, give you favor and accomplish your endeavors to the glory of the children of Israel and to the exaltation of Jerusalem. Then they worshipped God.
(9) And she said to them, "Command the gates of the city to be opened for me, so that I may go forth to accomplish the things that you have discussed with me."
(10) So they commanded the young men to open it for her, as she had said. And when they had done so,
(11) Judith went out, she and her maid with her; and the men of the city looked after her, until she had gone down the mountain and had passed the valley and they could see her no more.
(12) Thus they went straight ahead in the valley, and the first watch of the Assyrians met her and captured her; and they asked her, "Of what people are you? And where have you come from? And where are you going?"
(13) And she said, "I am a woman of the Hebrews, and I have fled from them, for they will be given over to you to be consumed.
(14) And I am going before Holofernes the chief captain of your army, to declare words of truth;
(15) and I will show him a way, by which he can go and win all the hill country, without losing the body or life of any of his men."
(16) Now when the men heard her words and beheld her countenance, they wondered greatly at her beauty and said to her,
(17) You have saved your life because you have hurried to come down to the presence of our lord. Now therefore come to his tent, and some of us will conduct you, until they have delivered you to his hands.
(18) And when you stand before him, do not be afraid in your heart, but reveal to him what you have said, and he will treat you well.
(19) Then they chose from among them a hundred men to accompany her and her maid; and they brought her to the tent of Holofernes.
(20) Then a crowd began to assemble from throughout all the camp, for the news of her arrival had spread among the tents, and they gathered around her as she stood outside the tent of Holofernes, until they had told him about her. And they wondered at her beauty and admired the children of Israel because of her,
(21) and each one said to his neighbor, "Who could despise this people, who have such women among them?
(22) Surely it is not good for one man among them to be left, who, being set free, might deceive the whole earth."
(23) And those who lay near Holofernes went out, and they and all his servants brought her into the tent.
(24) Now Holofernes rested on his bed under a canopy, which was woven with purple and gold and emeralds and precious stones. So they informed him about her; and he came out in front of his tent with silver lamps going before him.
(25) And when Judith was presented before him and his servants, they all marveled at the beauty of her countenance; and she fell down upon her face and did him reverence, and his servants lifted her up.
10 And in the fourth day Holofernes made a feast to his own servants only, and called none of the officers to the banquet.
11 Then said he to Bagoas the eunuch, who had charge over all that he had, Go now, and persuade this Hebrew woman which is with thee, that she come unto us, and eat and drink with us.
12 For, lo, it will be a shame for our person, if we shall let such a woman go, not having had her company; for if we draw her not unto us, she will laugh us to scorn.
13 Then went Bagoas from the presence of Holofernes, and came to her, and he said, Let not this fair damsel fear to come to my lord, and to be honoured in his presence, and drink wine, and be merry with us and be made this day as one of the daughters of the Assyrians, which serve in the house of Nabuchodonosor.
14 Then said Judith unto him, Who am I now, that I should gainsay my lord? surely whatsoever pleaseth him I will do speedily, and it shall be my joy unto the day of my death.
15 So she arose, and decked herself with her apparel and all her woman's attire, and her maid went and laid soft skins on the ground for her over against Holofernes, which she had received of Bagoas far her daily use, that she might sit and eat upon them.
16 Now when Judith came in and sat down, Holofernes his heart was ravished with her, and his mind was moved, and he desired greatly her company; for he waited a time to deceive her, from the day that he had seen her.
17 Then said Holofernes unto her, Drink now, and be merry with us.
18 So Judith said, I will drink now, my lord, because my life is magnified in me this day more than all the days since I was born.
19 Then she took and ate and drank before him what her maid had prepared.
20 And Holofernes took great delight in her, and drank more wine than he had drunk at any time in one day since he was born.
1 Now when the evening was come, his servants made haste to depart, and Bagoas shut his tent without, and dismissed the waiters from the presence of his lord; and they went to their beds: for they were all weary, because the feast had been long.
2 And Judith was left along in the tent, and Holofernes lying along upon his bed: for he was filled with wine.
3 Now Judith had commanded her maid to stand without her bedchamber, and to wait for her. coming forth, as she did daily: for she said she would go forth to her prayers, and she spake to Bagoas according to the same purpose.
4 So all went forth and none was left in the bedchamber, neither little nor great. Then Judith, standing by his bed, said in her heart, O Lord God of all power, look at this present upon the works of mine hands for the exaltation of Jerusalem.
5 For now is the time to help thine inheritance, and to execute thine enterprizes to the destruction of the enemies which are risen against us.
6 Then she came to the pillar of the bed, which was at Holofernes' head, and took down his fauchion from thence,
7 And approached to his bed, and took hold of the hair of his head, and said, Strengthen me, O Lord God of Israel, this day.
8 And she smote twice upon his neck with all her might, and she took away his head from him.
9 And tumbled his body down from the bed, and pulled down the canopy from the pillars; and anon after she went forth, and gave Holofernes his head to her maid;
10 And she put it in her bag of meat: so they twain went together according to their custom unto prayer: and when they passed the camp, they compassed the valley, and went up the mountain of Bethulia, and came to the gates thereof.
11 Then said Judith afar off, to the watchmen at the gate, Open, open now the gate: God, even our God, is with us, to shew his power yet in Jerusalem, and his forces against the enemy, as he hath even done this day.
...
15 So she took the head out of the bag, and shewed it, and said unto them, behold the head of Holofernes, the chief captain of the army of Assur, and behold the canopy, wherein he did lie in his drunkenness; and the Lord hath smitten him by the hand of a woman.
16 As the Lord liveth, who hath kept me in my way that I went, my countenance hath deceived him to his destruction, and yet hath he not committed sin with me, to defile and shame me.
17 Then all the people were wonderfully astonished, and bowed themselves and worshipped God, and said with one accord, Blessed be thou, O our God, which hast this day brought to nought the enemies of thy people.
11 And the people looted the camp over thirty days: and they gave unto Judith Holofernes his tent, and all his plate, and beds, and vessels, and all his stuff: and she took it and laid it on her mule; and made ready her carts, and laid them thereon.
12 Then all the women of Israel ran together to see her, and blessed her, and made a dance among them for her: and she took branches in her hand, and gave also to the women that were with her.
13 And they put a garland of olive upon her and her maid that was with her, and she went before all the people in the dance, leading all the women: and all the men of Israel followed in their armor with garlands, and with songs in their mouths.
1 Then Judith began to sing this thanksgiving in all Israel, and all the people sang after her this song of praise.
2 And Judith said, Begin unto my God with timbrels, sing unto my Lord with cymbals: tune unto him a new psalm: exalt him, and call upon his name.
7 For the mighty one did not fall by the young men, neither did the sons of the Titans smite him, nor high giants set upon him: but Judith the daughter of Merari weakened him with the beauty of her countenance.
19 Judith also dedicated all the stuff of Holofernes, which the people had given her, and gave the canopy, which she had taken out of his bedchamber, for a gift unto the Lord.
22 And many desired her, but none knew her all the days of her life, after that Manasses her husband was dead, and was gathered to his people.
23 But she increased more and more in honour, and waxed old in her husband's house, being an hundred and five years old, and made her maid free; so she died in Bethulia: and they buried her in the cave of her husband Manasses.
24 And the house of Israel lamented her seven days: and before she died, she did distribute her goods to all them that were nearest of kindred to Manasses her husband, and to them that were the nearest of her kindred.
25 And there was none that made the children of Israel any more afraid in the days of Judith, nor a long time after her death.