Quintessentially Jewish

TED ROBERTS

The Book of Esther is an extravagant contrast with the Book of Exodus. Both are nail biters in terms of the fate of us Hebrews – as the Egyptians probably called us. In Exodus, our rescuer is G-d. In Esther, it’s a slip of a girl – probably 15 or 16 years old. And, by the way, biblically, in this scroll, we’re first referred to as Jews – meaning Judeans.

Jewish stand-up comedians love to joke about Ahashverosh. Why? Because nobody could spell his name correctly! Like Nebuchadnezzar, he was in a constant state of irritation – his royal dignity in tatters over misspelled personal, diplomatic and political messages: Dear Ahashveros, Dear Akoshveros, Dear Ahosveras and, finally, Dear King A – safe, but politically improper. His rage led to the aggression that conquered his corner of the world (an observation unnoticed by historians). Just like King N, who paced the royal corridors shouting, “Why can’t those stupid, bleep-bleep Babylonians spell my name right?” He’d show them!

Anyhow, the Scroll of Esther may have been the original inspiration for the old joke about Jewish holidays: They tried to kill us. We won. Let’s eat.

In about 400 BCE, the mightiest ruler of his times, Ahashverosh ruled the world from Ethiopia to India. Influenced by Haman, an evil Amalekite advisor, the king condemned us to death. But we were saved by Esther, who beguiled the king with her beauty and was promoted from peasant to queen. Behind her counseling and strategizing was her cousin/uncle, Mordechai. It ends up that the king owes a huge debt to Mordechai, who has uncovered a planned conspiracy and coup in the kingdom.

Esther wins the king’s favor and tells him of Haman’s slanders and his plans of genocide against her people. Only at the end of her campaign does she reveal her Jewish identity to the king by showing up at the annual royal ball in a T-shirt emblazoned with “Jerusalem – My Home Town.”

Initially, she approached the king uninvited, a dangerous precedent, indeed. She risks life and limb for her people. She reminds Ahashverosh of Mordechai’s services to the throne. The Jews are saved and Haman and his supporters are hanged on the very gallows constructed for Mordechai and his people.

Interestingly, G-d is never mentioned in the Scroll of Esther. Earlier in Exodus, the Israelites repeatedly call on Him, but this is not so here. Esther and Mordechai (perhaps inspired and guided by G-d) do the heavy lifting.

This story is quintessentially Jewish. First, we do our best. Then, we pray to ask G-d for miraculous intervention. If your neighbor is sick, say our rabbis, first bring her a bowl of soup – then you must pray for her recovery.

Happy Purim.

Ted Roberts is a freelance writer and humorist living in Huntsville, Ala.

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