Judith of toronto
impressions of Judy Feld Carr
The biblical Judith uses her charm and stealth to outwit an Assyrian general, Holofernes, and save Israel from oppression.
Judy Feld Carr secretly engineered the escape of over 3000 Jews from persecution in their homeland, Syria, over a 28-year period.
“Everyone can make a difference.”
The book of Judith
The story of Judith is from the deuterocanonical books in the Old Testament. Judith is a Jewish widow who uses her beauty and charm to destroy an Assyrian general and save Israel from oppression.
Judit y Holofernes, Tintoretto, Jacopo Robusti, 1552 - 1555. Óleo sobre lienzo, 58 x 119 cm, Museo Nacional del Prado
Judith and her maid go to the camp of the enemy general, Holofernes.
Gradually Judith gains his trust by promising him information on the Israelites.
One night, allowed access to his tent, Judith decapitates him as he lies in a drunken stupor.
She then takes his head back to her countrymen.
The Assyrians, now leaderless, disperse; and Israel is saved.
Judith remains unmarried for the rest of her life.
Judit y Holofernes, Tintoretto, Jacopo Robusti, Hacia 1577. Óleo sobre lienzo, 188 x 251 cm, Museo Nacional del Prado
Judith
Judith’s intelligence, stealth, patience and determination in gaining the trust of Holofernes — calls to mind the amazing espionage work of Toronto-based musicologist and human rights activist, Judy Feld Carr.
Judy Feld Carr
Judy Feld Carr secretly engineered the escape of over 3000 Jews from persecution in their homeland, in Syria. Over a 28-year period, she bribed, ransomed and smuggled Syria’s Jews to safety.
The rescue was the best-kept secret in the Jewish world.
Amid other honours, she has been awarded the Order of Canada; the Queen’s Silver Jubilee Medal; and the Presidential Award of Distinction of the State of Israel.
Judy Chicago, Judith Place Setting (from The Dinner Party), 1979; Mixed media; Collection of Brooklyn Museum, Brooklyn, NY; Photo courtesy of Betty Boyd Dettre Library & Research Center, National Museum of Women in the Arts; © Judy Chicago
References
- https://www.jpost.com/jerusalem-report/judys-story-the-heroism-of-a-canadian-who-smuggled-jews-out-of-syria-620693
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Judy_Feld_Carr
- https://www.jewishfoundationtoronto.com/book-of-life-stories/-00carrjudy
- https://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/1027071/jewish/Buying-Lives.htm
- https://www.encyclopedia.com/religion/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/carr-judy-feld
- https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/judith-carr
- The Apocrypha, translated by Edgar J. Goodspeed, with an introduction by Moses Hadas, Vintage Books, Random House Inc, New York, 1989