Chana was very different than many of the other awe-inspiring personalities that appear throughout Tanach.
In fact, she doesn't seem to be known by an official title like so many others, such as Sara Imeinu or Esther Hamalka or Devorah Haneviah; even though Chana was definitely a prophetess, she's not colloquially known as "Chana Haneviah." She's sometimes called "Chana, mother of Shmuel Hanavi" when there's a need to clarify which Chana is being discussed, but in my experience, she's usually referred to as simply "Chana."
(In fact, I think people even tend to forget that aside from epitomizing tefillah, she was actually a top-ranking prophetess. Like, "Who were the 7 main prophetesses again? Sara, Devorah, Miriam, and...oh, Chana was one, right?")
Just for knowing, the 7 are: Sara Imeinu, Devorah Haneviah, Miriam Haneviah, Queen Esther, Chulda Haneviah, Avigail (wife of David Hamelech) and...Chana, mother of Shmuel Hanavi! And it's true that a lot of people forget about Chuldah Haneviah and Avigail too, but also Chana.
So as far as I know, Chana had a nice frum upbringing in a nice frum environment. She enjoyed a strong marriage to the noble and influential Elkanah from the Tribe of Levi, who loved her very much.
But because it seemed that Chana couldn't have children, Elkanah then married Penina, who went on to have 10 children. That's a whole list of accomplishments right there!
Elkanah brought the Jewish people closer to Hashem, and Chana was a quiet and seemingly passive helpmate in her husband's activities.
Chana and Penina likely would've gotten along fine except that Penina mistakenly assumed that Chana's infertility was due to a lack of heartfelt desire and prayer on Chana's part, so Penina decided to start making pointed comments to arouse Chana to a place of desperation for children (and desperation for a halt to Penina's hurtful treatment) and thus effect heartfelt prayers on Chana's part.
Astoundingly, there doesn't seem to be any record of Chana responding to Penina's barbs.
Instead, Chana continues to pray quietly to Hashem.
In fact, Chana doesn't even mention her distress or confide in her husband. Being an attentive husband, he notices on his own and tries to comfort her, but again, she doesn't respond and instead turns to Hashem.
(BTW, it's worth emphasizing Chana's determination to NOT report Penina's hurtful behavior to Elkanah. Certainly, a tactful report of Penina's treatment could be considered lashon hara l'toelet -- the beneficial purpose being that Elkanah would both judge Penina favorably for her good intentions yet at the same time, understand that her behavior needs to be stopped. In a display of mind-boggling strength of character, Chana neither responds to Penina's barbs nor does she speak lashon hara about Penina -- not even l'toelet.)
Finally, after facing a misunderstanding from a local Kohen as she prayed at the Beit Hamikdash, Chana finally gets pregnant and births Shmuel Hanavi.
She remained a stay-at-home nursing mother for the next couple of years, even refusing to go on another pilgrimage during that time.
Later Chana praises Hashem at length, prophesies a bit, has even more children, and then...we don't hear much about her again.
In fact, throughout most of Chana's story, she's a stay-at-home wife who davens a lot, who eventually becomes a stay-at-home mom who davens a lot, and achieves prophecy at times.
It's hard to know what else she did, though we can assume she engaged in chessed in her community, made meals for those sick or recovering from birth, gave to the poor, etc.
However, that's not what she KNOWN for. We never hear about it.
In fact, she doesn't seem to be known by an official title like so many others, such as Sara Imeinu or Esther Hamalka or Devorah Haneviah; even though Chana was definitely a prophetess, she's not colloquially known as "Chana Haneviah." She's sometimes called "Chana, mother of Shmuel Hanavi" when there's a need to clarify which Chana is being discussed, but in my experience, she's usually referred to as simply "Chana."
(In fact, I think people even tend to forget that aside from epitomizing tefillah, she was actually a top-ranking prophetess. Like, "Who were the 7 main prophetesses again? Sara, Devorah, Miriam, and...oh, Chana was one, right?")
Just for knowing, the 7 are: Sara Imeinu, Devorah Haneviah, Miriam Haneviah, Queen Esther, Chulda Haneviah, Avigail (wife of David Hamelech) and...Chana, mother of Shmuel Hanavi! And it's true that a lot of people forget about Chuldah Haneviah and Avigail too, but also Chana.
So as far as I know, Chana had a nice frum upbringing in a nice frum environment. She enjoyed a strong marriage to the noble and influential Elkanah from the Tribe of Levi, who loved her very much.
But because it seemed that Chana couldn't have children, Elkanah then married Penina, who went on to have 10 children. That's a whole list of accomplishments right there!
Elkanah brought the Jewish people closer to Hashem, and Chana was a quiet and seemingly passive helpmate in her husband's activities.
Chana and Penina likely would've gotten along fine except that Penina mistakenly assumed that Chana's infertility was due to a lack of heartfelt desire and prayer on Chana's part, so Penina decided to start making pointed comments to arouse Chana to a place of desperation for children (and desperation for a halt to Penina's hurtful treatment) and thus effect heartfelt prayers on Chana's part.
Astoundingly, there doesn't seem to be any record of Chana responding to Penina's barbs.
Instead, Chana continues to pray quietly to Hashem.
In fact, Chana doesn't even mention her distress or confide in her husband. Being an attentive husband, he notices on his own and tries to comfort her, but again, she doesn't respond and instead turns to Hashem.
(BTW, it's worth emphasizing Chana's determination to NOT report Penina's hurtful behavior to Elkanah. Certainly, a tactful report of Penina's treatment could be considered lashon hara l'toelet -- the beneficial purpose being that Elkanah would both judge Penina favorably for her good intentions yet at the same time, understand that her behavior needs to be stopped. In a display of mind-boggling strength of character, Chana neither responds to Penina's barbs nor does she speak lashon hara about Penina -- not even l'toelet.)
Finally, after facing a misunderstanding from a local Kohen as she prayed at the Beit Hamikdash, Chana finally gets pregnant and births Shmuel Hanavi.
She remained a stay-at-home nursing mother for the next couple of years, even refusing to go on another pilgrimage during that time.
Later Chana praises Hashem at length, prophesies a bit, has even more children, and then...we don't hear much about her again.
In fact, throughout most of Chana's story, she's a stay-at-home wife who davens a lot, who eventually becomes a stay-at-home mom who davens a lot, and achieves prophecy at times.
It's hard to know what else she did, though we can assume she engaged in chessed in her community, made meals for those sick or recovering from birth, gave to the poor, etc.
However, that's not what she KNOWN for. We never hear about it.
The Measure of a Person Taken by God vs Society
Today's secularists would call her a passive breeder tied to the stove, no identity of her own, blah, blah, blah. They would criticize Chana for not being more assertive, blame her for giving off "doormat" vibes that allow Penina to "bully" her, and so forth. They'd label her as a "masochist" or a "co-dependent" who needs expert guidance by a licensed therapist.
On the other hand, even in the frum community of that time, Chana doesn't seem to be known for running organizations, and working full-time so her husband can learn while keeping up a beautiful home, a beautiful appearance, and beautifully appareled children, or giving shiurim, etc.
Chana doesn't even go down in history for her very real status as prophetess or for anything else we consider important (whether it's talking to angels or running a soup kitchen or heading a prestigious girls seminary).
Did others speak about her as "Oh, Chana. She is always SO together! And she accomplishes SO much!"? Or did they say, "Oh, Chana. She's such a tzadekes. She's so holy, I'd like to get a bracha from her"?
(Or did they know anything about her at all? After all, she was very quiet and didn't get out much. Was she well-known in her own time?)
Interestingly, as quiet and unremarkable as Chana seems to be at superficial glance, her impact on Klal Yisrael resounds until today. In fact, we extract some of our most fundamental laws of prayer directly from Chana's method of prayer.
And until today, we learn that Chana's very name (and therefore her essence) represents the 3 fundamental laws for Jewish women:
Challah
Niddah
Hadlikat neirot for Shabbat and Yom Tov
And she produced one of our greatest prophets: Shmuel Hanavi.
On the other hand, even in the frum community of that time, Chana doesn't seem to be known for running organizations, and working full-time so her husband can learn while keeping up a beautiful home, a beautiful appearance, and beautifully appareled children, or giving shiurim, etc.
Chana doesn't even go down in history for her very real status as prophetess or for anything else we consider important (whether it's talking to angels or running a soup kitchen or heading a prestigious girls seminary).
Did others speak about her as "Oh, Chana. She is always SO together! And she accomplishes SO much!"? Or did they say, "Oh, Chana. She's such a tzadekes. She's so holy, I'd like to get a bracha from her"?
(Or did they know anything about her at all? After all, she was very quiet and didn't get out much. Was she well-known in her own time?)
Interestingly, as quiet and unremarkable as Chana seems to be at superficial glance, her impact on Klal Yisrael resounds until today. In fact, we extract some of our most fundamental laws of prayer directly from Chana's method of prayer.
And until today, we learn that Chana's very name (and therefore her essence) represents the 3 fundamental laws for Jewish women:
Challah
Niddah
Hadlikat neirot for Shabbat and Yom Tov
And she produced one of our greatest prophets: Shmuel Hanavi.
A Resounding Quiet
In other words, Chana is mostly either silent or she's talking to Hashem. If I'm not mistaken, the one time she speaks of her pain to anyone else is only after she's confronted AND misunderstood -- by Eli Hakohen. And even then, she's very thoughtful and considerate in her response to his misinterpretation of her holy behavior.
(Remember, when her husband asks her why she's sad, if he's not better to her than 10 sons, Chana doesn't reply, doesn't even take that opportunity to finally reveal Penina's mistreatment. It's only when Eli Hakohen mistakes her for a brazen lush does she speak up -- and even then, she corrects his misconception with humility and sensitivity.)
(Remember, when her husband asks her why she's sad, if he's not better to her than 10 sons, Chana doesn't reply, doesn't even take that opportunity to finally reveal Penina's mistreatment. It's only when Eli Hakohen mistakes her for a brazen lush does she speak up -- and even then, she corrects his misconception with humility and sensitivity.)
The Power Invested in Every Kind of Soul
Again, it's important to emphasize that this post is not denigrating more extroverted, visibly accomplished, energetic people.
We need ALL kinds!
Why?
Because this is what Hashem wants.
We need the Devorah Haneviahs who sit outside under the palm tree, available for mediation and peace-making, who then later ride out to war as the leader.
We need the Yaels who are piously cunning and handy with a tent peg.
We need the Sara Imeinus who engage in non-stop hospitality, outreach, teaching, and who are in general very assertive and fearless in face of fellow prophets, angels, and kings.
Hashem imbued the above people with those abilities because He WANTS them to utilize them in that manner.
But as mentioned in a previous post, the above have become the main types presented for emulation simply for practical reasons: Their stories are more "tellable" and their actions & accomplishments more noticeable.
But our tradition proves to us that we also need the Chanas and the Leah Imeinus.
A person behaving with true goodness and genuine humility regardless of their situation and environment is effecting a HUGE impact for good and sweetening din.
But who will ever know about it?
No one -- except the Only One who matters: Hashem.
The sincere spiritual efforts wrangled with unseen in near silence can spark impacts of such magnitude, their reverberations are reaped for eternity.
____________
We need ALL kinds!
Why?
Because this is what Hashem wants.
We need the Devorah Haneviahs who sit outside under the palm tree, available for mediation and peace-making, who then later ride out to war as the leader.
We need the Yaels who are piously cunning and handy with a tent peg.
We need the Sara Imeinus who engage in non-stop hospitality, outreach, teaching, and who are in general very assertive and fearless in face of fellow prophets, angels, and kings.
Hashem imbued the above people with those abilities because He WANTS them to utilize them in that manner.
But as mentioned in a previous post, the above have become the main types presented for emulation simply for practical reasons: Their stories are more "tellable" and their actions & accomplishments more noticeable.
But our tradition proves to us that we also need the Chanas and the Leah Imeinus.
A person behaving with true goodness and genuine humility regardless of their situation and environment is effecting a HUGE impact for good and sweetening din.
But who will ever know about it?
No one -- except the Only One who matters: Hashem.
The sincere spiritual efforts wrangled with unseen in near silence can spark impacts of such magnitude, their reverberations are reaped for eternity.
____________
Related posts:
Avigail's Righteous Conduct within a Bad Marriage: A Message for Today
The Prophetess Hulda: Her Message of Hope, Part I
The First Chapter of Shmuel I (which introduces Chana) with Rashi in English
Why a Leah Imeinu Can't (and Shouldn't) be a Sara Imeinu
Avigail's Righteous Conduct within a Bad Marriage: A Message for Today
The Prophetess Hulda: Her Message of Hope, Part I
The First Chapter of Shmuel I (which introduces Chana) with Rashi in English
Why a Leah Imeinu Can't (and Shouldn't) be a Sara Imeinu
Quiet, yet beautiful
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