{"id":97168,"date":"2018-07-09T18:01:40","date_gmt":"2018-07-09T15:01:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wall\/wall-2034\/"},"modified":"2021-09-14T12:48:34","modified_gmt":"2021-09-14T09:48:34","slug":"wall-2034","status":"publish","type":"wall","link":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/en\/wall\/wall-2034\/","title":{"rendered":"book-Writings-Esther"},"parent":0,"template":"","acf":{"type":"book","wall_id":"2034","book":"Esther","books_group":"Writings","date":"","hide_acf":true,"home_image":false,"home_posts":false,"home_posts_title":"","posts_home":[],"date_from":"20210915","date_to":"","posts":[{"order":1,"id":"97579","color":"#f8ebe3","size":"2","name":"THE MEGILLAH PROJECT ","post_title":"THE MEGILLAH PROJECT","slug":"the-megillah-project-5","old_id":"97579","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":38102,"post_title":"929-English","slug":"929-english","old_id":"38102","first_name":"","last_name":"929-English","description":"","short_description":"","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":38333,"alt":"","title":"\u05dc\u05d5\u05d2\u05d5","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/png","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/\u05dc\u05d5\u05d2\u05d5.png","width":1513,"height":860,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/\u05dc\u05d5\u05d2\u05d5-150x150.png","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/\u05dc\u05d5\u05d2\u05d5-300x171.png","medium-width":300,"medium-height":171,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/\u05dc\u05d5\u05d2\u05d5-768x437.png","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":437,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/\u05dc\u05d5\u05d2\u05d5-1024x582.png","large-width":1024,"large-height":582,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/\u05dc\u05d5\u05d2\u05d5.png","1536x1536-width":1513,"1536x1536-height":860,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/\u05dc\u05d5\u05d2\u05d5.png","2048x2048-width":1513,"2048x2048-height":860,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/\u05dc\u05d5\u05d2\u05d5-1200x682.png","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":682,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/\u05dc\u05d5\u05d2\u05d5-739x420.png","home_baner-width":739,"home_baner-height":420}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"2034","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"","post_main_content_content":"

From the Studio that brought you The Plagues and The Binding, we present \u2013<\/span><\/p>\r\n

THE MEGILLAH PROJECT<\/span><\/p>\r\n

With an all-star cast from around the world, including musicians, independent film makers, literary critics, scholars, theologians, public intellectuals, activists, authors, educators, rabbis, and poets, offering unique perspectives <\/span>on The Book of Esther from a wide variety of disciplines and sources of knowledge.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Visit the full collection at <\/span>www.megillahproject.com<\/span><\/a><\/p>\r\n

We believe that a plurality of voices can be brought together to explore the vast canon of Jewish literature. Tradition tells us that the Torah has \u201cseventy faces,\u201d and we look forward to exploring them with you.\u00a0The Megillah Project \u2013 an online platform of specially curated content exploring the many dimensions of The Book of Esther \u2013 is brought to you by a unique partnership between <\/span> BINA: The Jewish Movement for Social Change<\/a>,\u00a0Judaism Unbound<\/a>,\u00a0929 English<\/a>,\u00a0The Oshman Family JCC in Palo Alto<\/a>, and\u00a0jewishLIVE<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":89233,"alt":"","title":"megillah 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the Studio that brought you The Plagues and The Binding, we present \u2013","tile_main_caption":"THE MEGILLAH PROJECT","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"See inside for details","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":89233,"alt":"","title":"megillah 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From puritans to presidents, abolitionists to rabbis, artists to ethicists, Americans have understood the text of Esther to speak to their moment. It has offered solace to immigrants, forged solidarity, impacted politics and roused individuals to realize that deliverance was not to come from some other place, but from their own heroic actions on behalf of their people.<\/p>\r\n

When the colonists were faced with the harsh hand of King George III, the story of Purim served as a prism through which to view their fight in defense of liberty. The New York Journal<\/em>, in 1774, noted that like George III, the Persian king Ahasuerus \u201creigned over many distant provinces,\u201d and was, \u201cby his prime minister, induced to oppress, and take measures to destroy many of his subjects.\u201d To the colonist, Lord Bute and Lord North\u2014George III\u2019s advisors, who recommended harsh treatment of the colonists\u2014were the real villains of the story. The Hamans to King George\u2019s Ahasuerus.<\/p>\r\n

Fast forward to the antebellum period, when many prominent abolitionists also looked to the Scroll of Esther for inspiration and wisdom. Angelina Grimk\u00e9 sought to appeal to white Christian women to fight against slavery by invoking the name of Esther, writing, \u201cIs there no Esther among you, who will plead for the poor devoted slave? Read the history of this Persian queen, it is full of instruction.\u201d<\/p>\r\n

Meanwhile, while speaking at Women\u2019s Rights Convention in New York City in 1853, Sojourner Truth pleaded with Black women to come forth and speak out about their oppression\u2014just as Esther had done. \u201cBut Queen Esther came forth, for she was oppressed, and felt there was a great wrong, and she said I will die or I will bring my complaint before the king. Should the king of the United States be greater, or more crueler, or more harder?\" she boomed.<\/p>\r\n

Grimk\u00e9 and Truth\u2019s work eventually culminated in the early 1860s. As the Civil War raged on, President Abraham Lincoln received a visit from William Weston Patton, an American pastor and abolitionist from Chicago. He urged the president to issue a proclamation freeing the slaves in the southern states, invoking the story of Esther:<\/p>\r\n

\u201cAt the time of the national peril of the Jews, Ahasuerus, Mordecai spoke in the name of Queen Esther, who hesitated to take the step necessary to their preservation, in these solemn words: \u2018Is thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time, then shall there enlargement and deliverance arise to the Jews from another place; but thou and thy father\u2019s house shall be destroyed; and who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this?\u2019 And your memorialists believe that in Divine providence you [Lincoln] have been called to the Presidency to speak the word of justice and authority which shall free the bondman and save the nation.\"<\/p>\r\n

Less than two weeks later, Lincoln declared, \u201cThat on the first day of January...all persons held as slaves within any State, or designated part of a State, the people whereof shall then be in rebellion against the United States shall be then, thenceforward, and forever free.\u201d<\/p>\r\n

Get more info about the book Esther in America<\/em> here<\/a>.<\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":89298,"alt":"","title":"esther in america","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/png","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/esther-in-america.png","width":1000,"height":1000,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/esther-in-america-150x150.png","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/esther-in-america-300x300.png","medium-width":300,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/esther-in-america-768x768.png","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":768,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/esther-in-america.png","large-width":1000,"large-height":1000,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/esther-in-america.png","1536x1536-width":1000,"1536x1536-height":1000,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/esther-in-america.png","2048x2048-width":1000,"2048x2048-height":1000,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/esther-in-america.png","post_full_size-width":1000,"post_full_size-height":1000,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/esther-in-america-420x420.png","home_baner-width":420,"home_baner-height":420}},"post_main_content_embedded_video":"","post_main_content_video_duration":"","post_main_content_show_fb_comments":"1","post_main_content_credit_media":"","tile_top_caption":"","tile_main_caption":"Esther In America","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"Fascinating new book - click for details...","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":89298,"alt":"","title":"esther in america","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/png","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/esther-in-america.png","width":1000,"height":1000,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/esther-in-america-150x150.png","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/esther-in-america-300x300.png","medium-width":300,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/esther-in-america-768x768.png","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":768,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/esther-in-america.png","large-width":1000,"large-height":1000,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/esther-in-america.png","1536x1536-width":1000,"1536x1536-height":1000,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/esther-in-america.png","2048x2048-width":1000,"2048x2048-height":1000,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/esther-in-america.png","post_full_size-width":1000,"post_full_size-height":1000,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/esther-in-america-420x420.png","home_baner-width":420,"home_baner-height":420}},"tile_preview_video":"","tile_external_link":"","tile_link_for_pay":"0","tile_tile_gallery_items":"","tile_credits":"","alternate_tile_top_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption_size":"1","alternate_tile_sub_caption":"","alternate_tile_hide_media":"0","tile_group_preview_image_url":"","tile_group_main_caption":"","tile_group_sub_caption":"","tile_group_popup_package_extra_content":"","tile_group_read_time":"","home_color":"","home_gallery_top":"","home_gallery_middle":"","home_gallery_book":"","home_gallery_bottom":"","seo_seo_title":"","seo_seo_description":"","seo_seo_default_title":"","seo_seo_default_description":"","links":false,"chapter_info":{"books_group":"Writings","book":"Esther","chapter":false,"chapter_main_number":false,"date":false,"wall_id":"2034"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":false},{"order":3,"id":"97573","color":"#efefef","size":"1","name":"Sefaria's Emoji Megillah ","post_title":"Sefaria's Emoji Megillah","slug":"sefarias-emoji-megillah-3","old_id":"97573","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":42228,"post_title":"Sefaria","slug":"sefaria","old_id":"42228","first_name":"","last_name":"Sefaria","description":"Sefaria is a non-profit organization dedicated to building the future of Jewish learning in an open and participatory way. 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In modern Hebrew that means beer...)","post_main_content_content":"

See it here!<\/a><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":71466,"alt":"","title":"jer33-purim4-final","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/jer33-purim4-final.jpg","width":1080,"height":1092,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/jer33-purim4-final-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/jer33-purim4-final-297x300.jpg","medium-width":297,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/jer33-purim4-final-768x777.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":777,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/jer33-purim4-final-1013x1024.jpg","large-width":1013,"large-height":1024,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/jer33-purim4-final.jpg","1536x1536-width":1080,"1536x1536-height":1092,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/jer33-purim4-final.jpg","2048x2048-width":1080,"2048x2048-height":1092,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/jer33-purim4-final.jpg","post_full_size-width":1080,"post_full_size-height":1092,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/jer33-purim4-final-415x420.jpg","home_baner-width":415,"home_baner-height":420}},"post_main_content_embedded_video":"","post_main_content_video_duration":"","post_main_content_show_fb_comments":"1","post_main_content_credit_media":"","tile_top_caption":"","tile_main_caption":"Sefaria's Emoji Megillah","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"(deciphering hint for verse 2: Shushan is the capital, Hebrew: birah. In modern Hebrew that means beer...)","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":71466,"alt":"","title":"jer33-purim4-final","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/jer33-purim4-final.jpg","width":1080,"height":1092,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/jer33-purim4-final-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/jer33-purim4-final-297x300.jpg","medium-width":297,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/jer33-purim4-final-768x777.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":777,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/jer33-purim4-final-1013x1024.jpg","large-width":1013,"large-height":1024,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/jer33-purim4-final.jpg","1536x1536-width":1080,"1536x1536-height":1092,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/jer33-purim4-final.jpg","2048x2048-width":1080,"2048x2048-height":1092,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/jer33-purim4-final.jpg","post_full_size-width":1080,"post_full_size-height":1092,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/jer33-purim4-final-415x420.jpg","home_baner-width":415,"home_baner-height":420}},"tile_preview_video":"","tile_external_link":"","tile_tile_gallery_items":"","tile_credits":"","alternate_tile_top_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption_size":"1","alternate_tile_sub_caption":"","alternate_tile_hide_media":"0","tile_group_preview_image_url":"","tile_group_main_caption":"","tile_group_sub_caption":"","tile_group_popup_package_extra_content":"","tile_group_read_time":"","home_color":"","home_gallery_top":"","home_gallery_middle":"","home_gallery_book":"","home_gallery_bottom":"","seo_seo_title":"","seo_seo_description":"","seo_seo_default_title":"","seo_seo_default_description":"","links":false,"tile_link_for_pay":"0","chapter_info":{"books_group":"Writings","book":"Esther","chapter":false,"chapter_main_number":false,"date":false,"wall_id":"2034"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":false},{"order":4,"id":"97575","color":"#f2e9df","size":"1","name":"Lincoln & Esther: A Study in Statesmanship ","post_title":"Lincoln & Esther: A Study in Statesmanship","slug":"lincoln-esther-a-study-in-statesmanship-2","old_id":"97575","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":38102,"post_title":"929-English","slug":"929-english","old_id":"38102","first_name":"","last_name":"929-English","description":"","short_description":"","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":38333,"alt":"","title":"\u05dc\u05d5\u05d2\u05d5","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/png","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/\u05dc\u05d5\u05d2\u05d5.png","width":1513,"height":860,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/\u05dc\u05d5\u05d2\u05d5-150x150.png","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/\u05dc\u05d5\u05d2\u05d5-300x171.png","medium-width":300,"medium-height":171,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/\u05dc\u05d5\u05d2\u05d5-768x437.png","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":437,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/\u05dc\u05d5\u05d2\u05d5-1024x582.png","large-width":1024,"large-height":582,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/\u05dc\u05d5\u05d2\u05d5.png","1536x1536-width":1513,"1536x1536-height":860,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/\u05dc\u05d5\u05d2\u05d5.png","2048x2048-width":1513,"2048x2048-height":860,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/\u05dc\u05d5\u05d2\u05d5-1200x682.png","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":682,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/\u05dc\u05d5\u05d2\u05d5-739x420.png","home_baner-width":739,"home_baner-height":420}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"2034","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"From the fascinating new book Esther In America...","post_main_content_content":"

Get more info about the book Esther in America<\/em> here<\/a>.<\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":89298,"alt":"","title":"esther in america","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/png","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/esther-in-america.png","width":1000,"height":1000,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/esther-in-america-150x150.png","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/esther-in-america-300x300.png","medium-width":300,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/esther-in-america-768x768.png","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":768,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/esther-in-america.png","large-width":1000,"large-height":1000,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/esther-in-america.png","1536x1536-width":1000,"1536x1536-height":1000,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/esther-in-america.png","2048x2048-width":1000,"2048x2048-height":1000,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/esther-in-america.png","post_full_size-width":1000,"post_full_size-height":1000,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/esther-in-america-420x420.png","home_baner-width":420,"home_baner-height":420}},"post_main_content_embedded_video":"https:\/\/youtu.be\/laRdgevg0bU","post_main_content_video_duration":"","post_main_content_show_fb_comments":"1","post_main_content_credit_media":"","tile_top_caption":"","tile_main_caption":"Lincoln & Esther: A Study in Statesmanship","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"From the fascinating new book Esther In America...","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":"","tile_preview_video":"https:\/\/youtu.be\/laRdgevg0bU","tile_external_link":"","tile_link_for_pay":"0","tile_tile_gallery_items":"","tile_credits":"","alternate_tile_top_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption_size":"1","alternate_tile_sub_caption":"","alternate_tile_hide_media":"0","tile_group_preview_image_url":"","tile_group_main_caption":"","tile_group_sub_caption":"","tile_group_popup_package_extra_content":"","tile_group_read_time":"","home_color":"","home_gallery_top":"","home_gallery_middle":"","home_gallery_book":"","home_gallery_bottom":"","seo_seo_title":"","seo_seo_description":"","seo_seo_default_title":"","seo_seo_default_description":"","links":false,"chapter_info":{"books_group":"Writings","book":"Esther","chapter":false,"chapter_main_number":false,"date":false,"wall_id":"2034"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":false},{"order":5,"id":"97011","color":"#f6edf6","size":"1","name":"Diaspora Dreaming ","post_title":"Diaspora Dreaming","slug":"diaspora-dreaming","old_id":"97011","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":39525,"post_title":"Erica Brown","slug":"erica-brown","old_id":"39525","first_name":"Erica ","last_name":"Brown","description":"Dr. Erica Brown is associate professor at the Graduate School of Education and Human Development at The George Washington University and director of its Mayberg Center for Jewish Education and Leadership. She is the author of 12 books. Her forthcoming book is The Book of Esther: Power, Fate and Fragility in Exile (Maggid\/OU).","short_description":"Dr. Erica Brown is Director of the Mayberg Center for Jewish Education and Leadership at The George Washington University.","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":39526,"alt":"","title":"erica brown","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/erica-brown-e1536180373903.jpg","width":154,"height":186,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/erica-brown-e1536180373903-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/erica-brown-e1536180373903.jpg","medium-width":154,"medium-height":186,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/erica-brown-e1536180373903.jpg","medium_large-width":154,"medium_large-height":186,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/erica-brown-e1536180373903.jpg","large-width":154,"large-height":186,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/erica-brown-e1536180373903.jpg","1536x1536-width":154,"1536x1536-height":186,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/erica-brown-e1536180373903.jpg","2048x2048-width":154,"2048x2048-height":186,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/erica-brown-e1536180373903.jpg","post_full_size-width":154,"post_full_size-height":186,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/erica-brown-e1536180373903.jpg","home_baner-width":154,"home_baner-height":186}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"820","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"Esther and Mordecai act with the understanding that they are living in a momentous epoch\r\n\r\n","post_main_content_content":"

The Book of Esther is much beloved in the biblical canon. It is a story of suspense and intrigue, royalty and beauty, great heroes and terrible villains. It has inspired countless plays, theatrical productions, and princess costumes. Beyond its cultural impact, the book ostensibly presents a radical proposition: Jews can be successful in the diaspora. In contrast to the prophet Jeremiah, who conceded that life outside the homeland must continue for the sake of survival and continuity, Esther represents the opportunity for Jewish strength and influence in exile.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Jeremiah wanted his exiles to remain productive but hardly expected diasporic communities to thrive. He told those in his charge to \u201cbuild houses and live in them, plant gardens and eat their fruit.\u201d He advised Jews to marry and seek the welfare of their host government (Jer. 29). The Book of Esther, however, offers a vision of Jewish power in exile and a promise of more than just basic sustenance. Aaron Koller notes in <\/span>Esther in Ancient Jewish Thought<\/span><\/em> that when the events of the book took place, \u201cnot a person alive remembered a time when the Persians were not in control. As the reality became less traumatic and more \u2018normal,\u2019 the theological challenge it presented became more difficult\u201d (Cambridge University Press, 2014, p. 8).<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The normalization of an exilic state softened the theological blow. This new reality did not come without accompanying difficulties, spoken and unspoken, yet the Book of Esther presents an unapologetic narrative of Jewish pride in a land not their own. While this is the story the book tells, there is a deeper truth behind the carefully constructed fa\u00e7ade of success; namely, success does not persist; sometimes it lasts for decades. Sometimes it lasts for centuries. It will not last forever.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The fortunes of Jews living without true autonomy, independence, and self-governance can change instantly, as they so often have. Adam Kirsch reminds us that the double bind of Esther has been true throughout history: \u201cWhen the Jews are powerless, they are prey to the murderousness of their enemies, but if an individual Jew becomes powerful enough to defend his people, the fact of Jewish solidarity is another proof of dangerous Jewish difference\u201d (<\/span>The People and the Books<\/span><\/em>, W. W. Norton & Company, 2017, p. 44).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

It seems that there is no winning strategy for diasporic success. Nevertheless, as the events of the book unfold, Esther and Mordecai act with the understanding that they are living in a momentous epoch, a time worthy of record.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Excerpted from: Erica Brown,<\/span> Esther: Power, Fate, and Fragility in Exile<\/span><\/em><\/a> (Koren Publishers, 2020)<\/span><\/p>\r\n

 <\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":97012,"alt":"","title":"Esther Image - Erica Brown","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/Esther-Image-Erica-Brown.jpg","width":1000,"height":1000,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/Esther-Image-Erica-Brown-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/Esther-Image-Erica-Brown-300x300.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/Esther-Image-Erica-Brown-768x768.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":768,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/Esther-Image-Erica-Brown.jpg","large-width":1000,"large-height":1000,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/Esther-Image-Erica-Brown.jpg","1536x1536-width":1000,"1536x1536-height":1000,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/Esther-Image-Erica-Brown.jpg","2048x2048-width":1000,"2048x2048-height":1000,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/Esther-Image-Erica-Brown.jpg","post_full_size-width":1000,"post_full_size-height":1000,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/Esther-Image-Erica-Brown-420x420.jpg","home_baner-width":420,"home_baner-height":420}},"post_main_content_embedded_video":"","post_main_content_video_duration":"","post_main_content_show_fb_comments":"1","post_main_content_credit_media":"","tile_top_caption":"Introduction","tile_main_caption":"Diaspora Dreaming","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"Esther and Mordecai act with the understanding that they are living in a momentous epoch","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":97012,"alt":"","title":"Esther Image - Erica Brown","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/Esther-Image-Erica-Brown.jpg","width":1000,"height":1000,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/Esther-Image-Erica-Brown-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/Esther-Image-Erica-Brown-300x300.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/Esther-Image-Erica-Brown-768x768.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":768,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/Esther-Image-Erica-Brown.jpg","large-width":1000,"large-height":1000,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/Esther-Image-Erica-Brown.jpg","1536x1536-width":1000,"1536x1536-height":1000,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/Esther-Image-Erica-Brown.jpg","2048x2048-width":1000,"2048x2048-height":1000,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/Esther-Image-Erica-Brown.jpg","post_full_size-width":1000,"post_full_size-height":1000,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/Esther-Image-Erica-Brown-420x420.jpg","home_baner-width":420,"home_baner-height":420}},"tile_preview_video":"","tile_external_link":"","tile_link_for_pay":"0","tile_tile_gallery_items":"","tile_credits":"","alternate_tile_top_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption_size":"1","alternate_tile_sub_caption":"","alternate_tile_hide_media":"0","tile_group_preview_image_url":"","tile_group_main_caption":"","tile_group_sub_caption":"","tile_group_popup_package_extra_content":"","tile_group_read_time":"","home_color":"","home_gallery_top":"","home_gallery_middle":"","home_gallery_book":"","home_gallery_bottom":"","seo_seo_title":"","seo_seo_description":"","seo_seo_default_title":"","seo_seo_default_description":"","links":false,"chapter_info":{"books_group":"Writings","book":"Esther","chapter":"1","chapter_main_number":"820","date":"20281019","wall_id":"820"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":false},{"order":6,"id":"97002","color":"#e0e9ef","size":"1","name":"Revealing The Hidden ","post_title":"Revealing The Hidden","slug":"revealing-the-hidden","old_id":"97002","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":62857,"post_title":"Michael M. Cohen","slug":"michael-m-cohen","old_id":"62857","first_name":"Michael","last_name":"Cohen","description":"Rabbi Michael M. Cohen, the rabbi emeritus of the Israel Congregation in Manchester Center, Vermont is also on the faculty of Bennington College and the Arava Institute for Environmental Studies on Kibbutz Ketura. He is the author of \"Einstein's Rabbi: A Tale of Science and the Soul\"","short_description":"Rabbi Michael M. Cohen, the rabbi emeritus of the Israel Congregation in Manchester Center, Vermont is also on the faculty of Bennington College and the Arava Institute for Environmental Studies","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":62858,"alt":"","title":"michael cohen","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/michael-cohen.jpg","width":1433,"height":1263,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/michael-cohen-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/michael-cohen-300x264.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":264,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/michael-cohen-768x677.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":677,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/michael-cohen-1024x903.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":903,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/michael-cohen.jpg","1536x1536-width":1433,"1536x1536-height":1263,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/michael-cohen.jpg","2048x2048-width":1433,"2048x2048-height":1263,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/michael-cohen-1200x1058.jpg","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":1058,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/michael-cohen-477x420.jpg","home_baner-width":477,"home_baner-height":420}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"820","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"From divine hiddenness on Purim to the big reveal on Shavuot\r\n\r\n","post_main_content_content":"

The Jewish tradition connects the holidays of Passover and Shavuot by the 49 day counting of the Omer. By doing so we link individual freedom as celebrated during Passover and the communal responsibility that must go with that freedom - as presented in the Torah given on Shavuot. But there is another theme taking place with those two holidays and for that we need Purim and the reading of the megillah of Esther. A theme of the Book of Esther is hiddenness. The name itself is derived from <\/span>nistar<\/em> <\/span>which means hidden as Esther hides her Jewish identity through most of the story, and God does not appear at all in the Megillah! Also on the holiday of Purim we wear masks, hiding our faces, and who we are.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The next Jewish holiday is Passover and what is interesting is that near the beginning of the Seder we hide a piece of matzoh, the Afikoman. In that way the hiddenness of Purim is connected to the Passover Seder. However, by the end of the Seder, we find, we reveal, the Afikoman. While on the second night of Passover we begin the Omer count from Passover to Shavuot, the celebration of the revelation of the Torah. In that way Passover acts as the transition from hiddenness to revelation linking Purim before it and Shavuot after it.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Hester Panim, the hiding of God\u2019s face\/presence is a spiritual challenge for those on a religious path. We first come across the concept of God hiding when we read about a moment of apostasy by the Jewish people during the exodus:<\/span><\/p>\r\n

\u201cI will become very angry at them on that day, and I will abandon them and hide My face from them. They will be devoured, and plagued by many evils that will distress them, and will say, 'Do we not suffer because God has left us?\u2019 \u201d\u00a0 (Deuteronomy 31:17)<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Commenting on this verse Rabbi Caryn Broitman teaches, \u201cFrom this verse derives the Jewish concept of <\/span>Hester Panim<\/span><\/em>,<\/span><\/i> God\u2019s hiding, which is used to describe the experience of a world where it<\/span> seems<\/span><\/em> God is absent. When evil and loss are experienced, it is taught, it is not that God is <\/span>absent<\/span><\/em> but that God is \u201cin hiding.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The trio of holidays - Purim, Passover, and Shavuot - remind us that hiddenness does not necessarily take place in a state of stasis. Rather there can be a dynamic about hiddenness. We also learn from this trio that the shift from the hidden to the revealed is not always direct but needs to go at times through stages.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

 <\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":97004,"alt":"","title":"est1-face lines","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/est1-face-lines.jpg","width":1920,"height":1920,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/est1-face-lines-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/est1-face-lines-300x300.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/est1-face-lines-768x768.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":768,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/est1-face-lines-1024x1024.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":1024,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/est1-face-lines.jpg","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":1536,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/est1-face-lines.jpg","2048x2048-width":1920,"2048x2048-height":1920,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/est1-face-lines-1200x1200.jpg","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":1200,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/est1-face-lines-420x420.jpg","home_baner-width":420,"home_baner-height":420}},"post_main_content_embedded_video":"","post_main_content_video_duration":"","post_main_content_show_fb_comments":"1","post_main_content_credit_media":"","tile_top_caption":"","tile_main_caption":"Revealing The Hidden","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"From divine hiddenness on Purim to the big reveal on Shavuot","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":97004,"alt":"","title":"est1-face lines","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/est1-face-lines.jpg","width":1920,"height":1920,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/est1-face-lines-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/est1-face-lines-300x300.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/est1-face-lines-768x768.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":768,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/est1-face-lines-1024x1024.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":1024,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/est1-face-lines.jpg","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":1536,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/est1-face-lines.jpg","2048x2048-width":1920,"2048x2048-height":1920,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/est1-face-lines-1200x1200.jpg","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":1200,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/est1-face-lines-420x420.jpg","home_baner-width":420,"home_baner-height":420}},"tile_preview_video":"","tile_external_link":"","tile_link_for_pay":"0","tile_tile_gallery_items":"","tile_credits":"","alternate_tile_top_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption_size":"1","alternate_tile_sub_caption":"","alternate_tile_hide_media":"0","tile_group_preview_image_url":"","tile_group_main_caption":"","tile_group_sub_caption":"","tile_group_popup_package_extra_content":"","tile_group_read_time":"","home_color":"","home_gallery_top":"","home_gallery_middle":"","home_gallery_book":"","home_gallery_bottom":"","seo_seo_title":"","seo_seo_description":"","seo_seo_default_title":"","seo_seo_default_description":"","links":false,"chapter_info":{"books_group":"Writings","book":"Esther","chapter":"1","chapter_main_number":"820","date":"20281019","wall_id":"820"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":false},{"order":7,"id":"96988","color":"#faeed8","size":"1","name":"Esther: A Different Story Than The One You Know ","post_title":"Esther: A Different Story Than The One You Know","slug":"esther-a-different-story-than-the-one-you-know","old_id":"96988","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":94081,"post_title":"Seymour Epstein","slug":"seymour-epstein","old_id":"94081","first_name":"Seymour (Epi)","last_name":"Epstein","description":"Dr. Seymour Epstein, known as Epi, has been active in all aspects of Jewish education for over fifty years. He founded the Jewish teacher training program at McGill University, directed Camp Ramah in Canada, served the JDC in education and country direction, and directed Toronto's Board of Jewish Education. His recent book, The Esther Scroll: The Author's Tale, was published in 2019. ","short_description":"Dr. Seymour Epstein, known as Epi, has been active in all aspects of Jewish education for over fifty years. His recent book, The Esther Scroll: The Author's Tale, was published in 2019. ","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":94082,"alt":"","title":"seymour epstein","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/seymour-epstein.jpg","width":240,"height":320,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/seymour-epstein-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/seymour-epstein-225x300.jpg","medium-width":225,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/seymour-epstein.jpg","medium_large-width":240,"medium_large-height":320,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/seymour-epstein.jpg","large-width":240,"large-height":320,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/seymour-epstein.jpg","1536x1536-width":240,"1536x1536-height":320,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/seymour-epstein.jpg","2048x2048-width":240,"2048x2048-height":320,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/seymour-epstein.jpg","post_full_size-width":240,"post_full_size-height":320,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/seymour-epstein.jpg","home_baner-width":240,"home_baner-height":320}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"820","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"A radical anti-exilic subtext\r\n\r\n","post_main_content_content":"

My book on Esther, <\/span>The Esther Scroll: The Author's Tale<\/span><\/em>, proposes that there are two stories in the same text: one is the rabbinic tale that gave us Purim as we celebrate it, and another narrative, possibly the original intent of the anonymous author.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Aside from clues and hints in the Hebrew text itself, dating alone tells a story.\u00a0 When Esther was written in the late 5th or early 4th century BCE., exile still smelled of captivity, but by the time the Talmudic rabbis started to comment on the text 200 or 300 years later, Diasporic exile was much more normative and widespread.\u00a0 Their role was to teach us how to negotiate exile, while earlier, the author wanted us to avoid it altogether.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Although never expressed overtly in the text, the author uses a satiric mode to make two strong statements: 1. Jews belong in their own land, Israel, and 2. Jews should live under the kingship of God, the King of kings.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Chapter one sets the scene geographically in Persia and satirically in an absurd kingdom where a king celebrates his third year of reign with a <\/span>mishteh<\/span><\/em> (drinking party) of 187 days.\u00a0 The use of the odd foreign word like <\/span>partemim<\/em> <\/span>(\u201cnobles\u201d from <\/span>fratama<\/em> <\/span>in old Persian) added some exotica to the narrative and distanced the story into exile. Any reader of the Torah knows the passage in Deuteronomy 17 which describes the ideal Israelite king:<\/span><\/p>\r\n

\"... you shall be free to set a king over yourself, <\/span>one chosen by the Lord your God<\/span><\/em>. ...you must not set a foreigner over you...\"<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Throughout the ten chapters of Esther there will be a constant desire to compare this drunken fool of a king, mentioned over 200 times, with the Israelite ideal, and with God, missing completely from this text.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Another comparison with sacred text and memories is in verse 6, where we are given the interior decoration of the royal palace garden.\u00a0 The only other interior designs in the Hebrew Bible are the descriptions of the tabernacle in the desert, and regarding Solomon's Temple in Jerusalem. What we use to glorify God, this king uses for his own home.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

In verse 19, the words <\/span>v'lo yaavor<\/em> <\/span>(\"so that it cannot be abrogated\") are related to a verse in chapter 8 which also indicates that any edict issued by this king of flesh and blood cannot be altered even by the king himself. This too is in contradistinction from God, the King of kings, who on several occasions in the Bible changes His course of action (see Exodus 32:14, Numbers 14:20, and Jonah 3:10).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The scene of an absurd kingdom and a value-less sovereign is set.\u00a0 More as we progress...\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":96989,"alt":"","title":"est-epi cover","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/est-epi-cover.jpg","width":209,"height":320,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/est-epi-cover-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/est-epi-cover-196x300.jpg","medium-width":196,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/est-epi-cover.jpg","medium_large-width":209,"medium_large-height":320,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/est-epi-cover.jpg","large-width":209,"large-height":320,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/est-epi-cover.jpg","1536x1536-width":209,"1536x1536-height":320,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/est-epi-cover.jpg","2048x2048-width":209,"2048x2048-height":320,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/est-epi-cover.jpg","post_full_size-width":209,"post_full_size-height":320,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/est-epi-cover.jpg","home_baner-width":209,"home_baner-height":320}},"post_main_content_embedded_video":"","post_main_content_video_duration":"","post_main_content_show_fb_comments":"1","post_main_content_credit_media":"","tile_top_caption":"","tile_main_caption":"Esther: A Different Story Than The One You Know","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"A radical anti-exilic subtext","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":96989,"alt":"","title":"est-epi cover","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/est-epi-cover.jpg","width":209,"height":320,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/est-epi-cover-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/est-epi-cover-196x300.jpg","medium-width":196,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/est-epi-cover.jpg","medium_large-width":209,"medium_large-height":320,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/est-epi-cover.jpg","large-width":209,"large-height":320,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/est-epi-cover.jpg","1536x1536-width":209,"1536x1536-height":320,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/est-epi-cover.jpg","2048x2048-width":209,"2048x2048-height":320,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/est-epi-cover.jpg","post_full_size-width":209,"post_full_size-height":320,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/est-epi-cover.jpg","home_baner-width":209,"home_baner-height":320}},"tile_preview_video":"","tile_external_link":"","tile_link_for_pay":"0","tile_tile_gallery_items":"","tile_credits":"","alternate_tile_top_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption_size":"1","alternate_tile_sub_caption":"","alternate_tile_hide_media":"0","tile_group_preview_image_url":"","tile_group_main_caption":"","tile_group_sub_caption":"","tile_group_popup_package_extra_content":"","tile_group_read_time":"","home_color":"","home_gallery_top":"","home_gallery_middle":"","home_gallery_book":"","home_gallery_bottom":"","seo_seo_title":"","seo_seo_description":"","seo_seo_default_title":"","seo_seo_default_description":"","links":false,"chapter_info":{"books_group":"Writings","book":"Esther","chapter":"1","chapter_main_number":"820","date":"20281019","wall_id":"820"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":false},{"order":8,"id":"97095","color":"#e6f5f3","size":"1","name":"What\u2019s In A Name? ","post_title":"What\u2019s In A Name?","slug":"whats-in-a-name-5","old_id":"97095","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":41916,"post_title":"Sandra E. Rapoport","slug":"sandra-e-rapoport","old_id":"41916","first_name":"Sandra E. ","last_name":"Rapoport ","description":"Sandra E. Rapoport is an attorney, Bible teacher, and award-winning author whose books give voice to the women of the Bible. Her third book, Biblical Seductions, was a National Jewish Book Awards Finalist and a Boston Globe Top-Ten Bestseller. Her fourth and most recent book, The Queen & The Spymaster, is a novel based on the story of Esther.","short_description":"Sandra E. Rapoport is an attorney, Bible teacher, and award-winning author of four books on Bible and Midrash.\r\n\r\n","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":41917,"alt":"","title":"sandra rapoport","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/sandra-rapoport.jpg","width":150,"height":175,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/sandra-rapoport-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/sandra-rapoport.jpg","medium-width":150,"medium-height":175,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/sandra-rapoport.jpg","medium_large-width":150,"medium_large-height":175,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/sandra-rapoport.jpg","large-width":150,"large-height":175,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/sandra-rapoport.jpg","1536x1536-width":150,"1536x1536-height":175,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/sandra-rapoport.jpg","2048x2048-width":150,"2048x2048-height":175,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/sandra-rapoport.jpg","post_full_size-width":150,"post_full_size-height":175,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/sandra-rapoport.jpg","home_baner-width":150,"home_baner-height":175}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"821","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"Esther, for the Mesopotamian goddess Ishtar, meaning \"morning star,\" represented a dawning hope for her doomed people","post_main_content_content":"

5\u00a0 There was a Jewish man in Shushan\u2026and his name was Mordecai, son of Jair, son of Shimei, son of Kish, a Benjamite; 6 Who had been exiled from Jerusalem...with Jeconiah, king of Judah... 7 And he brought up Hadassah, that is, Esther, his uncle\u2019s daughter; for she had neither father nor mother. And the maid was beautiful and of good presence; and when her father and her mother died, Mordecai adopted her as a daughter.\u00a0 2:5-7<\/span><\/em><\/p>\r\n

The Megillah briefly introduces the story's protagonists, hinting at the life-dramas that produced them. The girl, known later as Esther, had been orphaned at birth. Her father, a Persian of Israelite lineage by the name of Avichayil, had died during his wife's first pregnancy, and soon thereafter her mother had died giving birth to her.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The hopeful midwives had named the jaundiced newborn Hadassah, from the Hebrew word <\/span>hadas<\/span><\/i>, for the evergreen and strongly-rooted myrtle tree. Her name, perhaps to contradict a cruel fate, was a hopeful augur of the infant girl's life-force. The myrtle tree is characterized by dense clusters of leaves that obscure its branches, and ancient drawings of the <\/span>hadas<\/span><\/em> flower show it as star-shaped, [Steinsaltz] bringing to mind the girl's Persian name\u2014Esther\u2014for the Mesopotamian goddess Ishtar, meaning \"morning star.\"<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The ancient Near East was a region that respected symbolism and superstition, and the girl Hadassah would come to embody the various qualities of her given names: she grew to be beautiful, strong, and, essentially, a mystery. And in her Persian persona she would represent a dawning hope for her doomed people.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

As was common practice among tribal families in the ancient Near East including the Israelites\u2014dating as far back as Abraham taking responsibility for his orphaned niece Sarah\u2014the orphaned Hadassah was taken into the household of her nearest male relative, the only son of her father's brother, a first-cousin named Mordechai.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Mordechai, a vital and ambitious young man descended from exiled Benjaminite royalty, with no siblings or family of his own, had no choice in the matter. The strong, family-centered Israelite social code demanded that he take responsibility for his uncle's orphaned daughter and raise her as his ward, with the help of a wet nurse and housekeeper.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Unexpectedly, given Mordechai's age and keen political aspirations, he took his surrogate calling seriously. And as Hadassah grew, to Mordechai's credit he recognized that far from the burden he had initially expected when he agreed to raise the girl, he had inherited a treasure instead.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Adapted from <\/span>The Queen & The Spymaster<\/span><\/em>, Sandra E. Rapoport's recent book about Megillat Esther.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

 <\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":65920,"alt":"","title":"is21-dawn","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/is21-dawn.jpg","width":1920,"height":1280,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/is21-dawn-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/is21-dawn-300x200.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":200,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/is21-dawn-768x512.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":512,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/is21-dawn-1024x683.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":683,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/is21-dawn.jpg","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":1024,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/is21-dawn.jpg","2048x2048-width":1920,"2048x2048-height":1280,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/is21-dawn-1200x800.jpg","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":800,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/is21-dawn-630x420.jpg","home_baner-width":630,"home_baner-height":420}},"post_main_content_embedded_video":"","post_main_content_video_duration":"","post_main_content_show_fb_comments":"1","post_main_content_credit_media":"","tile_top_caption":"","tile_main_caption":"What\u2019s In A Name?","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"Esther, for the Mesopotamian goddess Ishtar, meaning \"morning star,\" represented a dawning hope for her doomed people","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":68608,"alt":"","title":"is21-dawn","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/is21-dawn.jpg","width":1920,"height":1280,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/is21-dawn-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/is21-dawn-300x200.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":200,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/is21-dawn-768x512.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":512,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/is21-dawn-1024x683.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":683,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/is21-dawn.jpg","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":1024,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/is21-dawn.jpg","2048x2048-width":1920,"2048x2048-height":1280,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/is21-dawn-1200x800.jpg","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":800,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/is21-dawn-630x420.jpg","home_baner-width":630,"home_baner-height":420}},"tile_preview_video":"","tile_external_link":"","tile_link_for_pay":"0","tile_tile_gallery_items":"","tile_credits":"","alternate_tile_top_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption_size":"1","alternate_tile_sub_caption":"","alternate_tile_hide_media":"0","tile_group_preview_image_url":"","tile_group_main_caption":"","tile_group_sub_caption":"","tile_group_popup_package_extra_content":"","tile_group_read_time":"","home_color":"","home_gallery_top":"","home_gallery_middle":"","home_gallery_book":"","home_gallery_bottom":"","seo_seo_title":"","seo_seo_description":"","seo_seo_default_title":"","seo_seo_default_description":"","links":false,"chapter_info":{"books_group":"Writings","book":"Esther","chapter":"2","chapter_main_number":"821","date":"20281022","wall_id":"821"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":false},{"order":9,"id":"97093","color":"#f7e9e9","size":"1","name":"Mordecai The \u201cMilk-Man\u201d ","post_title":"Mordecai The \u201cMilk-Man\u201d","slug":"mordecai-the-milk-man","old_id":"97093","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":33877,"post_title":"Marc Bregman","slug":"marc-bregman","old_id":"33877","first_name":"Marc","last_name":"Bregman","description":"Marc Bregman received his Ph.D. from The Hebrew University in Jerusalem in 1991. He taught at the Hebrew Union College (Jerusalem), The Hebrew University in Jerusalem, the Schechter Institute for Judaic Studies in Jerusalem, and at the Ben-Gurion University in Beer Sheba, Israel. During 1993 he was Visiting Associate Professor at Yale University, and during 1996 he was the Stroum Professor of Jewish Studies and Visiting Research Fellow at the University of Washington in Seattle. During 2005, Bregman served as the Harry Starr Fellow in Judaica at Harvard University and was awarded a Teaching Fellowship at the Center for Advanced Judaic Studies at the University of Pennsylvania. He also has served as Forchheimer Visiting Professor in the Faculty of Humanities at The Hebrew University in Jerusalem. He is the author of The Tanhuma-Yelammedenu Literature: Studies in the Evolution of the Versions (Gorgias Press, 2003). In 2006, Bregman was appointed the Herman and Zelda Bernard Distinguished Professor of Jewish Studies at the University of North Carolina in Greensboro, where he also headed the program in Jewish Studies, until 2013. Bregman retired from UNCG as of July 31, 2017. He has now returned to Jerusalem where he is continuing his research and teaching activities.","credit":"","image_url":"","short_description":"Marc Bregman is the Herman and Zelda Bernard Distinguished Professor of Jewish Studies emeritus, at the University of North Carolina in Greensboro.","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":33878,"alt":"Marc Bregman","title":"Marc Bregman","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Marc-Bregman.jpg","width":361,"height":488,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Marc-Bregman-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Marc-Bregman-222x300.jpg","medium-width":222,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Marc-Bregman.jpg","medium_large-width":361,"medium_large-height":488,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Marc-Bregman.jpg","large-width":361,"large-height":488,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Marc-Bregman.jpg","1536x1536-width":361,"1536x1536-height":488,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Marc-Bregman.jpg","2048x2048-width":361,"2048x2048-height":488,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Marc-Bregman.jpg","post_full_size-width":361,"post_full_size-height":488,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Marc-Bregman-311x420.jpg","home_baner-width":311,"home_baner-height":420}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"821","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"Thanks for the mammaries\r\n\r\n","post_main_content_content":"

Esther Chapter 2 introduces the \u201cmale lead\u201d in the dramatic narrative that is the Scroll of Esther. Here (v<\/span>erses 5-7<\/span><\/a>) we are told that Mordecai \u201cwas foster father to Hadassah\u2014that is, Esther\u2014his uncle\u2019s daughter, for she had neither father nor mother.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\r\n

In<\/span> Midrash Bereshit Rabbah 30:8<\/span><\/a> we find the following surprising Rabbinic tradition: Rabbi Yudan said: On one occasion Mordecai\u2026could not find a wet-nurse for Esther, so he himself breastfed her. Rabbi Berekiah, Rabbi Abbahu in the name of Rabbi Eleazar: Milk came to him and he would breastfeed her. When Rabbi Abbahu preached this in public, the public laughed. He said to them: But is it not stated in the Mishnah [<\/span>Makhshirin.6:7<\/span><\/a>], \u201cRabbi Simeon ben Eleazar said: The milk of a male is <\/span>tahor<\/span><\/em> (pure)\u201d?<\/span><\/p>\r\n

What might have stimulated the Rabbinic midrashic imagination to create such a seemingly extraordinary tradition as Mordecai having breastfed baby Esther? It seems that this aggadic tradition is somehow linked to an underlying midrash on the Scriptural statement that Mordecai \u201cwas foster father to Hadassah\u2014that is, Esther\u2014his uncle\u2019s daughter, for she had neither father nor mother\u201d. The first Hebrew words of this verse <\/span>Va-yehi \u2018omen \u2018et Hadassah<\/span><\/em> are correctly understood in context to mean that Mordecai \u201cadopted\u201d Esther\/Hadassah as an infant and raised her, as his own daughter (<\/span>verse 7<\/span><\/a>) until her marriage to King Ahasuerus.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

But elsewhere in the Hebrew Bible, the verb <\/span>\u2018<\/span><\/i>omen<\/span><\/em> seems clearly to refer to breastfeeding (see for example,<\/span> Numbers 11:12<\/span><\/a>,<\/span> Ruth 4:16<\/span><\/a>). It seems possible that some imaginative <\/span>darshan<\/em> <\/span>read the two words <\/span>\u2019omen et<\/span><\/em> as one word <\/span>\u2019<\/span><\/i>omenet<\/em> <\/span>( grammatically a feminine, singular present-participle), in effect \u201cfeminizing\u201d Mordecai by suggesting midrashically that he himself nursed the infant orphan Esther! An additional possibility is that the rather convoluted description of Esther\u2019s family relation to Mordecai, <\/span>bat-dodo<\/span><\/em>, indicating that Esther was \u201chis uncle\u2019s daughter\u201d was midrashically reread <\/span>bat-dado<\/span><\/em>, (literally \u201dthe daughter of his breast\u201d) suggesting that Esther nursed at Mordecai\u2019s male breast! When this admittedly outlandish idea was preached in a public sermon, the unlearned congregation quite understandably laughed.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

But our Rabbinic <\/span>darshan<\/span><\/em> had a learned \u201ccome-back\u201d -- that \u201cmale milk\u201d (<\/span>halav ha-zakhar<\/span><\/em>) is sufficiently real to be mentioned in the core text of Rabbinic Judaism, the Mishnah. In confirmation of the extraordinary existence of \u201cmale milk\u201d,<\/span> Talmud Bavli Shabbat 53b<\/span><\/a> relates the story of a recently widowed man who could not afford a wet-nurse for his infant child. And so, \u201cmiraculously his breasts opened like the two breasts of a woman and he breastfed his son\u201d.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Remarkably, \u201cmale lactation\u201d, which the Rabbinic Sages and others in pre-modern times regarded as \u201cmiraculous\u201d, has been shown in our day to be a medical reality, albeit rare.\u00a0<\/span>I suggest that we should regard the Rabbinic tradition that Mordecai breastfed Esther as a paradigm example of the wonderfully creative midrashic imagination of our ancient Sages.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

See further<\/span><\/i>, Marc Bregman, \u201cMordecai Breastfed Esther: Male Lactation in Midrash, Medicine, and Myth\u201d, <\/span>The Faces of Torah <\/span><\/i>(2017), pp. 257-274.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

image<\/span><\/i>: Magdalena Ventura with Her Husband and Son, 1631 \/ wikipedia<\/span><\/p>\r\n

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He has lectured and written extensively on Modern Orthodoxy, and blogs daily at https:\/\/yaakovbieler.wordpress.com ","short_description":"Rabbi Yaakov Bieler has been involved in Jewish education and the synagogue Rabbinate in New York, NY and Silver Spring, MD since being ordained by Yeshiva University. ","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":62572,"alt":"","title":"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/yaakov-bieler.jpg","width":141,"height":180,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/yaakov-bieler-141x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":141,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/yaakov-bieler.jpg","medium-width":141,"medium-height":180,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/yaakov-bieler.jpg","medium_large-width":141,"medium_large-height":180,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/yaakov-bieler.jpg","large-width":141,"large-height":180,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/yaakov-bieler.jpg","1536x1536-width":141,"1536x1536-height":180,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/yaakov-bieler.jpg","2048x2048-width":141,"2048x2048-height":180,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/yaakov-bieler.jpg","post_full_size-width":141,"post_full_size-height":180,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/yaakov-bieler.jpg","home_baner-width":141,"home_baner-height":180}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"823","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"There comes a point in everyone\u2019s life - and this was hers\r\n\r\n","post_main_content_content":"

In the best traditions of spy novels, we see that Mordechai embedded a \u201cmole\u201d in Ahasuerus\u2019 palace, but never told Esther that this was her purpose. Other than wishing to avoid becoming a target of the evil Haman, it seems unclear to Esther why Mordechai explicitly told her not to reveal her Jewish identity (2:10, 20), and she never asked. When Mordechai finally calls upon his cousin to \u201cshow her true colors\u201d and plead for her people\u2019s lives once Haman has gotten the king to sign off on his genocidal program, she expresses considerable reluctance, invoking \u201c<\/span>pikuach nefesh<\/span><\/i>,\u201d literally fearing for her life:<\/span><\/p>\r\n

...<\/b>if any person, man or woman, enters the king\u2019s presence in the inner court without having been summoned, there is but one law for him\u2014<\/span>that he be put to death<\/span><\/i> (verse 11).<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Mordechai responds to Esther\u2019s concerns, with the ringing statement that comprises the essence of this biblical book for time immemorial (13-14):<\/span><\/p>\r\n

\u2026Do not imagine that you, of all the Jews, will escape with your life by being in the king\u2019s palace. On the contrary, if you keep silent in this crisis, relief and deliverance will come to the Jews from another quarter, while you and your father\u2019s house will perish. And who knows, perhaps you have attained to royal position for just such a crisis.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Mordechai tells the queen that every Jew at some point in their life, whether as a royal, or a simple layperson, will have an existential choice to make, either to continue to be self-absorbed, and worried only for their own welfare and existence, or to courageously risk everything for the sake of religion and people. Mordechai tells Esther that such a moment had arrived for her, and that she must decide whether to \u201cstep up to the plate\u201d or try to anonymously remain in the background.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Until this point, Esther had been extremely passive, making it her business only to try to please everyone in her life\u2014Mordechai (2:7,) Hegai (ibid. 8, 15,) Shaashgaz (ibid. 14,) the King (ibid. 17.) But Mordechai\u2019s words in chapter 4 galvanized her resolve, and from now on, beginning with the instructions she gives to Mordechai, she takes control of the situation:<\/span><\/p>\r\n

\u201cGo, assemble all the Jews who live in Shushan, and fast in my behalf; do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my maidens will observe the same fast. Then I shall go to the king, though it is contrary to the law; and if I am to perish, I shall perish!\u201d (16)<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Thus Esther manipulates Ahasuerus (5:1 ff.,) makes summary work of\u00a0 Haman (7:6 ff.) and turns into the all-powerful queen advocating for the Jewish people that she had pointedly avoided becoming, until Mordechai confronted her.<\/span><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":97251,"alt":"","title":"est4-queen","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/est4-queen.jpg","width":1920,"height":1280,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/est4-queen-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/est4-queen-300x200.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":200,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/est4-queen-768x512.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":512,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/est4-queen-1024x683.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":683,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/est4-queen.jpg","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":1024,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/est4-queen.jpg","2048x2048-width":1920,"2048x2048-height":1280,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/est4-queen-1200x800.jpg","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":800,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/est4-queen-630x420.jpg","home_baner-width":630,"home_baner-height":420}},"post_main_content_embedded_video":"","post_main_content_video_duration":"","post_main_content_show_fb_comments":"1","post_main_content_credit_media":"","tile_top_caption":"","tile_main_caption":"Esther\u2019s Moment","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"There comes a point in everyone\u2019s life - and this was hers","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":97251,"alt":"","title":"est4-queen","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/est4-queen.jpg","width":1920,"height":1280,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/est4-queen-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/est4-queen-300x200.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":200,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/est4-queen-768x512.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":512,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/est4-queen-1024x683.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":683,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/est4-queen.jpg","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":1024,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/est4-queen.jpg","2048x2048-width":1920,"2048x2048-height":1280,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/est4-queen-1200x800.jpg","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":800,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/est4-queen-630x420.jpg","home_baner-width":630,"home_baner-height":420}},"tile_preview_video":"","tile_external_link":"","tile_link_for_pay":"0","tile_tile_gallery_items":"","tile_credits":"","alternate_tile_top_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption_size":"1","alternate_tile_sub_caption":"","alternate_tile_hide_media":"0","tile_group_preview_image_url":"","tile_group_main_caption":"","tile_group_sub_caption":"","tile_group_popup_package_extra_content":"","tile_group_read_time":"","home_color":"","home_gallery_top":"","home_gallery_middle":"","home_gallery_book":"","home_gallery_bottom":"","seo_seo_title":"","seo_seo_description":"","seo_seo_default_title":"","seo_seo_default_description":"","links":false,"chapter_info":{"books_group":"Writings","book":"Esther","chapter":"4","chapter_main_number":"823","date":"20281024","wall_id":"823"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":false},{"order":11,"id":"97253","color":"#effaea","size":"1","name":"Shaken From Complacency ","post_title":"Shaken From Complacency","slug":"shaken-from-complacency","old_id":"97253","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":46656,"post_title":"Molly Morris","slug":"molly-morris","old_id":"46656","first_name":"Molly ","last_name":"Morris ","description":"Molly Morris holds a Masters degree in Leadership and Community Engagement. Her particular area of interest is biblical leadership. Molly participates in the 929 initiative with a dedicated group from the Beth Avraham Yoseph of Toronto congregation. \r\n\r\n","short_description":"Molly Morris holds a Masters degree in Leadership and Community Engagement. Molly participates in the 929 initiative with a dedicated group from the Beth Avraham Yoseph of Toronto congregation. \r\n\r\n","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":92561,"alt":"","title":"molly morris","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/molly-morris.jpg","width":2192,"height":2488,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/molly-morris-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/molly-morris-264x300.jpg","medium-width":264,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/molly-morris-768x872.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":872,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/molly-morris-902x1024.jpg","large-width":902,"large-height":1024,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/molly-morris.jpg","1536x1536-width":1353,"1536x1536-height":1536,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/molly-morris.jpg","2048x2048-width":1804,"2048x2048-height":2048,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/molly-morris-1057x1200.jpg","post_full_size-width":1057,"post_full_size-height":1200,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/molly-morris-370x420.jpg","home_baner-width":370,"home_baner-height":420}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"823","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"What could a three-day fast signify?\r\n\r\n","post_main_content_content":"

When Queen Esther learned of Haman\u2019s plan to annihilate the Jewish people, she called for a three-day fast. Typically, in Jewish tradition, a fast is associated with repentance. A three-day fast is unprecedented. Was the exiled nation fasting to strengthen their prayer for redemption from Haman\u2019s decree, or were they truly repenting for some egregious sin?<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Rabbi Menachem Leibtag (Torat Har Etzion) draws some interesting analogies between the descriptions of King Ahasuerus\u2019 palace with descriptions of the Temple in Jerusalem. The inner chamber of the King\u2019s palace is described as a place forbidden to anyone unless they have been specifically summoned by the King (5:1-2). Outside of the inner palace chamber is a waiting area where only certain designated people of importance could gather (6:4). Beyond that was space where everyone was allowed, but only when dressed properly (4:2), and finally, everyone could gather without restriction in the city itself (4:6).<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Similarly, the Holy of Holies in the Temple could only be entered by the High Priest and only on a very specific occasion proscribed by God. Outside of that was the area of the Temple that only the priesthood could enter. Beyond that was the courtyard where all Jews could bring their sacrifices, with certain restrictions in place, and all of that was within the capital city of Jerusalem.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The prophet Zechariah spoke of the return of the Jewish people after 70 years of exile in Babylonia. As the Book of Esther unfolds, that 70-year period of exile has passed. A predecessor to King Ahasuerus, King Cyrus, had already given the Jewish people permission to return to Jerusalem to rebuild their Temple, right at that 70-year mark as prophesied. But only a relatively small group of Jews returned, with the majority squandering the opportunity and opting to remain in Babylonia until Cyrus\u2019 decree was rescinded by a subsequent king. Zechariah also described a second-Temple period in which the leaders of all nations would convene in Jerusalem around an \u201c<\/span>ish Yehudi<\/span><\/em>\u201d (Zechariah 8:23) \u2013 a Jewish leader who would provide guidance. Mordechai is introduced in the Book of Esther as an \u201c<\/span>ish Yehudi<\/span><\/em>\u201d (2:5), but he is in the wrong place at the wrong time. Instead of at the Temple in Jerusalem, he\u2019s at the king\u2019s palace in Shushan, with the possibility of returning to Jerusalem now gone.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Could these details of the king\u2019s palace in Shushan be God\u2019s ironic reminder to the people of their failure to return from exile en masse<\/em> to rebuild the Holy Temple in Jerusalem? It seems likely that Haman\u2019s decree shook the exiles from their complacency and brought them to this unprecedented three-day fast in repentance for not returning, posthaste, to Jerusalem to rebuild their Holy Temple.<\/span><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":76826,"alt":"","title":"","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/joel2-fasting.jpg","width":1597,"height":900,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/joel2-fasting-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/joel2-fasting-300x169.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":169,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/joel2-fasting-768x433.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":433,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/joel2-fasting-1024x577.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":577,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/joel2-fasting.jpg","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":866,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/joel2-fasting.jpg","2048x2048-width":1597,"2048x2048-height":900,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/joel2-fasting-1200x676.jpg","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":676,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/joel2-fasting-745x420.jpg","home_baner-width":745,"home_baner-height":420}},"post_main_content_embedded_video":"","post_main_content_video_duration":"","post_main_content_show_fb_comments":"1","post_main_content_credit_media":"","tile_top_caption":"","tile_main_caption":"Shaken From Complacency","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"What could a three-day fast signify?","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":76826,"alt":"","title":"","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/joel2-fasting.jpg","width":1597,"height":900,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/joel2-fasting-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/joel2-fasting-300x169.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":169,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/joel2-fasting-768x433.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":433,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/joel2-fasting-1024x577.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":577,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/joel2-fasting.jpg","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":866,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/joel2-fasting.jpg","2048x2048-width":1597,"2048x2048-height":900,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/joel2-fasting-1200x676.jpg","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":676,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/joel2-fasting-745x420.jpg","home_baner-width":745,"home_baner-height":420}},"tile_preview_video":"","tile_external_link":"","tile_link_for_pay":"0","tile_tile_gallery_items":"","tile_credits":"","alternate_tile_top_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption_size":"1","alternate_tile_sub_caption":"","alternate_tile_hide_media":"0","tile_group_preview_image_url":"","tile_group_main_caption":"","tile_group_sub_caption":"","tile_group_popup_package_extra_content":"","tile_group_read_time":"","home_color":"","home_gallery_top":"","home_gallery_middle":"","home_gallery_book":"","home_gallery_bottom":"","seo_seo_title":"","seo_seo_description":"","seo_seo_default_title":"","seo_seo_default_description":"","links":false,"chapter_info":{"books_group":"Writings","book":"Esther","chapter":"4","chapter_main_number":"823","date":"20281024","wall_id":"823"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":false},{"order":12,"id":"97281","color":"#eceffa","size":"1","name":"Amalek: An Existential Threat ","post_title":"Amalek: An Existential Threat","slug":"amalek-an-existential-threat","old_id":"97281","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":34243,"post_title":"Moshe Sokolow","slug":"moshe-sokolow","old_id":"34243","first_name":"Moshe","last_name":"Sokolow","description":"Dr. Moshe Sokolow is Associate Dean of the Azrieli Graduate School of Jewish Education and Administration, Yeshiva University, and teaches a weekly class in parashat hashavu`a at Lincoln Square Synagogue. He is the author of TANAKH: An Owner\u2019s Manual (Jerusalem: Urim\/Ktav, 2015).\r\n\r\n","short_description":"Dr. Moshe Sokolow is Associate Dean of the Azrieli Graduate School of Jewish Education and Administration, Yeshiva University","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":34244,"alt":"","title":"sokolow","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/sokolow.jpg","width":302,"height":300,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/sokolow-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/sokolow-300x298.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":298,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/sokolow.jpg","medium_large-width":302,"medium_large-height":300,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/sokolow.jpg","large-width":302,"large-height":300,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/sokolow.jpg","1536x1536-width":302,"1536x1536-height":300,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/sokolow.jpg","2048x2048-width":302,"2048x2048-height":300,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/sokolow.jpg","post_full_size-width":302,"post_full_size-height":300,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/sokolow.jpg","home_baner-width":302,"home_baner-height":300}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"824","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"An insight into the Jewish psyche\r\n\r\n","post_main_content_content":"

A most perceptive, yet disturbing, column appeared in The New York Times on May 16, 2009. The writer, Jeffrey Goldberg, wrote in advance of then-Prime Minister Netanyahu\u2019s forthcoming visit to the White House, likely his first meeting with newly elected President Barack Obama. The agenda, then as now, was focused on Iran and its acquisition of nuclear weapons. Noting the Prime Minister\u2019s preoccupation with Iran, Goldberg wrote: \u201cI recently asked one of his advisers to gauge for me the depth of Mr. Netanyahu\u2019s anxiety about Iran. His answer: Think Amalek.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\r\n

In explanation, Goldberg continued:<\/span><\/p>\r\n

\u201cAmalek,\u201d in essence, is Hebrew for \u201cexistential threat.\u201d Tradition holds that the Amalekites are the undying enemy of the Jews. They appear in Deuteronomy, attacking the rear columns of the Israelites on their escape from Egypt. The rabbis teach that successive generations of Jews have been forced to confront the Amalekites: Nebuchadnezzar, the Crusaders, Torquemada, Hitler and Stalin are all manifestations of Amalek\u2019s malevolent spirit.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

If Iran\u2019s nuclear program is, metaphorically, Amalek\u2019s arsenal, then an Israeli prime minister is bound by Jewish history to seek its destruction, regardless of what his allies think. In our recent conversation, Mr. Netanyahu avoided metaphysics and biblical exegesis, but said that Iran\u2019s desire for nuclear weapons represented a \u201chinge of history.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Goldberg\u2019s analysis is eerily reminiscent of Rabbi Joseph B. Soloveitchik\u2019s analysis of evil, conducted apropos of the Book of Esther. In an essay entitled: \u201cTowards the Metaphysical Lessons of the Holiday of Purim,\u201d he listed four important lessons that must be learned from the story of Purim:<\/span>
\r\n
\r\n<\/span><\/p>\r\n

    \r\n\t
  1. From time to time, human beings replace their personalities, in which the image of God is implanted, with a satanic personality in which evil deeds prevail.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t
  2. Amalek is the symbol of evil and the enemy of mankind, in general, but first, foremost, and especially, he attacks Jews.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t
  3. The hatred of Jews is not aimed at the religious Jews alone, or even specifically.\u00a0 It is aimed at everyone who is known by that name.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t
  4. Whenever the modern Satan-Amalek struggles with \"the diffuse and scattered nation,\u201d there will surely arise a factor that will protect that nation, oppose Amalek with full force, and overcome him.<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n

    Image:<\/em> Davidster\" (Star of David) by Dick Stins, a Holocaust memorial in The Hague. The text at the side (in Dutch and Hebrew) is from Deuteronomy 25:17, 19 \u2013 \"Remember what Amalek has done to you ... do not forget.\"<\/span><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":97282,"alt":"","title":"est5-amalek","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/est5-amalek.jpg","width":800,"height":951,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/est5-amalek-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/est5-amalek-252x300.jpg","medium-width":252,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/est5-amalek-768x913.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":913,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/est5-amalek.jpg","large-width":800,"large-height":951,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/est5-amalek.jpg","1536x1536-width":800,"1536x1536-height":951,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/est5-amalek.jpg","2048x2048-width":800,"2048x2048-height":951,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/est5-amalek.jpg","post_full_size-width":800,"post_full_size-height":951,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/est5-amalek-353x420.jpg","home_baner-width":353,"home_baner-height":420}},"post_main_content_embedded_video":"","post_main_content_video_duration":"","post_main_content_show_fb_comments":"1","post_main_content_credit_media":"","tile_top_caption":"","tile_main_caption":"Amalek: An Existential Threat","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"An insight into the Jewish 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does that recommendation against schadenfreude include Haman?\r\n\r\n","post_main_content_content":"

    Writing this in the early days of <\/span>selichot<\/span><\/em> and deep (both literally and metaphorically) in the book of Ecclesiastes in the daily 929 calendar it is quite difficult to think about the sudden transition to the jollity and celebratory nature of the Book of Esther. But we must, and maybe there is a lesson why these two books are juxtaposed. Just as alkaline dock leaves grow amidst acidic nettles so it is possible that a little bit of lightness is necessary as we emerge a bit browbeaten from King Solomon's heavy, sometimes depressing but ultimately optimistic ruminations and it is in this mood that I am reading the <\/span>megillah<\/span><\/em>.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

    There is also a sudden transition in our chapter. We've had three and a half chapters since Haman first appeared. We read of the almost absolute power he enjoyed in Persia and his ability to manipulate Ahasuerus to his will. However, out of nowhere, comes his total and absolute defeat. From considering himself to be a favorite of the queen and the royal court he's dead in only five verses. FIVE verses for someone's life to be turned upside down!!<\/span><\/p>\r\n

    We read in Pirkei Avot, the Ethics of the Fathers, chapter 4:\"do not rejoice in the fall of your enemy.\" Apart from the unseemliness of rejoicing at another's suffering and that we need to instill within ourselves the spirit of being <\/span>rachamim bnei rachamim<\/em> <\/span>- to be merciful people who are children of merciful people, especially in these days between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur when the Book of Life is open in the heavenly court we would do well to remember that our wealth, health and even lives are on the line and rather than schadenfreude we need to concentrate on our own attributes both positive and negative because no-one knows what is going to happen in the next minute, month or even five sentences.<\/span><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":94066,"alt":"","title":"job12-smiley laugh at 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