Parsha Halacha

Parsha Halacha – Parshat Nasso

Queen Helena

Righteous Convert, Nazirite, and Philanthropist 

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The Torah portion of Nasso includes the laws of a Nazirite.^[1] As such this article will discuss the only female Nazirite whose name is known, Queen Helena of Adiabene (an ancient kingdom in northern Mesopotamia). 

Queen Helena – Background

Helena was the righteous queen of the kingdom of Adiabene who converted to Judaism with her two sons, Monbaz and Izates. Later, she moved to Jerusalem where she donated vast sums to the poor as well as several artifacts to the Beit HaMikdash, as will be explained below.

Here are some of the details that we know about her:

A Nazirite for 21 Years

The Talmud recounts^[2] that when her son was in battle,^[3] Helena vowed that she would be a Nazirite for seven years if he would return safely from battle. When he came back unharmed, she fulfilled her vow and was a Nazirite for seven years. (This means that she didn’t cut her hair, didn’t drink wine or eat grape products, and was careful not to come into contact with the dead.) When she came to the Beit HaMikdash in Jerusalem to bring the sacrifices that a Nazirite brings when completing his vow, the sages informed her that a Nazirite could not fulfill his or her vow outside the Land of Israel. (The reason for this is that the sages decreed that the earth and air of the diaspora is considered ritually impure since the pagans would often bury miscarried fetuses in unmarked graves.^[4] Thus, a Nazirite in the diaspora is considered to be in contact with the dead as long as he is there. As such, the seven years did not count for her Nazirite vow.) 

Helena then stayed in Israel for seven years to fulfill her vow. At the end of this time, she accidentally became ritually impure and had to start counting the seven years all over again. In total, she was a Nazirite for a whole 21 years.

It is noteworthy that, although a woman can be a Nazirite,^[5] the only female Nazirite whose name is recorded (that I’m aware of) is Queen Helena. 

Which Dynasty Was She From?

Rashi writes^[6] that Monbaz, son of Queen Helena, was a member of the Hasmonean dynasty, which would make Queen Helena a member of that dynasty as well. 

Rabbi Yitzchok Minkowski (1888 – 1855 of Karlin, now a suburb of Pinsk in Belarus) asks^[7] several questions on this Rashi:

1)     The decree that the air of the diaspora is considered ritually impure was only formulated after the Hasmonean era.

2)     If Queen Helena was a Hasmonean queen, what was she doing outside of Israel for seven years?

3)     Since Helena was a righteous woman, why did she not consult with the sages before keeping her Nazirite vow in the diaspora?^[8]

As such, he cites Maharsha^[9] and history books (presumably this refers to Josephus) that Queen Helena and her son were converts to Judaism as mentioned above. As such, the queen was outside of Israel (in her home country) when she made this vow. At that time she wasn’t so learned nor was she in contact with the sages and thus didn’t know that one cannot fulfill this vow outside of Israel. It was only after she went to Jerusalem and discussed her case with the sages that she was informed of this fact and subsequently became more meticulous in her observance. 

The Brit Milah of the Brothers

The Midrash^[10] (cited in the Maharsha) also says that Monbaz and his brother Izates were converts. In the words of the Midrash (translation is from Sefaria.org):

“There was once an incident involving King Monabaz and Izates, sons of King Ptolemy,^[11] who were sitting and reading the book of Genesis. When they reached the verse:^[12] ‘You shall circumcise the flesh of your foreskin,’ one of them turned his face to the wall and began weeping, and the other one [also] turned his face to the wall and began weeping. Both of them [individually] went and became circumcised. Several days later, they were sitting and reading the book of Genesis. When they reached the verse: ‘You shall circumcise the flesh of your foreskin,’ one said to the other: ‘Woe unto you, my brother.’ He said to him: ‘Woe unto you, there is no woe for me.’ (Each one didn’t realize that the other one had circumcised himself.) They revealed the matter to each other. When their mother realized what had transpired, she went and said to their father: ‘A mole (infection?) grew in the flesh of your sons (i.e., in the foreskin), and the doctor ordered that they be circumcised.’ He said to her: ‘Let them be circumcised.’ How did the Holy One, blessed be He repay him [Ptolemy]?^[13] Rabbi Pinchas said: When he went out to war, [his enemies] laid an ambush of foot soldiers against him, and an angel descended and rescued him.

Qualities and Accomplishments

Here are some of the qualities and accomplishments of Queen Helena according to the sages of the Talmud and other early sources.

●      Sat in a Sukkah

The Talmud recounts^[14] that the sages once came to discuss matters with Queen Helena while she was in her Sukkah. The Sukkah was taller than 20 cubits, which is too high according to halacha (Jewish law). Despite this, the sages didn’t correct her since women are exempt from sitting in a Sukkah.

●      Listened to the Sages

The Talmud says^[15] that Helena followed the guidance of the sages in all matters.

●      Donated to the Beit HaMikdash

Queen Helena donated a golden Menorah (lamp) to the Beit HaMikdash, which was placed on the main entrance to the sanctuary. When the sun would rise in the morning, it would sparkle in the sunlight. This is how the people of Jerusalem would realize that the time of reading the Shema had arrived.^[16] She also donated a golden tablet upon which the portion of the Sotah was engraved. They would use this tablet to copy this section of the Torah onto a scroll if needed for a Sotah (suspected adulteress). This would save them from having to take out a Torah scroll for this purpose.^[17] 

●      Fed the Poor

When she came to Jerusalem to finish off her Nazirite vow (see above), Helena found a city that was experiencing severe drought and hunger. She spent vast sums of money to bring flour from Egypt and dates from Cyprus to feed the hungry. Her son Izates (who was also known by the name Monbaz since that was the title given to Adiabene kings) also sent vast sums to support this effort.

Monbaz Follows his Mother’s Path

After Izates passed away, his brother Monbaz became the king. He too donated vast sums to feed the poor, effectively depleting the royal treasure. His advisors and family members complained to him and said, “Your ancestors stored up money in their treasuries and added to the treasures of their ancestors, and you are ‘wasting’ them (on the poor).”

He responded and explained, 

●      “My ancestors stored below (in this world), whereas I am storing above (in the Coming World)… 

●      “My ancestors stored up treasures in a place where the human hand (i.e., thieves) can reach, whereas I am storing up treasures in a place where no human hand can reach (in Heaven)… 

●      “My ancestors stored up something that does not generate profit (as money sitting in a treasury does not increase), whereas I am storing up something that generates profit (i.e., rewards both in this world and in the next)… 

●      “My ancestors stored up treasures of money, whereas I am storing up treasures of souls (i.e., the people whose lives I’m saving).

●      “My ancestors stored up for others (for their sons and heirs,) whereas I am storing up for myself (i.e., my portion in the World to Come).”^[18]

Let us emulate the ways of the righteous Queen Helena and her son Monbaz, to heed the words of the sages, donate to holy causes, and feed the poor so that we “store souls for ourselves in the Next World!”

[1] Numbers, chapter 6

[2] Nazir 19b

[3] According to Toldot Am Olam (by Rabbi Shlomo HaKohen Rotenberg, vol. 3, section 6, chapter 4, based on Josephus) after Helena’s son Izates converted to Judaism, many of his officers turned against him, convincing a neighboring king to wage war against him. In the thick of the battle, Izates’ officers and their men deserted him on the battlefield, hoping that the other king would kill him. In fact, Izates survived, killed all of those officers and won the battle. It’s possible that this is the battle to which the Talmud refers.

[4] Mishnah Ohalot 18:6 and commentaries

[5] Numbers 6:2

[6] Bava Batra 11a D.H Monbaz

[7] In Keren Orah on Nazir, ibid, D.H Leima

[8] In defense of Rashi, it has been suggested that, in addition to the Monbaz who converted to Judasim, there was another Monbaz in the Hasmonean dynasty.

[9] On Bava Batra, ibid citing Sefer HaYuchsin by Rabbi Avraham Zacuto and Josephus

[10] Bereishit Rabbah 46:10

[11] According to the history books, the name of the father of Monbaz and Izates was also “Monbaz.” (According to Jospehus, his wife Queen Helena was also his sister. The queen only converted after her husband/brother passed away.) Toldot Am Olam (ibid) writes that Ptolemy was an additional name he was given. 

[12] Genesis 17:11

[13] It seems that the father realized that they circumcised for religious reasons and didn’t object to it and this is why he deserved a reward.

[14] Sukkah 2b

[15] Ibid

[16] Yoma 37a and b

[17] Ibid

[18] Bava Batra 11a

Wishing you a Shabbat Shalom UMevorach!