Eid al-Banat عيد البنات עיד אלבנאת
Which powerful Jewish Women can you name ?
(א)ובו סעיף אחד:ראש חודש מותר בעשיית מלאכה והנשי' שנוהגות שלא לעשות בו מלאכה הוא מנהג טוב הגה ואם המנהג לעשות מקצת מלאכות ולא לעשות קצתן אזלינן בתר המנהג: (ב"י)
[on] Rosh Hodesh it is permitted to do work and the women who do not do work on it, it is a good tradition.
(א)דברים האסורים והמותרים בחנוכה ובו ג"ס: בכ"ה בכסליו (מתחילים) שמונת ימי חנוכה ואסורים בהספד ותענית אבל מותרין בעשיית מלאכה ונוהגות הנשים שלא לעשות מלאכה בעוד שהנרות דולקות ויש מי שאומר שאין להקל להם:
(1) On the 25th of Kislev (start) the eight days of Hanukkah, and they are prohibited for eulogizing and fasting, but are permitted for doing work. The women have made it a custom not to do work while the candles are burning.
וְהַשְׁתָּא דְּאָמְרִינַן הַדְלָקָה עוֹשָׂה מִצְוָה, הִדְלִיקָהּ חֵרֵשׁ שׁוֹטֶה וְקָטָן לֹא עָשָׂה וְלֹא כְלוּם. אִשָּׁה וַדַּאי מַדְלִיקָה, דְּאָמַר רַבִּי יְהוֹשֻׁעַ בֶּן לֵוִי: נָשִׁים חַיָּיבוֹת בְּנֵר חֲנוּכָּה שֶׁאַף הֵן הָיוּ בְּאוֹתוֹ הַנֵּס.
a woman certainly may light the h'anukia, as Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi said: Women are obligated in lighting the Hanukkah light, as they too were included in that miracle
היו באותו הנס - פי' רשב"ם שעל ידם נגאלו וכן במגילה ע"י אסתר ובחנוכה ע"י יהודית וקשה דאף משמע שאינן עיקר ועוד דבירושלמי גריס שאף הן היו באותו ספק משמע באותה סכנה דלהשמיד להרוג ולאבד והא דאמרינן דפטורות מסוכה אע"ג דאף הן היו באותו הנס כי בסוכות הושבתי התם בעשה דאורייתא אבל בארבעה כוסות דרבנן תיקנו גם לנשים כיון שהיו באותו הנס:
They were in that same miracle: Rashbam explained that they [the Jews] were redeemed through them [the women]. And similarly, in the Megilla, through Esther, and in Chanuka, through Judith. And it is difficult, since "even" implies that they aren't the main thing. And also, the version in the Jerusalem Talmud is "even they were in that same uncertainty," implying in that danger of "to destroy, to slay, and to cause to perish" (Esther 3:13). And this that we say that they [women] are exempt from [the commandment of] sukka, even though that even they were in that same miracle, is [based on] "that I made the children of Israel to dwell in booths" (Leviticus 23:43), there, is regarding a positive Torah commandment. However, regarding the four cups, which is rabbinic, they established it also for women, since they were in that same miracle.
(ב) ריבוי הסעודות שמרבים בהם הם סעודות הרשות שלא קבעום למשתה ושמחה: הגה וי"א שיש קצת מצוה בריבוי הסעודות משום דבאותן הימים היה חנוכת המזבח [מהר"א מפראג] ונוהגין לומר זמירות ושבחות בסעודות שמרבים בהם ואז הוי סעודת מצוה [מנהגים] י"א שיש לאכול גבינה בחנוכה לפי שהנס נעשה בחלב שהאכילה יהודית את האויב [כל בו ור"ן]:
(2) The many meals which we add on [these days] are voluntary meals, since [the Sages] did not establish them as [days of] feasting and joy. Rema: But some say that there is somewhat of a mitzvah in adding meals, because during those days was the Dedication of the Altar (Abraham Kara of Prague). It is the custom to recite hymns and songs of praise during the feasts added on them, and then they are mitzvah meals (Book of Customs). Some say that cheese should be eaten during Hanukkah, because a miracle was done though milk which Yehudit fed the enemy. (Kol Bo and Nissim of Gerona).
So Judith was a widow in her house for three years. She put sackcloth on her loins and wore her widow's clothing. And she fasted all the days of her widowhood, except for sabbaths, the new moons, and the feasts and solemn days of the house of Israel. She also had a graceful temperament and was very beautiful. And her husband Manasseh had left her gold and silver, and menservants and maidservants, and cattle and lands, and she remained with them. And there was no one who spoke an ill word about her, for she feared God greatly. Now she heard the evil words of the people against the governor and that they fainted for lack of water; for Judith had heard all the words that Uzziah had spoken to them and that he had sworn to deliver the city to the Assyrians after five days. So then she sent her woman servant to call Uzziah and Chabris and Charmis, the elders of the city. And they came to her, and she said to them, "Hear me now, you governors of the inhabitants of Bethulia; for your words which you spoke before the people this day are not right, concerning this oath which you made and pronounced between God and yourselves, and your promise to deliver the city to our enemies, unless within these days the Lord turns to help you. And now who are you to have tempted God this day, and to stand among the children of men instead of God? And now test the Lord Almighty, but you will never know anything. No, my brethren, do not provoke the Lord our God to anger." Then Uzziah said to her, "All that you have spoken, you have spoken with a good heart and there is no one who can refute your words. For this is not the first day that your wisdom has been manifested; but from the beginning of your days all the people have known your understanding, because the disposition of your heart has been good. But the people were very thirsty; and they compelled us to do to them as we have spoken and to bring an oath on ourselves, which we will not break. Now therefore pray for us, because you are a godly woman, and then the Lord will send us rain to fill our cisterns and we will faint no more." Then Judith said to them, "Listen to me and I will do something which will be remembered throughout all generations among the children of our nation. You will watch this night at the gate, and I will go forth with my woman servant; and, within the days that you have promised to deliver the city to our enemies, the Lord will visit Israel by my hand. But do not ask me what I will do, for I will not reveal it to you until the things that I do are completed." Then Uzziah and the princes said to her, "Go in peace, and may the Lord God go before you to take vengeance on our enemies." So they returned from the tent and went to their posts.
'Among the anti-Jewish edicts of the time, the invading governor insisted on sleeping with every virgin woman the night before her marriage, and this carried on for almost four years. On the night of the High Priest’s daughter’s marriage, as she was about to be carted off to the governor’s chamber for the night, she uncovered her hair, ripped open her clothes, and exposed herself to all.
The seeven-branched menorah stood in the Temple, and many present-day synagogues feature the menorah. Titus' arch depicts the Romans' sacking of the Temple and theft of the menorah. A nine-branched menorah called a Hanukkiyah is lit on Hanukkah to symbolize the miracle of the oil that burned for eight days.
, or use a special second menorah for the festival, and ask all of your family members to take a role in lighting the candles.
Light the second candle in honor of women heroes that you admire (name names).
Light the third candle in honor of women teachers and spiritual leaders whom you know (again, name names, including relatives and friends).
Light the fourth candle in honor of Jewish mothers and grandmothers, including your own.
Light the fifth candle in honor of all Jewish girls.
Light the sixth candle in honor of your family. (This candle can be special for daughters, or you can have the candle represent the whole family, men and women, boys and girls.)
Light the seventh candle in honor of the Shekhinah
The feminine name of God, expounded upon in the rabbinic era and then by the Kabbalists in extensive literature on the feminine attributes of the divine. the indwelling presence of God that is in every person (in Jewish mystical tradition, the Shekhinah is depicted as female).
Here are the traditional Chanukah blessings in masculine as well as feminine God language. To honor Chag Habanot, you could use the feminine blessings on the seventh night of Chanukah.
(G-d as masculine) Barukh Atah Adonay Eloheynu Melekh Ha’olam asher kidshanu bemitzvotav vetzivanu lehadlik ner shel hanukah.
בְּרוּכָה אַתְּ יָהּ מְקוֹר הַחַיִּים אֲשֶׁר קִדַשְׁתַנוּ בְּמִצְוֹתֵיהָ וְצִוְתָנוּ לְהַדְלִיק נֵר שֶׁל חֲנֻכָּה
(G-d as feminine) Berukha Aht Yah Mekor Hahayim she’astah nisim le’imoteynu vela’avoteynu bayamim hahem bazman hazeh.
Praised are You God, Source of Life, who performed miracles for our ancestors in their day at this season.