The Book of Esther and Its Meaning for Jewish History
By Professor Ephraim (Effie) Shoham-Steiner
The Book of Esther (Scroll of Esther) is at the heart of the festival of Purim, celebrated annually by Jews for over 2,500 years, on the 14th of the Hebrew month of Adar. The book’s narrative, literary designed as a partly comic, partially tragic missive featuring a protracted footnote to the Chronicles of Persia, is unique in framing both the festival’s purpose as a memorial of deliverance and as a staple of its synagogue liturgy.
It is the only segment of the Hebrew bible that is characteristically diasporic, concentrating on a plot moved forward by female and male protagonists operating in the Persian court of Persepolis. Moreover, the story of deliverance from the decree of the evil minister, Haman, is not described as miraculous. Rather it is portrayed as mundane, colored by bed chamber politics, courtier intrigue, climaxing in civil violence and the death of the villain, and ending with the restoration of law and order followed by the creation of the commemorative festival.
No wonder that the book and the festival not only captured the imagination of many through the ages but also served as a template for numerous stories of deliverance, from the second century BC up until the 20th century from every corner of the world. These were called “second Purim,” both setting them apart, yet keeping them in touch, with the original. As such, the story of Esther is global in its appeal, everlastingly relevant, serving both as a traditional reminder of the importance of history as well as a guide to the “here and now.”
Ephraim (Effie) Shoham-Steiner is Professor of Jewish History at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev in Be’er Sheva (BGU) where his research focuses on the history of medieval European Jewry. He is the Director of the Center for the Study of Conversion and Inter-Religious Encounters (CSOC) at BGU. He was a Fulbright Postdoctoral Scholar at Harvard University in 2004-2005.
Picture and visual provided courtesy of Professor Ephraim (Effie) Shoham-Steiner.
Photo credit: Emile Salman
A printed pamphlet from the Institut für Stadtgeschichte Frankfurt/ Historisches Museum Frankfurt am Main.
The return of the Jews to Frankfurt am Main under heavy guard in late February 1616 after the execution of Vincent Fettmilch. Fettmilch instigated riots and the temporary expulsion of Jews from this city. The 20th of Adar was celebrated by Frankfurt Jews as their local “second Purim” since 1616.