Chanukah Menorah SAVE 50% on a 5 eBook Collection

Unearthed from history by Rabbi Leah Novick, these women had strength and character. May their memory be a blessing.

Keepers of the Flame: Women of Valor

      · Keeper of the Flame - One: Shlom Zion haMalkah (Salome Alexandrea)
      · Keeper of the Flame - Two: Namnah bat HaLevi of Baghdad
      · Keeper of the Flame - Three: Dulcie of Worms
      · Keeper of the Flame - Four: Rebbetzin Mizrachi
      · Keeper of the Flame - Five: Sarah bat Tovim
      · Keeper of the Flame - Six: Soreh Bezalel
      · Keeper of the Flame - Seven: Penina Moise
      · Keeper of the Flame - Eight: Rachel Luzzato-Morpugo
      · Keeper of the Flame - The Shamash: Malkele die Triskerin

Keeper of the Flame - One: Shlom Zion haMalkah (Salome Alexandra)
Shlom Zion haMalkah was the queen of Israel in 1st century B.C.E. She was a descendant of the Maccabees and was married to Judah Aristobolus, who was a high priest and king. Because she hadn't had children with Judah, Shlom Zion was compelled by Jewish law to marry her brother-in-law, Alexander Jannai.

When Alexander Jannai, her husband, died, Shlom Zion rose to greater prominence and lead her nation to peace and prosperity. First she reinstated Rabbi Shimon ben Shetach as head of the Sanhedrin, the religious parliament. Rabbi Shimon ben Shetach was an early defender of women's rights as shown by his institution of the Jewish marriage contract.

The Talmud reports that Shlom Zion's nine-year reign was a time of abundance and peace.

Keeper of the Flame - Two: Namnah bat HaLevi of Baghdad
Namnah bat HaLevi of Baghdad was most unusual for her time. In 11th century Persia, Namnah bat haLevi taught men in the yeshiva of her father Rabbi Shmuel ben Eli. Her erudition is described by Rabbi Petachiah this way: "An expert in Scripture and Talmud, she gives instruction in Scripture to young men through a window. She herself is within the building whilst the disciples are below outside and do not see her." Her place in Jewish history was secured when she and her father passed away on the very same day. Their graves were venerated by Persian Jews for centuries.

Keeper of the Flame - Three: Dulcie of Worms
Dulcie of Worms was a great granddaughter of the preeminent commentator Rashi (Rabbi Shlomo Yitzchaki 1040-1105) who lived in the 12th century. After she was murdered by Crusaders on 22 Kislev 1196, her husband remembered her as a teacher who taught women in cities far and wide and lead them in prayer at the synagogue.

Keeper of the Flame - Four: Rebbetzin Mizrachi
Rebbetzin Mizrachi was a 16th century scholar and yeshiva administrator in Kurdistan. When she married Rabbi Jacob Mizrachi there reportedly was a clause in her marriage contract that she never was to do housework. After her husband's death she kept his yeshiva's doors open and undertook fundraising through eloquently written pleas for support.

Keeper of the Flame - Five: Sarah bat Tovim
Sarah bat Tovim lived in the early 18th century Eastern Europe. Like Dulcie of Worm (Keeper of the Flame - Three), Sarah bat Tovim, according to some sources, was a farzogerin, a woman who lead women in prayer and explained their meaning at the synagogue. She is credited as the author of several famous tekhines, women's devotional prayers, including The Three Gates tekhine. (See Voices of the Matriarchs, Beacon Press, 1998)

Keeper of the Flame - Six: Soreh Bezalel
Soreh Bezalel proposed marriage to an elderly scholar, Rabbi Yosef, an unusual move for a woman in the late 18th century. Her husband passed away, and soon after she gave birth to their son Yehudah Leib. One of the first celebrated single mothers, Soreh raised her son to be involved in the then radical Hassidic movement. Her son, who became an important disciple of Rabbi Israel Baal Shem Tov (or Besht, originator of Hassidism), was known as Reb Leib Soreh's after his mother.

Keeper of the Flame - Seven: Penina Moise
Penina Moise a modern Sephardic woman in early-19th century American South. She was the first Jew to publish a book of poetry in the United States. She wrote for her congregation in South Carolina.

Keeper of the Flame - Eight: Rachel Luzzato-Morpugo
Rachel Luzzato-Morpugo, another 19th century Italian poet, who was a kabbalist. (With Moses Chaim Luzzato as her distinguished ancestor it's no wonder). She was known to be a scholar of biblical Hebrew, Aramaic, Talmud, and the Zohar. Her life on the mommy-track, raising four children, did not stop her from writing her book of poetry Rachel's Harp.

Keeper of the Flame - The Shamash: Malkele die Triskerin
Malkele die Triskerin was a fascinating figure in 19th century Eastern Europe. As the daughter of Reb Avrohom of Trisk, a descendant of the Chernobyler Rebbe, she was familiar with the workings of the Hassidic courts. When her husband died, Malkele stepped in to keep the Hassidic court vibrant. True to the Hassidic teaching, that God should be worshipped with joy, Malkele organized a men's choir and hosted singing and dancing (for men only) after every meal.

Additional Spiritual Spins:

• Eight Nights of Chanukah: A Spiritual Perspective
• Eight Lights – Eight Values
• Eight plus One Women of Valor
• “Tikkun” – Good Advice
• Nobel Prize Winners

Mazor Guide for Chanukah brings you much more about the holiday, its meaning and its traditions... See the links below.

• The Story of Chanukah
• The Menorah: Bearer of the Light
• All About the Dreidel
• Chanukah's Caloric Treasures
• Gelt and Gifts: A Tradition of Giving
• Eight Nights of Chanukah: A spiritual Perspective
• Commemorative Stamps