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The Story of Yehudit


Image Credit: Chabad

Let us now briefly recount the story of Yehudit (which is mentioned in the poems of the Rishonim for Shabbat Chanukah):


Several years before the war of the Hashmonai family against the Assyrian-Greeks, the wicked Helifornos took control of a city in Judea named Betul. It was well-known that he would torture the residents of any city he conquered, men, women, and children, and would eventually annihilate them all. The Jewish residents of the city, therefore, banded together and tried to defend themselves against this enemy. When Helifornos realized that the Jews were fighting back, he besieged the city until all their food and supplies ran out, at which point he would be able to conquer the city without having to fight.


When the city’s water supply was depleted, the residents of the city began to request that their leaders engage in negotiations with Helifornos and request mercy in return for their surrender. At that time, Yehudit, daughter of Yochanan the Kohen Gadol, came before the leaders of the city and told them, “Death is certainly preferable to surrendering to such a cruel ruler. Let us trust in Hashem and wait for His salvation. I have an idea to vanquish Helifornos. May the One who allowed Sisera to fall before Yael, give the head of Helifornos to me!”


Yehudit silently exited the city and inched closer to the enemy camp. The enemy soldiers saw her dressed like true nobility. They asked her what her business was there, and she exclaimed that she needed to meet with Helifornos at once. Helifornos asked her, “What are you doing here?” Yehudit replied, “I am the daughter of the Kohanim, a resident of the city that you are besieging. The other residents of the city trust that Hashem will save them, but I truly know that in several days, you will be able to overcome them. I have therefore come to join your camp.” Helifornos noticed her beauty and was impressed with her gentleness and wisdom. He replied, “If you help me to conquer the city, I will marry you.” She agreed and she said she would travel in and out of the city and reveal all of its secrets.


On the third day since their first encounter, Helifornos invited Yehudit to his tent towards the evening. She entered with her servant and brought in a basket laden with food. Helifornos set the table with delicacies, but Yehudit served him the fine cheeses she had brought with her. The cheese was very salty, so he asked for a drink of her wine. Yehudit served him lots of cheese and wine until the evil ruler fell into a deep slumber on his bed.


Yehudit, the delicate woman, was then taken over by a wave of courage and took Helifornos’ own sword, and, while still praying to Hashem and trembling, lowered it mightily down on his neck. With one swift action, she severed his head and placed it in the basket. She returned to her city with the head of the enemy ruler in her hands and in this way, the Jews were victorious over the enemy. The Hashmonai family drew inspiration from this incident that it is not strength that causes the Jewish people to be victorious, for salvation belongs only to Hashem.


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