" Judith and Her Midrashim"

with Dr. Jennifer Koosed, Professor of Religious Studies, Albright College

Although part of the Bible for Greek-speaking Jews in antiquity, the book of Judith was not ultimately included in teh Tanak. Even so, Judith never entirely disappears in the Jewish tradition, reemerging in a collection of Medieval texts, many of whcih link Judith's story to the holiday of Hanukkah. Together we will trace this transformation of Judith from the original story to the Medieval Hebrew tales. In these midrashim, Judith has a pivotal role in their decision of the Maccabees to fight back again their Greek oppressors. These tales influence liturgical art and our Hanukkah traditions.