Are you a Chanukah or Purim heroine type?

Chanukah is nigh. Though there is no text for it within TaNaCh, there are stories that include the heroism of Yehudith. She is the very strong and straight-forward type of heroine. She spoke up against the outrages committed against Jewish women. And she did not take a passive stance with respect to the general either. She only had to maintain a pretense with him for long enough to get him guard. Then she promptly chopped off his head with a sword. Very direct and to the point.
Esther, on the other hand, had to act subtly. She had to conceal her identity and her distaste for the role of queen to a king who hated the Jews as much as Haman did. She had to endure living with him for years beyond her coup of saving her people and establishing a holiday with a Megillah named in her honor that is read every year.

Another difference between the two is that of choice. Yehudith chose to act on her own volition. In contrast, Esther was taken as queen and directed by Mordechai when to keep a low profile and when to speak up. She, certainly, is one who had greatness thrust upon her and rose to the occasion.

So if you had the ability to choose, which heroine would you prefer to be?

Comments

Chaim B. said…
Is this an HR interview question?
Ariella's blog said…
No, but it could be an interesting date question. Can you guess what my answer would be and why?
The Yehudit stories are either from the book of Judith, about the Persian period (at least overtly speaking), or from the late midrash Chanuka, from a generation before Rashi. That said, it's a good question.

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