Happy Hanukkah!
You may not know this but, eating dairy on Hanukkah has become a strong custom in many Jewish homes. But do you know the reason? Some people believe this tradition started in honor of a brave hero named Judith, but many have not heard her story.1 Although there are several versions of the tale, some with different timelines, the theme remains the same throughout. So, in honor of the season, here is one version that I found.
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Once upon a time, the Jewish city of Bethulia was under siege by the Assyrian army. For the city’s defenders, they knew the enemy intended to strip them of their religious freedom and force them to worship the Assyrian king.2 For thirty-four grueling days, the people suffered as their food and water ran out. Fear turned to hopelessness, and hopelessness to desperation. Many citizens urged the city’s leaders to surrender, even at the cost of enslavement. In response, the leaders negotiated with the army to hold out for five more days, hoping God would save them.
Then a young widow named Judith stepped forward.
Displeased with both the calls to surrender and the leaders’ plan, she reprimanded them for imposing conditions on God, saying that faith was supposed to be unconditional. It was rare for anyone to speak out against the leaders, and for a woman, it was probably unprecedented. Nevertheless, she insisted on her own plan, one that would save the city and the people. But she declined to reveal what it was, saying that she did not seek approval or support. Instead, she merely gave the people a promise: “The Lord will deliver the city by my hand.” She would do what needed to be done, putting her full faith in God all the while.
That night, Judith knelt and prayed for courage. Then she left the city along with a handmaid and a bag of food. As she intended, Judith was quickly captured by the invaders. She told her captors she knew the city would fall, and wanted to speak to the Assyrian general, Holofernes, to give him a report.
The moment Holofernes lay eyes on Judith, he was enraptured by her beauty and grace. Inviting her into his tent, she pretended to betray the city, giving information on how and when his army should attack. Persuaded, Holofernes told his soldiers that Judith and her handmaid should not be harmed and could move freely amongst them.
Intending to seduce Judith, Holofernes then invited her to dine with him. With all the charm she could muster, Judith accepted, knowing this was her chance. From her bag, Judith produced a bag of cheese that she had specifically chosen both for its flavor and its saltiness. She placed it onto the table next to Holofernes without his noticing, aware that it would make anyone thirsty enough to drink to excess. For the rest of the evening, she offered Holofernes wine and cheese, until he drank so heavily that he fell into a deep sleep.
Once again, Judith knelt and prayed, this time for strength. Then, she boldly lifted Holofernes’ own sword and slew him. Putting the general’s head into the food bag for proof, she and her handmaid quickly left the tent, using the cover of darkness to sneak back into Bethulia.3
The next day, Judith displayed the head of Holofernes to the people of the city, telling them God had protected her – and them. The news spread quickly, strengthening the spirits of the Jews and crushing those of their enemies, which enabled the siege to be lifted and the city to be saved.
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Although Judith’s story is not included in Jewish scripture, it's said to have been told for generations. It is often associated with Hanukkah, as it shares similar themes with the story of Judah Maccabeus, whom Hanukkah commemorates. And it is possibly through Judith, with her simple bag of cheese, that they draw on the custom of eating dairy during the holiday.
Both Judith and Judah trusted God to help them make bold decisions against overwhelming odds. Both drew on their faith to find the courage and wits required to save their people. Both defended their Jewish identity. And both were unlikely heroes. Judah was a priest’s son who rose to lead; Judith, a woman who defied society’s expectations to deliver her city.
Both have become symbols of Jewish resilience, faith, and the fight for religious freedom. The very things, in other words, are celebrated during Hanukkah.
As Jewish homes prepare to celebrate the eight nights of lights, as they gather as family and friends, each bite of dairy reminds them of stories like Judith’s. Her example is one that we all can learn from; her faith, something we can all carry forward. I hope you enjoyed reading about her as much as I did…and I hope you have a very happy Hanukkah and rest of the holiday season!
Antoine
1 “Judith and the Hanukkah Story,” Jewish Women’s Archive, https://jwa.org/discover/throughtheyear/december/judith
2 “Holofernes,” Wikipedia.org, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holofernes
3 “Judith: Apocrypha: The Shalvi/Hyman Encyclopedia of Jewish Women,” Jewish Women’s Archive, https://jwa.org/encyclopedia/article/judith-apocrypha