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Honoring Eden, Ludmila, and All Our Women of Light: A Chanukkah Reflection for Chag HaBanot 5785
By Yosef McCarter, Hebrew Seminary Rabbinical Student
Chanukah is a season of miracles—a time to celebrate resilience, the triumph of light over darkness, and the strength that sustains us in the face of adversity. Nestled within the joy of these eight days is a lesser-known but deeply meaningful celebration: Chag HaBanot (חַג הַבָּנוֹת), “the Festival of the Daughters.” Celebrated on Rosh Chodesh Tevet (רֹאשׁ חֹדֶשׁ טֵבֵת, “the beginning of the Jewish month of Tevet”), this holiday originated within the Sephardi and Mizrachi Jewish communities of North Africa, particularly Morocco and Tunisia. It is a day dedicated to honoring Jewish women—their courage, wisdom, and the vital role they have played throughout history.
Chag HaBanot is centered on the ancient story of Judith, a widow whose courage and ingenuity saved the Jewish people from destruction. Her story, told in many different versions, takes place in a time when the Jewish people faced near annihilation at the hands of the Assyrian general Holofernes. When Holofernes had laid siege to the Jewish city of Bethulia, the local men nearly accepted defeat while Judith devised a bold plan for retaliation. Dressed in her finest garments, she left Bethulia and, through her beauty and wisdom, earned herself a private audience with Holofernes. Presenting herself as an ally to the Assyrians, Judith gained the general’s confidence and, at last, killed Holofernes in his sleep.
Judith’s bravery lies at the heart of Chag HaBanot, reminding us of countless powerful women who have stood against injustice, even in the darkest times. The Babylonian Talmud reminds us, “Because of the righteous women of that generation, we were redeemed from Egypt” (Sotah 11b). Indeed, Jewish tradition has long recognized the integral role of women in our collective survival and flourishing. Chag HaBanot continues this legacy, highlighting the courage and resilience of women like Judith, who used her wisdom and bravery to protect her people. Chag HaBanot is a day to celebrate the bonds between mothers and daughters, to light candles, and to sing songs of praise for the women who have nurtured and protected the Jewish people.
As I reflect on the courage of Judith, two other women come to mind—women whose lives remind me of the enduring strength and light of Jewish women. Eden Yerushalmi and Ludmila Lipovsky stand out to me this year, their stories deeply personal and profoundly moving.
Eden Yerushalmi was my friend, someone who radiated light wherever she went. Eden, who grew up in Tel Aviv in a close-knit family, had a gift for creating community, for finding joy in simple moments, and for inspiring others to be their best selves. Eden pursued a career as a yoga instructor, where she dedicated herself to helping others find balance and peace. Her work was not just about physical wellness but about fostering a deeper sense of connection and purpose. She carried herself with quiet strength and compassion, traits that endeared her to so many.
Eden Yerushalmi, a 24-year-old bartender from Tel Aviv, was working at the Nova Music Festival near Kibbutz Re’im on October 7, 2023, when Hamas launched a brutal attack on the scene. Eden and her two close friends, Dorin Atias and Lior Maimon, sought refuge in a car, hoping to escape the violence. Tragically, Doron and Lior were shot and killed by terrorists, and Eden hid beneath their bodies, trying to remain silent and unnoticed, but she ultimately was abducted.
Signs of life were received twice during the agonizing 11 months she was held in Gaza. On August 30, 2024, the Israel Defense Forces recovered six bodies from the city of Rafah; Eden was among them. Her mother Shirit, aunt Carmit, sisters Shani and May, and her many loved ones continue to honor her memory as a vibrant and loving woman. I will never forget Eden, and I promised her mother and my own self that I will never let Eden’s memory fade. Her love, kindness, and vibrance will live on with the Divine for all time. When we light our Chanukkah candles tonight during Chag HaBanot, we may recall the women in our lives; many of us will be thinking of Eden bat Shirit and the way she lifted up so many souls around her throughout her life, stolen from her far too soon.
Ludmila Lipovsky was born on November 11, 1941, in Buy, Russia, amidst the upheaval of World War II. She survived the Sho’ah (שׁוֹאָה, “Holocaust”), enduring the profound losses and displacements that marked the lives of so many Jewish families during that time. Her family found refuge in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, escaping the immediate horrors of Nazi occupation. After the war, Ludmila and her family returned to their homeland before immigrating to Israel. There, she built a life of resilience and love, raising four children and becoming a cherished matriarch to her growing family. Ludmila embodied the spirit of survival, using her strength to overcome the darkness of her past and create a future filled with hope and devotion.
On December 27, 2024, while waiting outside her assisted living facility in Herzliya for her daughter to drive her to a doctor’s appointment, Ludmila was attacked by a terrorist from Tulkarem. At 83 years old, Ludmila was taken from her family in a brutal act of violence, a stark reminder of the ongoing threats faced by Jewish people around the world. Ludmila’s life was a testament to the resilience of Jewish women. She survived unimaginable horrors and built a loving family; she remains a symbol of hope and strength. Her memory reminds us of the enduring courage that Jewish women have shown throughout history.
Today, as we honor the women of our past and present, we also remember the many daughters, mothers, and sisters who remain hostages. These women, enduring unimaginable circumstances, carry the resilience of our foremothers. Each of their lives is a precious light, and we must hold onto the hope and determination to see them returned to their families and communities. We remember the names of the women currently being held in Gaza.
Liri Albag (19): Taken from Nahal-Oz.
Karina Ariev (20): Taken from Nahal-Oz.
Agam Berger (20): Taken from Nahal-Oz.
Shiri Bibas (33): Taken from Nir-Oz.
Gali Berman (27): Taken from Kfar-Aza.
Ziv Berman (27): Taken from Kfar-Aza.
Ofra Keidar (70): Taken from Be’eri.
Naama Levy (20): Taken from Nahal-Oz.
Or Levy (34): Taken from the Nova Festival.
Judi Weinstein Haggai (70): Taken from Nir-Oz.
Daniella Gilboa (20): Taken from Nahal-Oz.
Romi Gonen (24): Taken from the Nova Festival.
Doron Steinbrecher (31): Taken from Kfar-Aza.
Arbel Yehoud (29): Taken from Nir-Oz.
Omer Wenkert (23): Taken from the Nova Festival.
Eliya Cohen (27): Taken from the Nova Festival.
Inbar Hayman (27): Taken from the Nova Festival.
Tal Shoham (39): Taken from Be’eri.
Gali Berman (27): Taken from Kfar-Aza.
Ziv Berman (27): Taken from Kfar-Aza.
Ofra Keidar (70): Taken from Be’eri.
Judi Weinstein Haggai (70): Taken from Nir-Oz.
Omer Wenkert (23): Taken from the Nova Festival.
Eliya Cohen (27): Taken from the Nova Festival.
Inbar Hayman (27): Taken from the Nova Festival.
Tal Shoham (39): Taken from Be’eri.
The candles of the menorah teach us that even the smallest flame can dispel the deepest darkness. As we light each candle, we rekindle not only the story of miracles past but also our commitment to act as vessels of light in the present. We honor all those whose courage and strength remind us of our collective responsibility: to amplify the light, to demand justice, and to keep alive the memory of those who cannot be with us. We take this time to dedicate our prayers and actions to the women of Israel, past and present. May Eden’s light guide us, may Ludmila’s story remind us, and may the hope for the safe return of our hostages drive us to never waver in our pursuit of peace and justice.
On this Chag HaBanot, let us hold close the women in our lives, celebrating their strength and their gifts, and let us remember that each act of light, each spark of God, is a piece of the Divine living within us all. No matter how small, every Divine spark brings us closer to a world redeemed.
Yehi zikhran barukh (יְהִי זִכְרָן בָּרוּךְ)—may their memories be a blessing.
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