Furthermore , Megillat Esther anticipates the violation of legal norms in the service of a higher purpose , inherent in Megillat Setarim . To confound Haman ’ s genocidal designs against the Jewish People , Esther declares : “ I shall approach the king in violation of the law ; and if I perish , I perish .” 39
The extra-legal measures undertaken in both the Megillat Setarim and Megillat Esther are calculated to forestall irreparable losses . The Megillat Setarim aimed to prevent losses in the transmission of Jewish sacred knowledge ; Megillat Esther records its protagonists ’ efforts to prevent grievous human losses to the Jewish People itself . “ Orders were issued in the name of King Achashverosh and sealed with the king ’ s signet ... to destroy , massacre , and exterminate all the Jews , young and old , children and women on a single day .” 40
The very designation of Hiyya ’ s confidential memoranda as “ Megillat Setarim ” links that genre to Megillat Esther . Rabbi Yehuda asks regarding the heroine of the Biblical book : “ Why was she called ‘ Esther ’? Because she kept her actions ( or ‘ communications ’) secret ( masteret devareha 41 ).” The linguistic connection between “ Esther ” and “ Setarim ” was not lost on Rabbi Yaakov Lorberbaum ( 1760-1832 , Poland / Ukraine ). Lorberbaum , Chief Rabbi of Leszno and a renowned rabbinic decisor ( posek ), authored a commentary on Megillat Esther ... which he titled Megillat Setarim .
The Book of Esther may accurately be viewed as Jewish history ’ s original Megillat Setarim – a “ confidential memorandum ” – ironically enough read publicly in order to
39
Esther 4:16
40
Esther 3:12-13
41
Megillah 13a
56