your copy of A Woman of Valour

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DEVOTIONS BY RABBI YECHIEL ECKSTEIN
INTRODUCTION BY YAEL ECKSTEIN
C E L E B R AT I N G T H E P ROV E R B S 31
WOMEN IN OUR LIVES
A Woman of Valour
Copyright 2015© by the International Fellowship of Christians & Jews, Inc.
All rights reserved.
Unless other noted, all quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®,
NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission.
All rights reserved worldwide.
Cover and interior design by MarketOne Consultants, Fort Worth, Texas
Project staff: Denise Jones, Betsy Schmitt, and Leon Wirth
Published by the International Fellowship of Christians & Jews, Inc. with offices in Canada, Israel,
South Korea, Brazil, and the United States.
First printing: 2015
DEVOTIONS BY RABBI YECHIEL ECKSTEIN
INTRODUCTION BY YAEL ECKSTEIN
C E L E B R AT I N G T H E P ROV E R B S 31
WOMEN IN OUR LIVES
Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting;
but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.
Honour her for all that her hands have done,
and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.
— Proverbs 31:30–31
A W O M A N O F VA L O U R
Introduction
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Eishet chayil mi yimtza?” “A woman of valour who can find?”
(Proverbs 31:10 Masoretic Text). This is the opening line from the famous
poem honouring the righteous woman in Proverbs 31:10–31. It is sung
every week on Friday night at the Sabbath meal and read at the end of a
woman’s life at her funeral. It is the quintessential praise for any woman.
And yet, we might be surprised by the compliments bestowed upon
this woman of valour and her description. For example, the word chayil,
generally translated as “valour” or “noble,” is nearly identical to the
Hebrew word chayal, meaning “soldier.”
The woman of valour is first and foremost a soldier. She is strong,
competent, and loyal to her family, those whom she protects. She is
strict when necessary, unbreakable when tested, and hard-working for
the sake of her family and community. And yet, the next phrase reads:
“vrachok mepeninim michra,” “far beyond pearls is her value” (Proverbs
31:10 Jewish Masoretic text.) As strong as she may be, the woman of
valour is also more graceful and beautiful than a pearl.
These seeming contradictions between being both hard and soft,
strong and kind, a woman of the home and a successful businesswoman
outside the home, all describe the eishet chayil. Thousands of years before
women of today struggle between balancing motherhood and careers,
strength with grace, being a loving mother and spouse while contributing to her community as well, the woman of valour is described as
encompassing all those roles and thriving in them.
True, the woman of valour doesn’t have it easy, but her life is meaningful
and satisfying. Toward the end of the poem we read: “She is clothed with
strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come.” (v.25). Moreover,
“Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises
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her: ‘Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all’” (v. 28–29).
As opposed to an overwhelming sentiment held throughout the ages
that a woman’s worth is determined by her beauty, these verses remind
us that, “Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting but a woman who
fears the Lord is to be praised” (v.30). This brings us back to the very
beginning of the song, where the woman of valour is compared to a
pearl. Just as a pearl is hidden within a mollusk, a woman’s true beauty
can’t be grasped from her exterior, but rather from her character on the
inside. Moreover, her physical beauty isn’t forever, while her good deeds
will resonate for generations to come.
That beauty and gracefulness is created through pressure and adversity
just as a pearl is created when a mollusk senses an irritant or perceived
danger and seals off the troubled spot with a pearl sac. The birth of
a pearl begins in hardship. A woman who grows through adversity
becomes the graceful woman of valour. She is deeply hidden and hard
to find, but she lies in potential within each and every woman.
Our hope is that you will use this Jewish tradition to celebrate and
praise the amazing women in your life — be she a sister, a mother, a
grandmother, daughter, aunt, or friend. We can recognize the unique
character traits that make women an eishet chayil in their own right.
We honour all the women in our lives today and can learn from the
women who have come before us, all the way back to biblical times.
Through the devotional thoughts and prayers included in this booklet, we invite you to explore and be inspired by some of the Bible’s
finest women, each one an eishet chayil. In addition, we hope that you
will pass along and share these reflections with the women in your
own lives as you are inspired by their kindness, their leadership, their
courage, and other qualities. May we give each special woman her due
praise and honour God by becoming the best that we ourselves can be.
With blessings for shalom,
Yael Eckstein
Senior Vice President
The Fellowship
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Sarah
A WOMAN OF LEARNING
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Sarah lived to be a hundred and twenty-seven years old. — Genesis 23:1
Sarah lived to be 127 years old, and the Jewish sages comment
that every single one of those years was good. But how can that be?
Doesn’t every life have ups and downs, good years and not-so-good ones?
Sarah’s life clearly did. For most of her adult years, Sarah was barren, she was kidnapped twice, and she had to deal with the difficult
personalities of Hagar and Ishmael in her home. So how can the sages
make such an outrageous claim?
What makes any year a good one? Is it the one in which we earn
the most money? Or when we enjoy a wonderful vacation? The sages
teach there is only one criterion for judging any year, or any day, for
that matter: How much did we grow?
Life is about changing and improving. It’s about learning and growing. Easy or hard, fun or boring, every day is measured by the degree to
which we are different than the day before. Sarah was a prized student
in the classroom of life. She knew how to learn from everything and
everyone who came her way. That’s why the sages call her life good. By
the truest standards of living, Sarah met the highest standard possible.
I once visited a woman who is an art professor in New York City.
I couldn’t help but notice a very unusual piece among her drawings
and paintings. The “work of art” was a single cigarette butt, mounted
onto a piece of black velvet and enclosed in a beautiful golden frame.
When I asked the woman what inspired the art piece, she chuckled and
explained that it was to teach her students about the value of a frame.
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Anything can become beautiful — even an ugly cigarette butt — when
placed in the right surroundings.
What the art professor said about art also is true about life. How
we judge the content of our life is determined by how we frame it. Do
we view our lives in the context of how much we grow? Or do we see
it in terms of how much we gain? The context we give our lives will
determine how we see its contents.
Try this: Reframe your life. Try to see everything that has happened
so far and everything that you hope for the future in terms of how much
you have learned and how much you will continue to grow.
Now, that’s a beautiful frame, and your life is its masterpiece.
YOU INSPIRE ME WITH YOUR LEARNING. . .
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P R AY E R :
“May God make you like Sarah, Rebekah, Rachel, and Leah. May the LORD
bless you and safeguard you. May the LORD illuminate His countenance for
you and be gracious to you. May the LORD lift His countenance to you and
establish peace for you.”
This prayer is traditionally given by parents to their daughters every Friday night at the start of the
Sabbath meal and on other festive or important occasions. It includes the priestly blessing found in
Numbers 6:24–26.
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Rebekah
A WOMAN OF KINDNESS
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“Drink, my lord,” she said, and quickly lowered the jar to
her hands and gave him a drink. After she had given him a
drink, she said, “I’ll draw water for your camels too, until
they have had enough to drink.” — Genesis 24:18–19
The iconic fashion designer Oscar de la Renta once said, “The
qualities I most admire in women are confidence and kindness.” Jewish
sages would agree with de la Renta’s message — kindness is beautiful.
The sages liken the matriarch Rebekah to a “rose among thorns.”
She merits that title because of the great act of kindness she performed
for Abraham’s servant. When the servant encountered Rebekah at the
drinking well, he was tired and parched with thirst. Yet Rebekah not
only offered to draw water for him, she also offered to draw water for
his camels as well.
The sages note that this was an almost super-human feat for a young
girl. They calculate that she would have had to make dozens of trips
to the well to provide enough water for ten camels — that’s about 140
gallons each! The fact that she was able to do so indicates that this was
not the first time that Rebekah had gone to the well for others. To have
that strength and ability, Rebekah must have shared her kindness with
countless other strangers. That, say the sages, is what made her beautiful — like a rose among thorns.
Thorns assert themselves. They protrude outward and prick anyone
who comes near them. A rose, on the other hand, is soft and gentle.
It spends its life opening up, offering those who come close a gift of
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beautiful fragrance and a pleasing sight. The rose and the thorn are two
visual aids for understanding what it means to be a person of kindness
or a self-centred individual. Selfishness is closed to others, sharp, and
ugly. Kindness is open to others, giving, and beautiful.
We live in a world where selfishness reigns. People are far more focused
on what they can get than on what they can give. In this me-centred
world, life can get a little thorny; people are pricked and bleed. Our
mission is to be “the rose among the thorns,” to be a bastion of kindness in a sea of selfishness and a true reflection of God’s love. We need
to offer hugs and smiles, food and warmth. We need to give generously
and love passionately.
Nothing in the world is more beautiful than that.
YOU INSPIRE ME WITH YOUR KINDNESS. . .
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P R AY E R :
May I always remember that my soul is immortal, that it shall not return to the
ground. The soul is meant to strive toward You, to honour You and praise You —
the Rock Who is perfect — and to resemble You. Therefore, merciful One, may my
soul not be subservient to my body. Let my bodily powers serve the pure desires of my
soul, to acquire understanding and knowledge, acts of kindness and insight. Amen.
This prayer is excerpted from “Friday’s Prayer” composed by Yaakov Freund, a Jewish schoolteacher
in Breslau, Ukraine, in 1867 as part of his compilation Prayer Book for Jewish Women and Girls.
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Rachel
A WO M A N O F C O M PA S S I O N
9
This is what the Lord says: “A voice is heard in Ramah, mourning
and great weeping, Rachel weeping for her children and refusing
to be comforted, because they are no more.” — Jeremiah 31:15
According to Jewish tradition, all the patriarchs and matriarchs are buried in the cave of Machpelah in Hebron, except one: Rachel.
Her husband Jacob buried her on the road near Bethlehem because he
foresaw in the future that when the Jewish people were exiled from
their homeland, they would need her. Here’s why.
Jewish tradition records a wild debate up in heaven. As the Jews were
being exiled from their land, all of the holiest souls tried to intercede
before God on their behalf.
Abraham spoke first: “I overcame my nature and was prepared to
sacrifice my only son. Won’t you remember my devotion and have mercy
on my children?” Then Isaac tried: “When I realized that my father had
been commanded to slaughter me, I faithfully accepted my fate. Won’t
you remember my strength and have mercy on my children?” Next, Jacob: “I suffered so much in my lifetime. I had to work for
Laban, escape from Esau, and I suffered so much raising my children.
Now they are being led like sheep to the slaughter. Won’t you remember
my pain and redeem them?”
Then Moses stated his case: “Wasn’t I a loyal shepherd for Israel all
the years in the desert? I didn’t even get to enter the Holy Land, but
brought them dutifully to its entrance. And now they go into exile —
won’t you listen to my cries?”
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Finally, Mother Rachel came before God: “Master of the Universe,
you know that Jacob loved me most and worked for my father for seven
years in order to marry me. When the time of my marriage came, my
father switched my sister for me and I didn’t begrudge my sister and
I didn’t let her be shamed. I had compassion for my sister; won’t you
have mercy on my children?”
Immediately, God’s mercy was awakened and He said: “For you,
Rachel, I will bring Israel back, as it says: “Restrain your voice from
weeping and your eyes from tears, for your work will be rewarded . . . Your
children will return to their own land” (Jeremiah 31:16–17).
From all the holy souls that tried to save the Jewish people, only
Rachel’s plea was answered. Why? Because of her unselfish, unwavering compassion for another human being. The message is clear: When
we treat others with tremendous compassion, God will treat us with
nothing less.
Y O U I N S P I R E M E W I T H Y O U R C O M PA S S I O N . . .
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P R AY E R :
May it be Your will, God, that I always be good to everyone and not find faults
in anyone. Through Your mercy, may I always merit to judge others favourably;
may You bestow upon me the intelligence to understand how to search for and find
redeeming factors, strengths, and virtues, in my fellow man, at all times. Amen.
Taken from an ancient Jewish prayer that can still be read today on the wall of Rachel’s Tomb
in Bethlehem.
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Miriam
A WOMAN OF FAITH
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Then Miriam the prophet, Aaron’s sister, took a timbrel
in her hand, and all the women followed her, with
timbrels and dancing. — Exodus 15:20
One of the most joyous moments in the story of the Exodus
— and perhaps in the entire Bible — is the singing and rejoicing that
occurred just after the children of Israel crossed the Red Sea. This was the
climactic moment of what had begun as a wayward prince demanding
the freedom of an oppressed people and ended with the most spectacular
miracles that the world had ever seen on behalf of the downtrodden
Israelites. God’s hand was never so apparent, and the people rejoiced
for the good that He had done for them.
Let’s picture the scene: The Israelites finished crossing the sea and they
watched as their Egyptian enemies got closer. Suddenly, the sea crashed
down on the entire Egyptian army! Not only were the Israelites now
safe, they were also free! The Egyptians would never be able to pursue
them again. In thanksgiving, Moses led the people in a beautiful song
of praise to God. Just as he finished, his sister Miriam led the women
in song. And what’s this? They were dancing and making music, too!
But where in the world did the women get those timbrels from in
the middle of the desert? Did these instruments fall from the sky?
The Jewish sages share a beautiful explanation. They say that the
Israelite women, in their great faith, prepared these instruments while
in Egypt, while they were still enslaved. Led by Miriam, the women
refused to give up hope that the day of salvation would come. Their
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faith led them to make these instruments, so that when the day came,
they would be ready to celebrate!
Miriam’s name has two meanings. It comes from the Hebrew word
that means mara, “bitter.” Miriam was born into bitter times of slavery.
But the name Miriam is also related to the Hebrew word meri, “rebellion.” Miriam rebelled against the bitterness in her life. She would not
accept it — she refused to submit to hopelessness or depression. She
lived her life with complete faith that the bitterness would be sweetened.
And indeed it was!
Let us remember that it’s not enough to talk about faith; we need to
be willing to act on our faith. That means making life decisions based
on faith in God and taking actions that fit with His purposes. Our
faith must be turned into actions that reflect God’s Word and promises.
Y O U I N S P I R E M E W I T H Y O U R FA I T H . . .
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P R AY E R :
Our Father in heaven, grant me a strong and loyal heart; then even if You
demand great and difficult sacrifices of me, I shall offer them up and rejoice in
my faith. With good health and vigour may we rejoice in life and its grace, and
with joyful heart and a good spirit, we shall praise You Who are good and Who
performs good. Amen.
Adapted from a prayer composed in the 1800s by Fanny Neuda, a rabbi’s wife in Czechoslovakia
who wrote a book of prayers for Jewish women.
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Deborah
A WOMAN OF LEADERSHIP
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Now Deborah, a prophet, the wife of Lappidoth, was
leading Israel at that time. — Judges 4:4
Scripture gives us very little background information about
Deborah; however, we are told that she was “the wife of Lappidoth.” The
Jewish sages explain that “Lappidoth” was a name that Deborah’s husband
earned, but they credit Deborah for starting him on his road to success.
According to Jewish tradition, while Deborah was an intellectually
and spiritually advanced woman, her husband was nothing special. He
wasn’t even motivated to grow or change. This must have been disappointing for Deborah, but she didn’t shout at him, attack him, or tell
him he was no good. Instead, she made lappidoth, or wicks, and she
asked her husband to bring them to the Tabernacle to be used for the
menorah lamp.
Deborah’s husband went on this errand and he was completely inspired
by the holiness of the Tabernacle, as she knew he would be. Motivated to
be a part of it, her husband realized that he could make even thicker wicks
so there would be even more light in the Tabernacle. Deborah’s husband
was honoured for his contribution and became known as Lappidoth
for what he accomplished. The Tabernacle was enlightened, Deborah’s
husband was elevated, and she had never even said a word.
That is powerful leadership. That is feminine leadership — nurturing
and encouraging, inspiring growth through love.
There is a story told about a circus clown and an elephant who sits
on the clown’s hat. The clown gestures wildly and yells at the elephant
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to move, but the animal ignores him. Frustrated, the clown kicks the
elephant, but all he gets is a sore foot. Finally, the clown ridiculously
and unsuccessfully tries to lift the elephant. After that, he plops down
defeated and eats a peanut. Upon smelling the peanut, the elephant
immediately gets up and walks over to the clown, freeing the hat from
underneath him.
When we want to get someone to do something — be it our children, our spouse, co-workers, or friends — there are two ways we can
go about it. We can use force, or we can use love. As Deborah teaches,
and as the clown unwittingly demonstrates, the softer touch is often a
more powerful force for change.
Whom might you motivate, and more importantly, how?
YOU INSPIRE ME WITH YOUR LEADERSHIP. . .
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P R AY E R :
May it be Your will, LORD my God, that you direct the hearts of the people
with whom I have dealings to whatever I desire, and turn their will to all that
I want. Be with my heart as I deliberate . . . Grant me sound judgement and
guide me in all of my ways, make me successful in all of my undertakings, and
bless all my endeavors. Amen.
Adapted from a Jewish prayer for women written in Italy around the thirteenth century. Its author is
unknown.
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Ruth
A WOMAN OF CHARACTER
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“I’ve been told all about what you have done for your
mother-in-law since the death of your husband — how you
left your father and mother and your homeland and came to
live with a people you did not know before. May the Lord
repay you for what you have done.” — Ruth 2:11–12
Sometimes, you can tell a lot about people just by watching
them interact with others and studying their actions. It’s evident from
the Bible account that others knew a lot about Ruth’s character just
by watching her.
After arriving in Bethlehem, widowed and with no means of providing for herself and Naomi, her mother-in-law, Ruth went out into the
fields to pick up the leftover grain — a practice known as gleaning.
This was an Israelite law that provided a way for the poor and needy,
like Ruth and Naomi, to feed themselves.
As Ruth was gleaning, the owner of the field, Boaz, stopped by to
check on the harvesters. He noticed Ruth and asked the workers, “Who
is that young woman?” The workers replied, “She is the young woman
from Moab who came back with Naomi. She asked this morning if
she could gather the grain behind the harvesters, and she’s been hard
at work ever since.”
Impressed by this hard worker, Boaz told Ruth that she could glean
in his fields as long as she wanted. Then, he invited her to eat with the
harvesters. Not only that, but Boaz told his workers not to bother her,
but to drop even more grain for her to gather.
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Ruth was overwhelmed, and asked Boaz, “Why are you so kind to
me? I’m just a foreigner.” And Boaz replied, “Yes, I know. But I have
heard all about you. I have heard about the kindness and love that you
have shown to Naomi.”
How Ruth cared for Naomi was obviously the talk of Bethlehem!
Even though she was a stranger among them, the people knew she was a
kind, loving, and compassionate woman — just by watching her actions!
Ruth’s life exhibited admirable qualities. She was hardworking, loving, kind, and faithful. She had gained a reputation for these qualities
but only because she exhibited them consistently. Wherever she went,
Ruth’s character remained unchanged.
What do your actions say about your reputation? A good reputation
is something we earn when we consistently live out those qualities we
believe in.
YOU INSPIRE ME WITH YOUR CHARACTER. . .
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P R AY E R :
LORD, my life is in Your hands; I entrust my spirit to you. Make me healthy
and give me life, that I may walk in Your ways wholeheartedly and willingly, to
perform righteousness and kindness. Strengthen me and give me courage to be
among Your servants who cleave to You, to make known Your great and awesome Name among the multitudes. Blessed are you LORD; teach me your ways.
Excerpted from an ancient Italian prayer written for Jewish girls upon the occasion of their
bat‑mitzvah, the time when Jewish girls reach age 12 and become full-fledged members of the
Jewish community.
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Hannah
A W O M A N O F P R AY E R
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Eli answered [Hannah], “Go in peace, and may the God of Israel
grant you what you have asked of him.” — 1 Samuel 1:17
For anyone who has faced the heartbreak of repeated disappointment — whether it’s an inability to have children, to find employment, or to foster a lasting relationship — the story of Hannah provides
great comfort.
Hannah, as you may remember, was barren, unable to conceive — a
condition that was considered a curse in ancient Israel. Added to her
shame was the fact that her husband took another wife, as was the
custom, who made life miserable for Hannah by taunting and insulting her. Even when Hannah, in absolute desperation, prayed fervently
to God for a son, the priest, Eli, mistakenly thought she was drunk!
Hannah had more than enough reasons to be discouraged and to give
up. But that’s not what Hannah did. Instead, she brought her problem
honestly before God and prayed that He would “look on your servant’s
misery and remember me and not forget your servant but give her a son”
(v. 11). In return for His favour, Hannah vowed to dedicate her son in
lifelong service to God.
After pouring out her heart to God and receiving encouragement
from Eli that God would grant her request, Hannah was able to leave
in peace, entrusting her problem with God and having faith that He
would answer her prayer in His timing and according to His plan. And
when God did answer her prayers with a son, Hannah joyfully and
gratefully kept her promise, bringing Samuel to serve with the priest, Eli.
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During those barren times in our lives, when nothing positive seems
to be happening in our work, our relationships, or our service, we can
feel that our prayers are unanswered and our faith ineffectual. But, as
Hannah discovered, continued prayer opened the door for God to work.
And as Hannah waited in faith and trusted God, she was rewarded.
Hannah had supreme confidence in God’s sovereignty and thankfulness
for everything He had done. Indeed, her beautiful response is recorded
for us in 1 Samuel 2: 1–10.
Let Hannah’s story encourage you in facing the disappointments
and the trials of this life. Rejoice in what God has done for you already,
be thankful for all He has given you, and have confidence that our
sovereign God is in control.
YO U I N S PI R E M E W I T H YO U R P R AY E R F U L N E S S . . .
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P R AY E R :
Master of the Universe, May a window be opened in heaven: the gates of a time
of favour, the gates of a time of asking, the gates of prayer, and the gates of mercy.
May my prayer be accepted among the other pure prayers that are surely accepted
before You, and may it be a crown for Your head. Hear my prayer as You heard
the righteous Hannah and the other righteous women. Amen. Selah.
This prayer was written for the Jewish women of Europe to recite in synagogues while the men
recited other prayers down below the women’s balcony.
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Abigail
A WOMAN OF PEACE
9
His name was Nabal and his wife’s name was Abigail. She was an
intelligent and beautiful woman, but her husband was surly and
mean in his dealings — he was a Calebite. — 1 Samuel 25:3
No doubt we all have encountered that person, whether at
work, in our neighbourhood, maybe even at home, whom we term
“difficult.” That person is just not pleasant to be around. Maybe the
person is overly negative or is just mean-spirited. No matter what we
do to extend kindness and be friendly, this person rebuffs our efforts.
Abigail, another notable woman of the Bible, knew such a person
very well — her husband, Nabal. Whereas Abigail is described as an
“intelligent and beautiful woman,” her husband is described as “surly
and mean in his dealings.” His name, in fact, means “fool.”
No doubt, Abigail had to intervene many times to smooth over situations that her husband had caused through his rudeness and lack of
people skills. Her diplomacy skills were well-honed. So when Abigail
found out that Nabal had snubbed David’s men and their request for
provisions — and this after David’s men had provided an armed escort
for Nabal’s flocks — she acted quickly.
Before the situation could escalate, Abigail loaded up donkeys with
food and set out to meet David on her own. She apologized for her
husband’s behaviour and wisely encouraged David to forgive rather than
take revenge on Nabal, so that David would “not have on his conscience
the staggering burden of needless bloodshed or of having avenged himself ”
(1 Samuel 25:31).
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Thankfully, Abigail’s entreaties had the intended result. David called
off his plans for revenge, and he responded, “Praise be to the Lord, the
God of Israel, who has sent you today to meet me. May you be blessed for your
good judgement and for keeping me from bloodshed this day . . .” (vv. 32–33).
Abigail was undoubtedly a woman of physical beauty, but it was
her inner beauty that gave her the poise and courage to take decisive
action to quell intense emotional reactions in others, whether her mean
husband or one who threatened her husband. She used her skills to
keep the peace and didn’t allow her circumstances to make her bitter
or to make excuses.
What excellent lessons for us in dealing with the “difficult” people
in our lives! We need to ask God to work in these situations and to
help us make the most of our skills and opportunities to promote peace
whenever possible.
YOU INSPIRE ME WITH YOUR PEACEFULNESS. . .
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P R AY E R :
May it be Your will LORD our God that You multiply in my home the light of
joy and blessing and peace and unclouded life, and that You illuminate our souls
with the radiance of Your countenance and grant joy within our family. Amen.
This prayer was written by Allegra ben-Melekh, born in Turkey in 1920, for the occasion of lighting the
Sabbath candles on Friday evenings at the onset of the Sabbath.
20
Esther
A WOMAN OF COURAGE
9
“Go, gather together all the Jews who are in Susa, and fast for me. Do
not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my attendants will
fast as you do. When this is done, I will go to the king, even though
it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish.” — Esther 4: 16
As queen of Persia, we might have expected that Esther had
one of the most secure positions in all the empire. Yet, such security
came with a price. Queen Esther enjoyed the privileges of her position
as long as she obeyed the king and did nothing to incur his wrath. Her
“security” teetered on a delicate balance that could easily tip if she made
the wrong move.
So when Mordecai, her Jewish cousin, informed her of Haman’s plot
to kill all the Jews in Persia and begged her to intervene on her people’s
behalf, Esther was faced with a difficult choice: Either she could remain
silent and hope that the king would not discover her secret identity as a
Jew, and thus, survive; or she could risk death by appearing before the
king, revealing her identity, and seeking relief for her people.
Mordecai’s words surely must have guided her decision: “Do not
think that because you are in the king’s house you alone of all the Jews will
escape. For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the
Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will
perish. And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for
such a time as this?” (Esther 4: 13–14).
Esther must have realized that her security did not rest upon her
position, or her possessions, or even her husband, the king, but in the
21
One whose name is not mentioned at all in the book: God. And so she
made her decision to approach the king, calling upon her fellow Jews to
fast and pray for her. And, as she told Mordecai, “If I perish, I perish.”
We might not face such grave circumstances as Esther did, but God
has placed each one of us in unique situations and positions. We all
have a choice to make — to remain silent in the face of injustice and
suffering to “save” our reputation. Or we can decide, like Esther did,
to be courageous and take a stand, no matter what the consequences.
What will you decide? Where will you stand and be accounted for
in a time such as this?
YOU INSPIRE ME WITH YOUR COURAGE. . .
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
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______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
P R AY E R :
Just as You saved Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah from the fiery furnace, and
Daniel from the lion’s den, so save me from (my troubles) at the hands of this
foolish king, and grant me the kindness of finding favour in Your eyes. I ask of
You, Who hears prayer: Hear my prayer at this time. Amen.
This prayer is taken from a longer prayer attributed to Queen Esther herself as she prepared to enter
the King’s court unannounced, thereby endangering her own life, so that she might save the lives of
her people.
22
Proverbs 31 Woman
9
A wife of noble character who can find?
She is worth far more than rubies.
Her husband has full confidence in her
and lacks nothing of value.
She brings him good, not harm,
all the days of her life.
She selects wool and flax
and works with eager hands.
She is like the merchant ships,
bringing her food from afar.
She gets up while it is still night;
she provides food for her family
and portions for her female servants.
She considers a field and buys it;
out of her earnings she plants a vineyard.
She sets about her work vigourously;
her arms are strong for her tasks.
She sees that her trading is profitable,
and her lamp does not go out at night.
In her hand she holds the distaff
and grasps the spindle with her fingers.
She opens her arms to the poor
and extends her hands to the needy.
When it snows, she has no fear for her household;
for all of them are clothed in scarlet.
23
She makes coverings for her bed;
she is clothed in fine linen and purple.
Her husband is respected at the city gate,
where he takes his seat among the elders of the land.
She makes linen garments and sells them,
and supplies the merchants with sashes.
She is clothed with strength and dignity;
she can laugh at the days to come.
She speaks with wisdom,
and faithful instruction is on her tongue.
She watches over the affairs of her household
and does not eat the bread of idleness.
Her children arise and call her blessed;
her husband also, and he praises her:
“Many women do noble things,
but you surpass them all.”
Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting;
but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.
Honour her for all that her hands have done,
and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.
(Proverbs 31:10–31, NIV)
9
24
BUILDING BRIDGES, CHANGING LIVES
The International Fellowship of Christians and Jews was founded in 1983 by Rabbi
Yechiel Eckstein to promote understanding between Jews and Christians and
build broad support for Israel and other shared concerns. Resting on this foundation, The Fellowship has been instrumental in fostering better relations between these two faith communities and providing avenues of support for Israel
and Jewish people who are in need around the world. The Fellowship, with the
help of Christians around the world, offer these programs:
O N W I N G S O F E A G L E S — Helping bring thousands
of needy or persecuted Jews to the Holy Land and helping
them build new lives in Israel.
Guardians
of Israel
®
G U A R D I A N S O F I S R A E L — Assisting needy elderly,
children, and families in Israel to cope with poverty and
helping provide much-needed support and care.
I S A I A H 5 8 — Delivering food, clothing, medicines, and
other lifesaving care to elderly Jews, abandoned children,
and impoverished families in the former Soviet Union and
other countries where Jews are in distress.
• • •
H ELP SUPP ORT OU R LI FESAVI NG P RO G RAM S
Visit The Fellowship’s website to find out how you can donate,
get involved, and stay involved. Go to:
WWW.I FCJ .CA
P.O. Box 670, Station K, Toronto, ON M4P 2H1
888-988-4325
A Woman of Valour
C E L E B R AT I N G T H E P RO V E R B S 3 1
WOMEN IN OUR LIVES
9
Rabbi Eckstein and his daughter, Yael, invite you to explore and be inspired
by some of the Bible’s finest women — Sarah, Ruth, Esther, Deborah, and others. As
you meditate on the devotions, based on the lives and character traits of ten biblical
women, we encourage you to add personal notes and send these reflections to the
amazing women in your life, honouring each as a eishet chayil, a woman of valour.
RABBI YECHIEL ECKSTEIN
Photo Credit: Yossi Zwecker
In 1983, Rabbi Eckstein founded the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews
(The Fellowship), devoting his life to building bridges of understanding, healing, and
cooperation between Christians and Jews. He is an internationally respected Bible
teacher and acknowledged as the world’s leading Jewish authority on evangelical
Christians. Under his leadership, The Fellowship is the largest Christian-supported
humanitarian nonprofit working in Israel today. The International Fellowship of Christians and Jews® of Canada became a federally registered charity in 2003.
Rabbi Eckstein is the author of ten highly acclaimed books, including How Firm
a Foundation: A Gift of Jewish Wisdom for Christians and Jews, and The One Year® Holy
Land Moments Devotional. In addition, he is a renowned Israeli Hasidic singer and
has recorded four CDs. His daily radio program, Holy Land Moments (Momentos en
Tierra Santa), is now heard in English and Spanish on more than 1,900 stations on
five continents, reaching more than 9.1 million listeners weekly.
YAEL ECKSTEIN
Photo Credit: Oren Nahshon
As senior vice president of The Fellowship in the office of the president, Yael Eckstein
oversees all ministry programs and serves as the international spokesperson for the
$125 million organization. Prior to her present duties, Yael held the position of
director of program development and ministry outreach. Based in Jerusalem, Yael
is recognized as a published writer, a respected social services professional, and an
expert on Jewish-Christian relations. Her most recent book, Spiritual Cooking with
Yael, is a celebration of her love for cooking healthy, simple, delicious food for her
family and dozens of weekly Shabbat guests.
9
T O L E A R N M O R E A B O U T T H E F E L L OW S H I P ,
V I S I T U S O N L I N E AT I F C J . C A

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