Queen Esther and the King.
Note--Oops! Somehow, I let the joyous Jewish festival of Purim slip by un-noticed earlier this week. But it is not too late to admire the resourceful Queen Esther and her inspiration for modern feminists. Thanks to the wandering Jewish calendar in 2012 Purim coincided with International Women's Day.
Purim is one of my favorites of all religious celebrations. As a Rabbi who spoke at the Peace and Unity Prayer Vigil at Islamic Foundation North in Waukegan a few years ago said. “Purim is a holy day when we are commanded to have fun.”
To familiarize folks with her story and the joyous festival which commemorates how a Jewish concubine in a royal court saved her people—I’m talking to my fellow Goyim—we review just what the hell went on.
A young girl, Esther, was picked by a drunken Persian king to be his new bride. She kept her Jewish identity a secret. Meanwhile her protector and cousin Mordecai discovered a plot to kill the king and by informing saved his life.
A Purim greeting card.
The King appointed the vain and treacherous Haman as his new Vizier. Haman was offended when Mordecai was insufficiently obsequious to him in public. Miffed, he plotted to have not just Mordecai, but all the Jews of kingdom killed. He got the king, who had been participating in public drinking festivals for six months and was perhaps a tad addled, to sign such a decree.
After sending words to the Jews of the kingdom to join in three days fast and prayer Esther got the king drunk yet again at a royal drinking festival that she hosted with Haman among the guests. After the first night of debauchery Esther read to the King the annals of Mordecai’s lifesaving service.
She then asked Haman what boon the King should give to a man who has done him great service. Vainly thinking she means him, Haman said the honoree should be dressed in the royal robes and paraded before the people on the king’s own horse.
The king astounded Haman by bestowing the boon on Mordecai and ordered him to see that the command was carried out.
On the second night of the Festival Esther revealed that she is Jewish as was her cousin and that by the edict the king himself had signed all of her people, and she herself were marked for death. Outraged, the king ordered Haman hung on the gallows built for Mordecai and named the Jew as his new Vizier.
Esther denounce Haman to the drunken King.
But he could not revoke his own edict. Instead, he issued another which allowed Jews to arm themselves and slay their attackers. On the 13th Day of Adar, the planned attacks were launched but the Jews slaid their attackers by the hundreds and thousands, including all seven sons of Haman.
The Jewish people were saved and flourished for a while as never before in exile.
Fourteen years ago, in 2012 the celebration coincided with International Women’s Day on March 8.
Back then I was intrigued because at the center of Purim is one of the few women of the Hebrew Bible or Old Testament to take a leading role in the story. The lovely Queen Esther always struck me as wonderfully subversive and feminist. The story of Esther, heroine and savior of her People, resonates with women whether Jewish or Gentile.
So, I wrote her a poem imagining her sitting down with some contemporary sisters.
Purim/International Women’s Day
14th day of Adar 5772/March 8, 2012
Queen Esther tossed her head,
gleaming black hair
tumbling to those lovely shoulders
that had enticed a lecher King.
She laughed.
Her people, the Women of another age,
leaned toward her
waiting her word.
She cast her blazing eyes upon them,
laughed again
and spoke at last.
“So many Hamans. Where shall we begin?”
—Patrick Murfin
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