ESTHER IN HIDING Rabbi Emma Gottlieb
I was never an Esther ( until now ) I wore my Jewish pride with pride Bejewelled and armed with learning shared with anyone who would listen
My Jewishness is often first through the door “ Rabbi ” pre-empting my given name on desks and lanyards and at the bottom of a written page I never thought to hide it ( until now ) Why would I ?
Until the 7th of the 10th Until people were out in the streets calling for MY blood ( maybe not mine specifically but it sure felt personal as I cowered in my home wondering how easily the mob could google my address ) - “ Rabbi ” suddenly seemed like a Bullseye - A title I might want to keep under wraps
I used to be critical of Mordechai ’ s advice : Hide your Jewishness Change your name I used to cluck my tongue softly and roll my eyes at his outdated ways And the feminist in me couldn ’ t help but wonder if Esther ’ s Jewishness might have saved her from the plunder that awaited her in the palace Could it have made her undesirable ? Saved her from his wandering hands ?
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