Girls in Trouble is an indie-folk song cycle about women in Torah by musician, writer and Torah teacher, Alicia Jo Rabins. The Girls in Trouble Curriculum links these musical midrashim with their source texts, Alicia's notes, and other artistic interpretations, inviting teachers, students, and individual learners on a journey through the world of women in Torah. We hope you enjoy this concise version of the Judith unit. To download the full unit, including teacher's notes, please visit www.girlsintroublemusic.com.
Behind the Music: Notes from singer/songwriter Alicia Jo Rabins
Judith is a powerful mystery, a study in contrasts and transformation. One moment she is a young widow who has been in mourning for three years, wearing sackcloth and ashes in a city under siege. In the next, she walks directly into the enemy camp, beautifully adorned, and saves her people through a very risky (and very violent) act. Judith moves from grieving widow to brave activist; her resourcefulness, courage and creativity are a model for the possibilities hidden deep inside each of us.
Summary of the Story of Judith
Once upon a time, a powerful general named Holofernes declared war against Bethulia (or, in some versions, Jerusalem) with a great army. He besieged the city for many days, making sure no food or drink could enter, so that the people began to starve. The Israelites suffered tremendously during this siege and were in great distress. They were on the verge of surrendering when a young woman named Judith announced that she had a plan.
Judith was a young widow who had been in mourning for three years, since her husband died unexpectedly. A woman of great faith, Judith rebuked the leaders of Bethulia for their intention to surrender and declared that God would act through
her. Judith devised a plan to help her people. She removed her mourning attire and dressed in beautiful clothes and jewels, and prepared a bag with wine and (in some versions) kosher cheese. Then she waited until nightfall.
Accompanied only by her maid, Judith left the besieged city under cover of darkness. She walked into the enemy camp, and eventually entered the royal pavilion and came before Holofernes. Since she was exceedingly beautiful, when Holofernes saw her, she found favor in his eyes. He asked, “Who are you? Where do you come from and where do you wish to go?” Judith answered, “I have heard of your wisdom and skill, and since Israel has sinned, I know that you will conquer the city and take possession of it, so I came to save myself and my father’s household when you take the city.” Judith offered to help Holofernes conquer the city with inside information; the general agreed, and invited her into his tent.
Inside the tent, they feasted. Judith ate the food she had brought; in some versions, Holofernes provided his own food, and in others, he ate the cheese Judith brought in her bag. Either way, Holofernes drank a great deal of wine, became drunk, and fell asleep. Judith turned her thoughts to God, took Holofernes' sword from his bedpost where it hung, and cut off the general’s head. Judith then took Holofernes’ head and placed it in her bag. She and her maidservant passed unnoticed through the camp until she reached the gates of Bethulia. There she summoned the gatekeepers and told them to place the general’s head as high on the city gates as they could, so that the army would see it when they awoke. When the general’s men found his body in the morning, and saw his head on the gate, they fled. The war was over, and Judith’s people had won.
[Most modern retellings end here, but there is more to the story. When the people of Bethulia saw the enemy army retreat, they stormed out to attack. They plundered the abandoned enemy camp for thirty days, returning home with great riches, and gave Judith the tent of Holofernes as well as all his silver dinnerware, his beds, his bowls, and all his furniture.
All the women of Israel came to bless Judith. Judith led the women in dance, and the men followed in song. Judith offers a song of praise to God, and all the people joined her loudly; they offered thanks to God in Jerusalem, and Judith dedicates Holofernes’ objects to God. The city continued to celebrate Judith’s victory for three months.
The story concludes: many men desired to marry her, but Judith gave herself to no man all the remaining days of her life. She freed her maid in her old age, and was buried and mourned by all of Israel at the age of one hundred and five. No one ever
again spread terror among Israel during the lifetime of Judith, or for a long time after her death.
Questions for Discussion:
1. Does anything surprise you about this story?
2. Which moments in this text seem most interesting or
dramatic to you?
SONG LYRICS
WHO SENT THE HEAT
a song in Judith’s voice by Alicia Jo Rabins/Girls in Trouble
Who sent the heat
that fell upon my husband’s head
and killed him in the harvest field
three years ago
And what will they eat
the children of a city under siege
by a general whose cup overflows
I fasted for three days
then I arose and dressed myself
in crimson silk and necklaces
and bracelets of gold
Towards the city gates
I walked alone through empty streets
and I could feel a thousand eyes
watching me go
They said our city was lost, lost
and it was true that we were surrounded
they said our only hope lay with God
But I didn’t pray
I brushed my hair with oil of myrrh
and smiled at the general
while he drank his wine
I wondered as I watched him
did he have a wife at home
and would she grieve for her husband
as I grieved for mine
Questions:
1. What is your initial response to this song? What questions does this song raise for you?
2. How is your interpretation of Judith similar to or different from the song's?
3. Can you think of a situation in your own life that requires courage? How might Judith be a model for you?
For more songs and study guides about women in Torah, as well as upcoming performances, come visit us at www.girlsintroublemusic.com.