The Book of Esther: Why do Jews Celebrate Purim?

[@Merkava56]

This message brought tears to my eyes.

[@ArmyScoutMom]

I am Christian and now about to study the Book of Esther in more depth, due to the upcoming Purim Festival. Of all the explanations by various rabbis on KZbin, I have found your explanation has the deepest understanding and is the most succinct. Thank you and G_D bless you! 🙏🏻

[@8xXcoolbeansXx8]

Esther was forced to marry the king. She ate a vegetable and seed based diet in the palace. She also kept seven maidservants, each to serve on a separate day of the week to keep track of when Shabbat arrived. Instead of using beauty and charm to persuade the king to spare the Jews, she fasted and prayed to the Almighty that she will be successful when approaching the king.

[@soozin2u]

You can find the fulfillment of Esther in Ezekiel 38. Fascinating to compare the two.

[@DJ_Orakle]

The hatred toward Esther is felt in your voice.

[@evelynsantiago5224]

5:46

[@Werkschatz]

you mean un-clean non-foods, eh? where does it say Esther ate unclean stuff anyway? I don't remember that in the Tanakh text.

[@jenniferpetersonn180]

Neither do I . It's funny you asked this question about a year ago, and he still hasn't found a scripture, lol 😆

[@SwingSiren]

It's unfair to compare Esther to Daniel in that a woman in society would have absolutely no status unless granted by a king. She is essentially a man's property and was used to obeying whatever men told her - first Mordechai, then the king. In all likelihood, this is the first time in her life she dared ask something for herself at all, let alone to a man who was given to executing people and permitting wars at the mere suggestion of his entourage.

[@SimchatYisrael]

Swingsiren, You are correct in pointing out that it is unfair to compare Esther to Daniel. Despite the similarities in their stories, their circumstances were completely different. I was perhaps too zealous in playing devil's advocate at the beginning of this video. I was attempting to present some common, if ill-informed, criticisms of the book of Esther such as those espoused by Martin Luther. In the interest of keeping the video to a reasonable length, I chose not to circle back to these fallacious arguments, but I think I will address them here. 1. Esther hides her Jewish identity When the character is first introduced, she is called by her Hebrew name Hadassah, but from that point on the name is not mentioned again. Esther is instructed by Mordecai, who everyone knew was Jewish, to conceal her Jewish identity. This is an act of prudence and obedience, not cowardice or self-loathing. 2. Esther embraces pagan customs and eats unclean foods. Again, Esther was instructed by Mordecai, who understood the dangers and intrigues of palace life, to hide her identity and heritage. It would have been impossible to maintain her cover had she not made the necessary compromises to her diet and practices. 3. Esther marries a gentile. It is important to recognize that Esther has little agency in the beginning of the story. Indeed, there is little evidence that any of the beautiful young virgins brought to the harem had any say in the matter. Esther was likely in no position to refuse the King's marriage proposal. 4. When Mordecai comes to her for help, Esther’s first response isn’t courage or faith, it’s self-preservation. Esther’s first response may be self-preservation, but her final response in her interaction with Mordecai is one of courage, resolve and willingness to sacrifice her life to save her people. Yeshua counsels us to “count the cost” of our decisions before we undertake a venture (Luke 14:28). Esther is expressing the potential cost of what Mordecai is requesting of her and concludes that it is a price she is willing to pay. “I will go in to the king, even though it is not according to the law. So if I perish, I perish!” (Esther 4:16). 5. Esther is so irreligious that God’s name isn’t even mentioned in the whole book. The Sages explain that it was because of his anger with Israel’s disobedience that he hid himself from them (based upon Deuteronomy 31:18) allowing numerous evils to befall them, (Chullin 139b). Commenting on this passage, Rashi comments, “in the days of Esther there will be concealment of the divine countenance.” www.sefaria.org.il/Chullin.139b.12?lang=bi&with=Rashi&lang2=en)

[@harveywabbit9541]

The beautiful Esther is the beautiful Venus.

[@SimchatYisrael]

@@harveywabbit9541 Your comment is correct but probably requires a little context. "Esther" was the Persian name for the planet we call Venus. The sages teach that Mordecai chose this name for her because it has thematic connections to her Jewish name "Hadassah". Hadassah translates to "Myrtle" a leafy tree that grows in the desert. The book of Isaiah prophecies that Israel will become a barren wasteland with no life in it. But God will have mercy on the land and restore life to it. Where once only thorn bushes and brambles grew, God would cause Hadassah trees to grow. Esther is the name for the "Morningstar" the brightest light in the night sky aside from the moon. In Psalm 130, we read how the psalmist waits for the Lord even more than the watchman waits for morning. Watchmen in ancient times would wait anxiously through the long night for morning to come and they would know that the sun would soon be rising when the only light left in the dark sky was the "Esther" the Morningstar. Hadassah and Esther, myrtle and Venus, both represent the power of faith in the face of despair. Myrtle can grow in the midst of a desert. Light can dawn in deep darkness. And the Jewish people, in a dark time in history, when all hope seemed lost, could look to a young woman with two names that reminded them to hold onto their faith, and know that God would never forget them.

[@harveywabbit9541]

@@SimchatYisrael I see where Mordecai is compared to Marduk and Jupiter. But, it appears he is more of a Mars character as he seems to hang around the Kings Gate (spring equinox) and Aries (ruled by Mars). This is where the Christians place Ephesus or Ep Hesus. The "church of Philadelphia" is obviously Gemini. There are connections between moon goddesses and Venus in the sign of the Bull. This is where the Bull of Heaven broke the cosmic egg. This would be an ideal place for Baal Peor or Lord of the Opening. The sixth church is Smyrna, that word signifying a bundle of myrrh, the offering made to the sun, in the Virgin of August, having reference to the fragrant posy which she holds in her hand, and to the, milk-pail in the hand of the Isis-Omnia of Egypt, the Indian Isa, and the Grecian Ceres.

[@MrNinoos11]

Such a sick story.

[@williamjackson2034]

🙏🏾😇🙏🏾

[@stevenvanvuuren8394]

btw according to tabor ...the book of ester has now been found in the dead sea scrolls

[@sandrafarley7433]

Amen God bless you

[@mbashari2575]

They're just stories. All religions are made up of stories, holidays are made to pass on stories to next generation. Good excuse to drink and dress up. We than call it culture... Love it! Love to hear the stories.... societies are than made through these stories