{"id":13001,"date":"2014-03-15T00:35:23","date_gmt":"2014-03-15T06:35:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.crescentcityjewishnews.com\/?p=13001"},"modified":"2014-03-15T23:09:48","modified_gmt":"2014-03-16T05:09:48","slug":"esther-a-threat-to-the-empire","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.crescentcityjewishnews.com\/blog\/esther-a-threat-to-the-empire\/","title":{"rendered":"Esther: A threat to the empire"},"content":{"rendered":"

By TED ROBERTS, the SCRIBBLER ON THE ROOF<\/em><\/p>\n

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Esther is one of the most exotic books of our bible.\u00a0 Why was it accepted into the Canon?\u00a0 Your impulsive answer:\u00a0 A great Jewish victory \u2013 a reasonable answer.\u00a0 But it does contain the accusation of Jewish blood thirst \u2013 not a great reflection on our reputation.\u00a0 The endangered Jews killed 75,000 of their enemies.\u00a0 They also hanged Haman and his ten sons.\u00a0 Well, maybe excusable considering the times (which loved to boast of slaughter) and the malevolence of their enemies.\u00a0 And after all, the book boasts \u201cthey did not lay a hand on the plunder.”<\/p>\n

Strange, we should be so generous.\u00a0 This statement is repeated several times.<\/p>\n

The most striking feature of the Book of Esther is that nowhere, not once, is there a mention of the G-d who saved us from the many tyrannical kidnappers that clutched at our soul as it passed in the dim halls of history.\u00a0 The Jews save themselves by the manipulation of Mordecai and his beautiful niece.\u00a0 That G-d who split oceans, drowned Egyptian charioteers, and delivered quail in Marengo sauce to his starving petitioners is nowhere to be found.<\/p>\n

So why \u2013 of all the Septuagint \u2013 the Hebrew to Greek translation of our Tanach \u2013 roughly 300 BCE \u2013 why was this book selected for our holy collection?\u00a0 Ask your Rabbi.\u00a0 Scribblers are not capable of answering such weighty questions.<\/p>\n

It is interesting, though, that the Book of Esther in its original Septuagint form DOES mention our rescuer with several prayers pleading for His help.\u00a0 Someone removed them.\u00a0 Maybe to show our self-reliance?\u00a0 Who knows?<\/p>\n

Another strange element in the Book of Esther \u2013 rarely commented on \u2013 is the feminist theme throughout (which also may explain its inclusion in the Tanach).<\/p>\n

First and foremost Esther, at great danger to herself, saves her people.\u00a0 But let\u2019s be ecumenically fair and note the behavior of Vashti, the Queen.\u00a0 When the King throws his party, he summons Vashti to \u201cshow her beauty\u201d to the people and officials.\u00a0 Here your imagination can run wild.\u00a0 This is at best the King displaying his conquest or at worst a burlesque show.\u00a0 Maybe even more!<\/p>\n

Completely at odds with the times, she refuses.\u00a0 And the book dwells on the social implications \u2013the universal impact – all over Persia women may turn down, disobey, reject their husbands.\u00a0 This is a greater threat to the empire than armies of Babylon.\u00a0 It goes beyond showing their beauty \u2013 whatever that means.\u00a0 A revolution?\u00a0 No more hot suppers, no more sweeping the drive.\u00a0 If a wife rebels at her husband\u2019s command, Persian society may rebel at the King\u2019s command.\u00a0 This evil thing must be nipped in the bud lest the King find himself unemployed.<\/p>\n

One might guess that the PFS (Persian Feminist Society) is advising Vashti, who\u2019s as bold as her Jewish counterpart, Esther.\u00a0 Both, strong women.<\/p>\n

And as we all know, the story has a happy ending.<\/p>\n

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