I'm a longtime Esther advocate. Her story is descended from Ishtar, Hammoon and Marduke. If you take text seriously but not literally, she fulfills our classic definition of a Messiah : She saves Jews, in fact the entire jewish people, from the first call to exterminate us "from Ethiopia to India."
I too struggled with Purim this year. When the Megillah was being read, I thought about how the story could be used to justify aggression and the idea that the "good guys" have the right to do bad things if the goal is good.
Thanks for refocusing us. I am now thinking about how I can be brave enough and wise enough to stand up for goodness and decency no matter the risks.
"This story is fiction, filled with humor and irony, and is a Hebrew literary gem."
How can someone call himself a Rabbi, and yet call one of the 24 books of the Tanach fiction. Does the same apply to the other books such as Bereishit or Jeremiah.
I was privileged to know and visit your grandfather Joseph Schuper (my Uncle Joe) every month in Netanya. I remember the daily Mishna class he gave in the nursing home he lived in,and he would not have agreed with such a statement.
You and I are not going to agree about our respective approaches to Torah, but I do want you to know that even though I do not consider all of the Tanach to be literally "true", as in "factual", I consider it to be the repository of the greatest and most important truths about our purpose as Jews and as human beings. I study Torah with great love and reverence, and it guides my life. I wrote a book of my parashat hashavua commentaries, and I intentionally titled it "Turn It and Turn It, for Everything Is in It."
When I was studying in Jerusalem in the 1980's, I frequently visited my grandfather Joe in Netanya. I was so grateful that he was still alive so that I could discuss Torah, and Tefilah, and life with him. We had many lengthy and, for me, priceless conversations, looking out over the Mediterranean from his room. I think you might be surprised at how open and liberal Joe's views were, even as his practice was very observant. He also dispensed wisdom to me about how to approach davenning, limud Torah, and life in general that I carry with me to this day. I still miss him. Zecher Tzadik Livracha.
Even though you and I might disagree about many important topics, we are connected by family and also by our love for the Jewish People. I wish you well. עם ישראל חי!
Despite my name, I have never connected with the figure of Esther or with Purim in general. This is the first time; thank you for your beautiful and thoughtful words. I will carry them with me today.
I love the story of Queen Esther and have been thinking deeply about it in recent years. I, too, see it personally, rather than politically. How can I be an Esther in my life today? What fear do I need to face? What do I need to do now?
I like the backstory of Esther, how she is a descendant of King Saul. Haman was a descendant of Agag, the Amalekite whom Saul failed to eliminate. So Esther was redeeming her own family story. She was redeeming the family trauma. It was a reversal, and a rectification of things that had gone wrong in the past.
It's also a story of stepping out in faith. Asserting yourself. And women asserting themselves against creepy men.
Yes, I feel sad too about all that is going on in the world. I don't see these things as worth celebrating. And God does not delight in the death of the wicked.
and yes, it is troubling to watch people take the story literally in the present, as if people are our "modern day Amalek" and need to be rooted out in the same way. This isn't a safe hermeneutic.
I'm a longtime Esther advocate. Her story is descended from Ishtar, Hammoon and Marduke. If you take text seriously but not literally, she fulfills our classic definition of a Messiah : She saves Jews, in fact the entire jewish people, from the first call to exterminate us "from Ethiopia to India."
Well said, Jon.
Well said. I had forgotten Baruch G.
Thank you, Irwin. Please give my love to Doris.
I too struggled with Purim this year. When the Megillah was being read, I thought about how the story could be used to justify aggression and the idea that the "good guys" have the right to do bad things if the goal is good.
Thanks for refocusing us. I am now thinking about how I can be brave enough and wise enough to stand up for goodness and decency no matter the risks.
You're welcome, Debra - and I'm sending love--
“My days are not epic. I will not be saving the world. Nonetheless, I will try to be like Esther in my own story.”
So much strength and truth in this. And a message of hope and direction to all in these times
Grateful that my words speak to you!
"This story is fiction, filled with humor and irony, and is a Hebrew literary gem."
How can someone call himself a Rabbi, and yet call one of the 24 books of the Tanach fiction. Does the same apply to the other books such as Bereishit or Jeremiah.
I was privileged to know and visit your grandfather Joseph Schuper (my Uncle Joe) every month in Netanya. I remember the daily Mishna class he gave in the nursing home he lived in,and he would not have agreed with such a statement.
Dear Yaakov,
You and I are not going to agree about our respective approaches to Torah, but I do want you to know that even though I do not consider all of the Tanach to be literally "true", as in "factual", I consider it to be the repository of the greatest and most important truths about our purpose as Jews and as human beings. I study Torah with great love and reverence, and it guides my life. I wrote a book of my parashat hashavua commentaries, and I intentionally titled it "Turn It and Turn It, for Everything Is in It."
When I was studying in Jerusalem in the 1980's, I frequently visited my grandfather Joe in Netanya. I was so grateful that he was still alive so that I could discuss Torah, and Tefilah, and life with him. We had many lengthy and, for me, priceless conversations, looking out over the Mediterranean from his room. I think you might be surprised at how open and liberal Joe's views were, even as his practice was very observant. He also dispensed wisdom to me about how to approach davenning, limud Torah, and life in general that I carry with me to this day. I still miss him. Zecher Tzadik Livracha.
Even though you and I might disagree about many important topics, we are connected by family and also by our love for the Jewish People. I wish you well. עם ישראל חי!
Despite my name, I have never connected with the figure of Esther or with Purim in general. This is the first time; thank you for your beautiful and thoughtful words. I will carry them with me today.
Thank you so much for letting me know, Esther - I'm so glad my words spoke to you!
Thank you for this heartfelt and beautifully written post.
Thank you, Yael!
I love the story of Queen Esther and have been thinking deeply about it in recent years. I, too, see it personally, rather than politically. How can I be an Esther in my life today? What fear do I need to face? What do I need to do now?
I like the backstory of Esther, how she is a descendant of King Saul. Haman was a descendant of Agag, the Amalekite whom Saul failed to eliminate. So Esther was redeeming her own family story. She was redeeming the family trauma. It was a reversal, and a rectification of things that had gone wrong in the past.
It's also a story of stepping out in faith. Asserting yourself. And women asserting themselves against creepy men.
Yes, I feel sad too about all that is going on in the world. I don't see these things as worth celebrating. And God does not delight in the death of the wicked.
Thanks for these thoughtful comments, Lila!
and yes, it is troubling to watch people take the story literally in the present, as if people are our "modern day Amalek" and need to be rooted out in the same way. This isn't a safe hermeneutic.
Agreed!
Todah Rabah for this teaching and reframing how to look at this story.
You are most welcome, Nancy--