A Woman of Strong Character: Eshet Chayil

A WOMAN OF STRONG CHARACTER: ESHET CHAYIL

,אָצְמִי יִמ ,לִיַח־תֶׁשֵא .הָּרְכִמ םיִניִנְּפִמ קֹחָרְו

,הָּלְעַּב בֵל הָּּב חַטָּב .רָסְחֶי אֹל לָלָׁשְו

,עָר אֹלְו בוֹט וּהְתַלָמְג .ָהיֶיַח יֵמְי לֹּכ

,םיִּתְׁשִפוּ רֶמֶצ הָׁשְרָּד .ָהיֶּפַּכ ץֶפֵחְּב שַׂעַּתַו

,רֵחוֹס תוֹיִּנֳאָּכ הָתְיָה .הָּמְחַל איִבָּת קָחְרֶּמִמ

ףֶרֶט ןֵּתִּתַו ,הָלְיַל דוֹעְּב םָקָּתַו .ָהיֶתֹרֲעַנְל קֹחְו הָּתיֵבְל

,וּהֵחָקִּתַו הֶדָׂש הָמְמָז .םֶרָּכ הָעְטָנ ָהיֶּפַכ יִרְּפִמ [Joyful is one] who has found a woman of strong character. Her worth is far greater than precious pearls.

Her husband trusts in her wholeheartedly, and profits thereby.

She recompenses [his good treatment of her] treating him well, not bitterly, all the days of her life.

She seeks out wool and linen, and works with willing hands.

She is like a ship laden with merchandise, bringing [spiritual and physical] food from afar.

She rises while it is still night to provide food for her household, and a fair share for her staff.

She considers [the worth of] a field and purchases it; from her earnings she plants a vineyard.

,ָהיֶנְתָמ זוֹעְב הָרְגָח .ָהיֶתֹעוֹרְז ץֵּמאְַּתַו

,הָּרְחַס בוֹט יִּכ ,הָמֲעָט

.הָּרֵנ הָלְיַלַב הֶּבְכִי אֹל

,רוֹשׁיִּכַב הָחְלִׁש ָהיֶדָי .ךֶלָפ וּכְמָּת ָהיֶּפַכְו

,יִנָעֶל הָׂשְרָּפ הָּּפַּכ .ןוֹיְבֶאָל הָחְלִׁש ָהיֶדָיְו

,גֶלָּׁשִמ הָּתיֵבְל אָריִת אֹל .םיִנָׁש שֻׁבָל הָּתיֵּב לָכ יִּכ

,הָּל הָתְׂשָע םיִּדַבְרַמ .הָּׁשוּבְל ןָמָגְראְַו שֵׁׁש

,הָּלְעַּב םיִרָעְּׁשַּב עָדוֹנ .ץֶראָ יֵנְקִז םִע וֹתְּבִׁשְּב She invests herself with strength, and braces her arms for her tasks.

She sees that her business goes well.

Her light does not go out at night.

Her hands are engaged with the spindle, and her palms support the loom.

She reaches out her palm to the poor, and extends her hands to the needy.

When it snows, she has no fear for her household, for they are all dressed in fine crimson wool.

She makes her own tapestries. Her clothing is of fine linen and purple wool.

Her husband is well known at [community meeting places, such as] the gates, where he sits with the leaders of the land.

,רֹּכְמִּתַו הָתְׂשָע ןיִדָס

.יִנֲעַנְּכַל הָנְתָנ רוֹגֲחַו

.ןוֹרֲחאַ םוֹיְל קַחְׂשִּתַו ,הָּׁשוּבְל רָדָהְו זֹע

,הָמְכָחְב הָחְתָּפ ָהיִּפ .הָּנוֹשְׁל־לַע דֶסֶח תַרוֹתְו

,הָּתיֵּב תוֹכיִלֲה הָיִפוֹצ .לֵכאֹת אֹל תוּלְצַע םֶחֶלְו

.הָּלְלַהְיַו ,הָּלְעַּב ,ָהוּרְּׁשאְַיַו ָהיֶנָב וּמָק .הָנָלֻּכ־לַע תיִלָע ְּתאְַו ,לִיָח וּשָׂע תוֹנָּב תוֹבַּר

,הוהי־תאְַרִי הָּׁשִא ,יִפֹיַה לֶבֶהְו ןֵחַה רֶקֶׁש .לָלַהְתִת איִה

םיִרָעְּׁשַב ָהוּלְלַהיִו ,ָהיֶדָי יִרְּפִמ הָּל וּנְּת .ָהיֶׂשֲעַמ She makes fine garments and sells them;

She supplies the merchants with sashes.

She is robed with strength and dignity, and she [can laugh and] smile [with hope] toward the future.

She opens her mouth with wisdom, and a lesson of loving‑ kindness is on her tongue.

She oversees the ways of her household, and doesn’t eat the bread of idleness.

Her children stand tall and make her happy; her husband praises her, [saying:] “Many women have excelled, but you surpass them all!”

Charm is deceptive and beauty is vain; it is a God‑fearing woman who deserves praise.

Give her the reward she has earned, and let her deeds bring her praise at the gates.

THINK

This alphabetical acrostic, known as Eshet Chayil, or “A Woman of Valor,” is taken from the closing chapter of the book of Proverbs.10 Many families sing this poem at the Friday night Shabbat dinner table to honor the mother of the family, to express gratitude for who she is and all she does.

CONNECT

A mystery of history: Whom is this poem talking about? Did the author have one incredible woman in mind?Some say it was written by Abraham for his wife Sarah, or by King Solomon for his mother Bathsheba. Another approach teaches that the eshet chayil is not a “who” but a “what”– an allegory for Judaism’s greatest treasures: the soul, wisdom, Shabbat, Torah, the Shechinah (Divine Presence of God), and the Jewish people.

REFLECT

Why are a woman, a wife, and a mother chosen as the representation of Judaism’s greatest treasures? Who are the women you treasure in your life? What are their strengths? How can you further appreciate them? In what ways do you see and treat the women in your life as an eshet chayil, a treasure of moral and physical strength?

PERSONAL PRAYER

Almighty, in Your loving-kindness, You gave me my dear wife. May You guard her and our children. May no harm come to us, and may there always be love between us. When we have misunderstandings, help us reconcile quickly and easily. Help my wife be joyful and loving, free of harm and despair. Help me know how to meet her physical and spiritual needs. May our home always be blessed with plenty, and may we merit to share with others what You grant us, bringing them joy. Thank You for the gift of praying to You.11

10 Proverbs 31. 11 Excerpted and translated from Kol HaYeshuot by Rabbi Moshe Amiel.