Jewish Customs in Judith by Tal Ilan


Judith, a pious widow, lives her days in mourning and fasting on the roof of her house (Jdt 8:4). Fasting is mentioned in the Hebrew Bible but not as a perpetual mourning practice. The idea that one fasts while in mourning (especially in memory of the destruction of the temple) eventually became a common Jewish practice, but it is first recorded in the book of Judith. It never became customary to fast and mourn for a prolonged period.

The book of Judith expects its heroine to remain a widow. She has already been a widow for over three years when her story opens (Jdt 8:4), and she returns to the practices of her widowhood once she accomplishes her mission, dying a widow as well (Jdt 16:21-23). In other words, remarriage for a widow is out of the question. This ideal is represented neither in the Hebrew Bible nor in later Jewish sources. Even in the ascetic writings of the contemporary Dead Sea Scrolls, although remarriage after divorce was forbidden, it was seen as unproblematic after the death of a spouse. The custom of perpetual widowhood, then, though offered as an ideal by this Jewish book, never became a Jewish custom.

While at the Assyrian camp, Judith prepares and eats her own food, refusing table-fellowship with the Assyrian general Holofernes (Jdt 12:2). This custom is part of the Jewish dietary laws of kashrut given in the Hebrew Bible that are in force even today in Orthodox Jewish circles. One might imply from this custom that table fellowship with foreigners on their own “turf” was prohibited.

Also while in the Assyrian camp, Judith goes nightly to the nearby spring to immerse herself (Jdt 12:7). Immersion was practiced in Second Temple Judaism to remove impurity. It was also practiced by sectarians such as the Essenes on a daily basis, as a sign of piety. Immersion in Judaism today is practiced only by women after menstruation and certainly not on a daily basis, but Judith’s daily immersion is a sign of her piety.

Before she dies, Judith sets her loyal female slave free (Jdt 16:23). The Hebrew Bible commands the Israelites to set free their male Hebrew slaves after seven years of labor (Exod 21:2) but this text speaks of a female, who is treated like a gentile slave. No law instructs Jews to set gentile slaves free. Perhaps the book of Judith wishes to promote a custom popular among non-Jews of releasing slaves after a long service. This custom, however, never took hold in Judaism while slavery was still practiced.

Finally, the book of Judith reports the conversion to Judaism of the Ammonite Achior. The Hebrew Bible explicitly forbids Ammonites and Moabites to join the congregation of Israel (Deut 23:3). By welcoming this proselyte, the book of Judith joins the book of Ruth in opposing this biblical injunction.

Tal Ilan, "Jewish Customs in Judith", n.p. [cited 20 Jan 2020]. Online:


Tal Ilan

Tal Ilan
Professor, Freie Universität

Tal Ilan was born in Israel and is professor of Jewish Studies at the Freie Universität, Berlin (Germany).

A person who abstains from worldly pleasures, usually for religious reasons.


A group of people attending religious services, worshiping.

Changing one's beliefs and self-identity from one religion to another.


Also known as the rules of kashrut (the system for keeping kosher), these are the biblical laws stating what it is permissible for Israelites to eat. The laws appear primarily in Lev 11 and Deut 14, though a few appear elsewhere.

An ascetic sect of early Judaism whose adherents probably included the inhabitants of Qumran (the site of the Dead Sea Scrolls).

a person who is not Jewish



A general of Nebuchadnezzar who attacked Israel, according to the Book of Judith, but was ultimately beheaded by Judith.

Completely surrounding a person in something. Within Christianity, it refers to baptisms where the baptized person is dunked entirely underwater, as opposed to having water poured over them.



The Jewish system of dietary rules. Among other things, it prohibits pork and shellfish, requires meat products and milk products to be eaten separately, and mandates a specific method of slaughtering animals.

Permitted within the Jewish system of dietary rules.




An arrangement whereby widows dedicated themselves to charity and were supported by the early church, as early as the first century C.E.

Devotion to a divinity and the expression of that devotion.



A collection of rabbinic writings, mostly interpretations of the Hebrew Bible and the Mishnah (another rabbinic collection). There are two Talmuds, the Palestinian and the Babylonian, so called after the region in which each is believed to have been compiled. The Talmuds were likely composed between the third and the sixth centuries C.E.

Jdt 8:4

4Judith remained as a widow for three years and four months

Jdt 8:4

4Judith remained as a widow for three years and four months

Jdt 16:21-23

The Renown and Death of Judith
21After this they all returned home to their own inheritances. Judith went to Bethulia, and remained on her estate. For the rest ... View more

Jdt 12:2

2But Judith said, “I cannot partake of them, or it will be an offense; but I will have enough with the things I brought with me.”

Jdt 12:7

7So Holofernes commanded his guards not to hinder her. She remained in the camp three days. She went out each night to the valley of Bethulia, and bathed at the ... View more

Jdt 16:23

23She became more and more famous, and grew old in her husband's house, reaching the age of one hundred five. She set her maid free. She died in Bethulia, and t ... View more

Exod 21:2


Deut 23:3

3No Ammonite or Moabite shall be admitted to the assembly of the Lord. Even to the tenth generation, none of their descendants shall be admitted to the assembly ... View more

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