THE CRITICAL MESSAGE Hazzan Ruth Ross
Megillat Esther is not my favorite book .
Particularly in the wake of October 7 , I am uncomfortable with the way the story uses Esther ’ s kidnapping , and installment as a sex slave in the king ’ s palace as a “ humorous ” plot device , no matter how luxurious the surroundings . I never found that amusing and I find it less so now . The fact that she “ wins ” the contest and becomes queen doesn ’ t make it any better .
I am mystified by Mordechai ’ s behavior . The text tells us that Mordechai her uncle / cousin ( there is a dispute – don ’ t ask ) thinks of her as his daughter . What kind of man sends the young woman he thinks of as a daughter off to such a fate with only the caution to keep her religion secret ? There is no other indication he tries to protect her . In this context , I find it difficult to sing Baruch Mordechai HaYehudi , Blessed is Mordechai the Jew .
But mostly , the megillah is not on my list of Top Ten Jewish Tales because I have always favored stories that depict character growth . Megillat Esther is composed of stock characters and their roles are static by their very nature . Even Esther ’ s discovery that she has the ability to outwit Haman is more of a plot twist than it is a moral epiphany .
But this year , I find myself drawn to a specific scene in the megillah . The evil vizier , Haman , has convinced King Ahasuerus to order the citizens of Persia to slaughter their Jewish neighbors on the fifteenth of Adar . Mordechai sends Esther a message telling her she must go to the king to plead for her peoples ’ lives .
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