The huge responsibility of the Woman of Valor

By Shira Yacker Special to Hakol

Eishet Chayil is an important concept in Judaism. According to aish.com, a website that describes itself as having “a singular focus of imparting timeless Jewish wisdom,” the term can be translated as Woman of Valor. It is explained that the Eishet Chayil is the one “who sets the tone of love, spirituality, and personal growth for all those around her.”

What a huge responsibility that is. As women, in Judaism, we are role models for our family. We are responsible for our family both physically and spiritually.

Aish.com goes on to say, “Gender is a pivotal quality in each person’s identity. Men and women are fully equal but different — and that difference is good. With their own talents and natures they can give to one another and help each other along the road of life.” This can be taken to mean that we should respect and embrace gender differences, but these differences should not stop anyone from pursuing and accomplishing what they desire. Limits are only in our mind. We, as women, are entitled to be our best in whatever roles we choose. We should be teaching our daughters to embrace this philosophy and not allow others to place roadblocks based on gender.

In our history it is explained that Moses offered the Torah to a woman first. He knew that if she accepted the Torah, it would be cher- ished forever. Throughout the Torah, and Jewish history in general, it is women who saved the Jewish people time and time again. Our matriarchs Sarah, Rebecca, Leah and Rachel have all shown faith and continue to be inspirations for Jewish women. We also think about Esther, the hero of Purim who saved the Jewish people from the tyrant Haman. Many feel that Judaism is a patriarchal religion, but in reality, great importance is placed upon the women in our history.

All of these women who came before us have shown us strength and determination and what it means to be a good person in the eyes of G-d and those around us.

Jewish women have a huge responsibility in our religion. “If not for her, where would we be?” says Aish. com. “There would be no home, no family..., no Jewish people.”

The importance of women is shown in the following ways for some denominations of Judaism:

• Lighting the candles to start Shabbat each Friday evening

• Going to the mikvah (ritual bath)

• Keeping kashrut (Jewish dietary laws)

Whether one is Orthodox, Conservative, Reconstructionist or Reform, a woman’s role is extremely crucial in our religion. Regardless of level of observance, we need to remember that we empower other women, our mothers, daughters, friends and family, to be the best they can be.

The prayer for the Eishet Chayil is as follows. It implores that women should be loved, valued, trusted and cared for:

A Woman of Valor, who can find? She is more precious than corals.

Her husband places his trust in her and profits only thereby.

She brings him good, not harm, all the days of her life. She seeks out wool and flax and cheerfully does the work of her hands.

She is like the trading ships, bringing food from afar. She gets up while it is still night to provide food for her household, and a fair share for her staff.

She considers a field and purchases it, and plants a vineyard with the fruit of her labors.

She invests herself with strength and makes her arms powerful.

She senses that her trade is profitable; her light does not go out at night.

She stretches out her hands to the distaff and her palms hold the spindle.

She opens her hands to the poor and reaches out her hands to the needy.

She has no fear of the snow for her household, for all her household is dressed in fine clothing.

She makes her own bedspreads; her clothing is of fine linen and luxurious cloth.

Her husband is known at the gates, where he sits with the elders of the land.

She makes and sells linens; she supplies the merchants with sashes. She is robed in strength and dignity, and she smiles at the future.

She opens her mouth with wisdom and a lesson of kindness is on her tongue. She looks after the conduct of her household and never tastes the bread of laziness. Her children rise up and make her happy; her husband praises her: “Many women have excelled, but you excel them all!”

Grace is elusive and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears G-d — she shall be praised. Give her credit for the fruit of her labors, and let her achievements praise her at the gates.

In a conversation with aish.com, Rabbi Gavriel Rudin, spiritual leader of Young Israel of Ottawa, Canada, summarized the role of Jewish women like this: “Women are the driving force in a Jewish family. She is a divine being who is more in tune to her emotions, and thus, naturally, has a deeper spiritual connection to G-d. While there are times when women may not necessarily be at the forefront, an army does not bring its most precious intelligence and strength to the front of the battle. While perhaps a woman’s place is somewhat hidden, it is only due to her depth, beauty, and strength”.

Shari Yacker of Palmer Township teaches special education in the Pen Argyl School District and has taught at Hebrew school in the Philadelphia area and in Easton for about 25 years.