Page 11 - Issue 21

The Book of Esther is a text of exile. Its heroes are stuck
in exile, which we now realize is not just geographic or
territorial. They are not just exiles from the country. They
have been expelled from the Garden of Eden of the
intimate relationship with the omnipotent, all-knowing G-
d; taken from the shelter under the wings of the divine
spirit. They live in an indifferent, alienated world; they
must fend their existence and its meaning in this foreign
land.

Nevertheless, what does this story mean to teach us?
Like many others, I find the essence of the Book of Esther
in the dialog (mediated by the messengers) between
Mordechai and Esther, towards the middle of the Book.
Mordechai sends Esther to the king, to plead for the lifting
of Haman’s decree. Esther tells him that whoever goes to
the king without having been called upon is risking his
life. Mordechai answers this with the following strange
words: do not think that just because you are in the king’s
house, you alone (of all the Jews) will escape. For if you
remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the
Jews will arise from another place, but you and your
father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you
have come to your royal position for such a time as
this.”[8]

The beginning is clear. Mordechai warn Esther not to
delude herself, and think that she can evade Haman’s
decree by hiding in the king’s house. “For if you remain
silent at this time...” said Mordechai to Esther, and we
expect to hear the continuation: “... the decree will harm
all of the Jews, and ultimately find you too, sitting in the
palace.” But Mordechai says something totally different:
“relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from
another place.” Does Mordechai have an alternative