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The Gemoro says that when Chanah was caught by Eli davening and whispering, he asked the Urim Vetumim about her to see if she was ok. The letters ה ר ש כ appeared on the Urim Vetumim.

Eli understood this to be drunkard, Shikorah, yet Hashem told him to read it as Kesheirah. Why was she called this interesting term and not a more usual term like Tzadeikes or perhaps Neviah.

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You could improve this question by citing the gemara in question, by indicating why "Tzadeikes" or "Neviah" would be more normal or expected than "Kesheirah" in this sort of situation, and by translating these terms, as you understand them. – Isaac Moses Jul 10 '12 at 17:45

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I have heard in the name of the Chida - that women have three special Mitzvos - which is the Roshei Teivos of Chana - Ches = Chalah, Nun = Nidah, Hei = Hadlokas HaNer - and a woman who does these three is considered a Isha Ksheirah.

Notwithstanding the above there is a Medrash Breishis Rabsi Parshas Chaya Sara 23:1 which lists 22 Isha Ksheiras and one of them is Chana.

כ"ב נשים כשרות היו בעולם ואלו הן שרה, רבקה, רחל, לאה, סרח בת אשר, יוכבד, מרים, בתיה בת פרעה, דבורה, צללפונית אשת מנוח, חנה, אביגיל, מיכל, בת שבע, אבישג, חולדה הנביאה, יעל, אסתר.‏

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The Medrash says there were 22, however only lists 18! – Gershon Gold Jul 10 '12 at 18:27
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If a woman is considered kesheirah for keeping nidah, chalah and hadlakas haner, and Rachel is an ishah kesheirah, why did she die during childbirth? The mishnah at the end of Bameh Madlikin says "For three sins women die during childbirth..." – b a Jul 10 '12 at 18:56
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@ ba - that can be asked as a Seperate question. However by Rachel there was a curse uttered by Yaakov and other factors involved. – Gershon Gold Jul 10 '12 at 18:59
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Can you source this Chida? The Chida is really the main part of the answer; the midrash just shows an example whereas the OP looked for a reason. – Double AA♦ Jul 10 '12 at 19:54
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The word כשרה can also be read כְּשָׂרָה — "like Sarah" — perhaps reflecting that they were both childless, praying to have children.

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nice one, is that your own? – yehuda Jul 11 '12 at 10:53
I saw it somewhere, but I don't remember where. – Chanoch Jul 11 '12 at 13:52
I've heard that too somewhere. – Double AA♦ Jul 11 '12 at 13:55
This site quotes it in the name of the Gra torah.org/learning/yomtov/roshhashanah/vol13no6.html – Double AA♦ Jul 11 '12 at 16:07
judaism.stackexchange.com/questions/17633/… – user2709 Apr 30 at 13:58

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