Eshet Chayil: Woman of Valor, A Love Song

The Biblical poem at the heart of this unit is an ode to the ideal woman, called Eshet Chayil – in English, “A Woman of Valor.”

While the language is beautiful, and many people love this poem, for others it raises questions. What does “ideal woman” mean? Who defines “ideal” (or “valor”)? And how does this ancient poem fit with contemporary ideas about gender?

In this unit, we consider a range of approaches to Eshet Chayil – feminist, midrashic, mystical, and modern. We offer Girls in Trouble’s interpretation, a folk-Americana love song to women everywhere, and we invite you to create your own. What’s your interpretation of “A Woman of Valor?” How do you honor the women in your life?