Of all the blessings and recitations of our Friday evening Shabbat celebration, my favorite is the hymn Eshet Chayil, or Woman of Valor. It is a beautiful 22-verse poem with which King Solomon ends the Book of Proverbs.
Here are just a few lines:
An accomplished woman, who can find? Her value is far beyond pearls.
Eshet chayil mi yimtza v'rachok mip'ninim michrah
Strength and honor are her clothing, and she smiles at the future.
Oz v'hadar l'vushah vatischak l'yom acharon
She opens her mouth in wisdom, and the lesson of kindness is on her tongue.
Piha patchah v'chochma v'torat chesed al l'shonah
Jewish culture holds many interpretations of the poem’s meaning but to me, it’s recognition of a special woman who gives of herself freely, and the causes she believes in - Someone like my Grandma Dottie.
When we praise the woman of valor my heart fills with memories of the Grandma Dottie of my childhood. Every summer when we made the trip from New Jersey to Florida to visit her, she would dote on us, and never missed a chance to make our lives fun and wonderful. She was the type of grandma who would spend hours making lunch for us while we splashed around in the swimming pool at her complex. And she always let us win at cards.
She was kind, thoughtful, and generous to a fault. She would give you the shirt off her back if you needed it.
Many people besides me recognized Grandma Dottie as a woman of valor. She was involved for many years as a volunteer with Hadassah, a respected American women’s Zionist organization that supports the land and people of Israel. They sponsor programs that encourage education, advocacy, personal growth, and Jewish continuity among members and supporters, as well as American and Israeli youth.
My Grandma Dottie received countless Hadassah awards recognizing her for outstanding leadership, commitment, and hard work. I only know this because her guest bedroom was full of plaques and certificates from the organization – not because she talked about it in search of praise.
The Eshet Chayil describes the woman of valor as energetic, capable, and righteous. Someone between Superwoman and Golda Meir. Someone like my Grandma Dottie.
Would you like to honor a woman of valor who has enriched your life? Traditions Jewish Gifts offers dozens of possibilities. In our woman of valor selection, you’ll find household items such as personalized vases, candlesticks, and serving plates, as well as handcrafted items and artistic representations of the Eshet Chayil that come beautifully framed and ready to incorporate into any décor.