30:36 (Proverbs 31, v. 17) " With strength she girds her loins and invigorates her arms" ... we don't see an action being done... referring to Miriam, the wife of Calev ... the sister of Moshe.

Hanna, Shmuel's mother

33:13 (Proverbs 31, v.18) "She discerns that her enterprise is good so her lamp is not struck out by night" ... Hanna, the wife of Elkana, the mother of Shmuel the navi... who discerned the discernment of Tefila (prayer), therefore she merited a son equal to Aharon and Moshe who lit up the world.

Yael

36:25 (Proverbs 31, v.19) "Her hands she stretches out to the distaff and her palms support the spindle." ... this is referring to Yael ... This is the famous story of Devora who was the prophetess, who with the help of Barak ... defeats the king of the time who was Canaan. Sisra was the general of the opposing army and Sisra flees ... Yael invites him into her tent and offers him a warm cup of milk. When he falls into a deep sleep she takes the peg of the tent and slams it into his forehead and he falls dead

The widowed woman from Tzarfat

38:17 "She spreads out her palms to the poor and extends her hand to the destitute" (Proverbs 21,v.20) this is referring to a woman ... we don't even know her name ... she supported Elijah the prophet with bread and water ... no rain for three years ... she herself is a destitute situation ... she goes and brings him some water.

Rachav

41:17 "She fears not snow for her household for her household is filled with scarlet wool"(Proverbs 21,v.21) ... the imagery of Rachav ... the woman who lived in the town of Jericho ... hid the two spies that Yehoshua, Joshua sent in order to check out the land ... at the risk of her own life ... she hangs down that string that she lowers them down with, that red, scarlet string ... Joshua in the end married Rachav.

Batsheba

42:45 "Luxurious bedspreads she has made herself, linen and purple wool are her clothing"(Proverbs 21,v.22) ... this is Batsheba ... from whom King Solomon came out ... who was clothed in beautiful royal silk clothing ... it was the power of Batsheba that allowed Shlomo Hamelech to be who he was.

Michal, King David's wife

43:58 "Dinstinctive in the councils is her husband when he sits with the elders in the land" (Proverbs 21, v.23) ... this is Michal the daughter of Shaul (King Saul) who saved her husband David from death ... Shaul ... knew that his son-in-law David would take over ... and in many instances tried to have David killed ... Michal lowered David out of the window

Hatzelponi, Samson's mother

46:52 "She makes a cloak to sell and delivers a bell to the peddler" (Proverbs 21, v. 24) ... Hatzelponi, the wife of Manoach ... gets this meeting ... with an angel (mother of Shimshon who saved the Jews)

Elisheva, Aharon's wife

49:38 "Strength and majesty are her clothing she joyfully awaits the last day" (Proverbs 21, v.25) ... this is Elisheva Bat Aminadav ... she saw three wondrous occasions on one day ... the consecration of the Tabernacle in the desert, ... her husband became the Kohen Gadol (Priest) ... her brother Nachshon brought a korban, ... her two sons became second to the Priest ... and her brother-in-law became king.

Sarach Bat Asher

52:06 The next woman is a fascinating woman, because she too enters Gan Eden alive ... "She opens her mouth with wisdom and the lesson of kindness is on her tongue" (Proverbs 21,v.26) This is referring to the woman who spoke to Yoav ... she saved an entire city through her wisdom ... Sarach Bat Asher

Ovadia's wife

55:38 "She anticipates the ways of her household and partakes not of the bread of laziness" (Proverbs 21,v.26) ... the wife of Ovadia ... she saved her sons ... and they didn't worship idols with Achav ... the prophet ... Ovadia who saved 100 prophets in cave ... went into debt and died ... the king ... was willing to take ... Ovadia's two sons instead of the debt ... she saw that this would be detrimental.

Woman from Shunam

57:59 "Her children arise and praise her, her husband and he lauds her."(Proverbs 21,v.27) ... A woman from Shunam who is called a great woman ... she prevailed upon Elisha to eat ... Elisha was grateful for her hospitality and blessed her with a son ... A couple of years later (the son) was out in the field and got a splitting headache ... the child died ... Elisha through prayer ... revived the child ... grows up to be the prophet Chabakuk ... the famous line in Chabakuk ... "A man lives in his faith" ... this perhaps is the greatest praise (that Chabbakuk could give to his mother).

Ruth

01:01:19 "Many daughters have ... amassed achievement, but you surpassed them all" "False is grace and vain is beauty ... a G-dfearing woman she should be praised." "Give her the fruits of her hands and let her be praised in the gates by her very own deeds." (Proverbs 21,v.27-29) Three verses ... Ruth the Moabite woman who converts ... A woman of valor.

Public figures

01:03:34 I think it's important to note that there are some women who we would have expected to see ... who are not here ... Devora the Prophetess ... Queen Esther ... an Aishet Chayil is not one who has to go out and be victorious in battle, or be a public figure as a queen ... it cannot be our sole purpose ... there is a glory which is inward.

All the women in the world

01:05:40 "Give her from the fruits of her hand and let her be praised in the gates by her very own deeds"(the last verse) This is to include all the righteous ... women in the world ... to conclude the "art gallery" for the evening what this midrash is telling us is that the final picture on the wall in our picture gallery is nothing other ,after all, than a mirror

The Women mentioned in this class

Naama (Noach's wife) and daughters-in-law
Sarah
Rivka
Leah
Rachel
Bitya, the daughter of Pharoah
Yocheved, Moshe's mother
Miriam, Moshe's sister
Hanna, Shmuel's mother
Yael
The widowed woman from Tzarfat
Rachav
Batsheba
Michal
Hatzelponi, Samson's mother
Elisheva, Aharon's wife
Sarach bat Asher
Ovadia's wife
Woman from Shunam
Ruth the Moabite
Public Figures
All the women in the world

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