Serach bas Asher held on to secrets — and then, when the time was right, conveyed them. What was her secret?

We came home from kindergarten singing “Od Yosef Chai,” but how much do we know about the legendary woman who brought the ultimate comfort to her grandfather Yaakov? Join us on a tour of Jewish history as we learn more about the unique role of Serach bas Asher — the woman who was blessed with eternal life, entrusted with the secret of Redemption, and generations later, continued to protect her people.

One Missing

Serach grew up in the home of Asher ben Yaakov, but she wasn’t born into the family. She was three years old when her mother Hadurah married Asher after her first husband’s passing; it was a second marriage for both of them. Serach was a clever, beloved child, and although she wasn’t Asher’s biological daughter, she become a beloved member of the family, and everyone knew that Yaakov cherished her.

It was a regular day when Serach suddenly heard her half-brother’s call. “They’re coming home!” he cried, thrilled to see his father returning from the pasture. The children ran to welcome him, but Serach remained behind, gazing indignantly at the sons of Yaakov.

“Yes, they returned… but they are missing one,” she whispered.

A few moments later, Serach heard the sound of wailing from the tent of her beloved grandfather.

“A wild animal ate my son! My beloved son Yosef! My precious son, the son of Rachel,” he wept bitterly.

Serach, seeing her stepfather and uncles emerging from her grandfather’s tent carrying a bloody garment, bowed her head.

Suddenly, she rose, her eyes flashing anger. She ran to her father Asher and stared at him piercingly.

“I have received a nevuah!” she said firmly. “Yosef is alive!”

Asher looked at his wife’s daughter, whom he’d raised and loved as his own, and understood that she didn’t believe the story they’d told their father; she must have truly received a nevuah.

“It was a din emes that was ruled as halachah,” he said with pain.

Serach remained silent.

“You know what happened, but you must keep silent and don’t tell a soul what occurred,” Asher said somberly. “We’ve made an oath that if any of us relates what happened, he and his family will be excommunicated.”

Serach looked at the floor and bit her lip, then left the tent.

From that day on, Serach tried to spend as much time as possible with her grandfather, helping him and trying to cheer him with her musical instruments.

After a time, the Shevatim began to suspect that Serach knew about the sale of Yosef.

“Your daughter knows that Yosef was sold!” they accused Asher.

“I never said a word to her!” Asher was vehement, but his words fell on deaf ears.

“We made an oath, and you violated it. If your adopted daughter Serach knows something about the sale, you must have revealed the secret! You’re excommunicated, Asher, as is your family.”

And so it was.

Twenty-two years passed. The secret of the sale remained a secret. Yaakov’s grief was throbbing and painful. The tribe of Asher was ostracized by the rest of the tribes. And only one woman broke all norms — ignoring the excommunication, bypassing the isolation.

Serach.

Serach would visit her grandfather each day, doing whatever she could to revive his flagging spirits. Her closeness to her grandfather granted her a position of power and influence.