The name Yehudis in biblical texts

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kiwi strawberry

Thu, Jun 10 2021, 8:31 am

Does the name Yehudis or a derivative thereof exist in Tanach, gemara, or any other biblical text besides for the mention of Eisav's wife?

Ema of 5

Thu, Jun 10 2021, 9:27 am

Yehudis was the one who killed Heliforni

etky

Thu, Jun 10 2021, 10:12 am

The only other Yehudit (other than Esav's wife) in Tanach that I am aware of is not the name of a person but rather the way that Hebrew was referred to during the time of Hizkiyahu (see the story of Ravshakeh and Hizkiyahu's advisors in Melachim bet).
Yehudit appears of course as the heroine of the Book of Judith but it is apocryphal.
I don't know if the name appears in the Talmud. I don't think the Book of Judith was widely known in Jewish circles at that time in Jewish history.

goodmorning

Thu, Jun 10 2021, 11:08 am

R' Chiya's wife was named Yehudis (Yevamos 65b).

zaq

Thu, Jun 10 2021, 11:16 am

Ema of 4 wrote:

Yehudis was the one who killed Heliforni

The Book of Judith is in the Sefarim Chitzoniim, aka Apocrypha, which were Biblical-style works that were not accepted into the official canon determined by the Rabbanim somewhere between 200 BCE and 200 CE.

PinkFridge

Fri, Jun 11 2021, 10:01 am

Interestingly, I don't see it in my Ishei HaTanach at all.
I know of rabbanim who suggest that giyoros take that name on, even as a middle name. I don't think it's a test of their mesirus nefesh and willingness to listen to daas Torah; it obviously must be as a positive boost. Ok, maybe it's because it literally means Jewish woman, but as this thread shows, there were some strong women through our history with the name. (Not to mention so many good recent Judiths, like Dr. Grunfeld or Rebbetzin Neuberger. Oh and Judy Young...I could go on.

STMommy

Fri, Jun 11 2021, 2:15 pm

Does the gemara quote the Yehudis story as the reason for "Af hein"? (I.e. why women are obligated in the time-bound mitzvah of menora lighting - because we, too, were part of the miracle)

ImmaBubby

Tue, Apr 26 2022, 1:45 am

Wasn’t the Yehudis of the Chanukah story the daughter of Mattisyohu kohen godol? As in sister of the maccabim?

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