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Being beautiful is viewed as a positive characteristic. This is reflected in our very own Tanach which describe our emahot as beautiful. Rachel is even described as very beautiful twice!

However, every shabbat night, Shlomo's description of the Eshet Chayil states "sheker hachen vechevel hayofi" which essentially means that beauty is not important. How can we understand this contradictory message?

When Abraham and Sarah were headed down to Egypt, the Torah says that Abraham noticed Sarahs beauty. What is the significance of this observation?

Abraham knew that where they were headed, the Egyptians would appreciate Sarah's external beauty, but what he noticed was not just her obvious beautiful physical appearance, but also how pure and beautiful her neshama was, as was evident by her agreeing to accompany him on perilous adventures, and be the ultimate, most dedicated and loyal life partner. For Avraham, her beauty was more than skin deep.

Furthermore, Yofi, beauty, is mentioned in the Tanach, but not in reference to a person, rather a place. Jerusalem is referenced as a beautiful land. This statement is true nowadays. Wherever we are, whether on a hike, or simply wandering around Gilo, the view is always breathtaking. Indeed, Israel possesses a unique and beautiful landscape. But once again, we are not just talking about the physicality of the land. The true beauty of the land is the spirituality of the people that lives within the land, and the unity of all the Jewish people.

In Jewish law, if the Jews win a war, and the men want to take captive women as their wives, they must go through a series of steps beforehand. The Eishet Yifat Toar, must grow out her hair and nails for many months, and basically strip herself of her beauty until she may very well be the most unattractive woman. If a Jew still finds himself connected, and sees behind her ugliness and into the depth of her soul, he may then take her as a wife.

Finally in Megilat Esther, Vashti is the first person who is referred to as beautiful, yet she is remembered throught history as an ugly and unattractive persont. Indeed she was beautiful, but Achasheverosh showed her beauty off to others like a prize. It was superficial, and in the end we see that her beauty could not save her from her grotesque end. Esther on the other hand is too described as beautiful, but Achasheverosh did not pride himself with her like he did with Vashti. We see repeatedly throughout the story that he respected her, cherished her, and ended up sparing a whole nation's existence because of her humility, dignity, and her beautiful soul.