Why Conceal Esther's Nationality/2
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Concealing Esther's Religious Identity
Exegetical Approaches
Personal Gain
Sources:R. Yosef Kara, Rashbam, first opinion cited in Ibn Ezra, Northern French Commentary, opinion cited by R. Avigdor Kohen Tzedek, R. Y"S Reggio
Esther and Mordechai's religious identity – Most of the commentators do not address the question but R. Y"S Reggio points out that Mordechai and Esther do not seem overly concerned with observing the commandments. Thus, Mordechai never warns Esther to uphold belief in one God and reject Persian polytheism, nor to try and keep the laws of kashrut. Instead, he does all in his power to get her to become queen, despite the fact that it will make observance more difficult.
אֶת עַמָּהּ וְאֶת מוֹלַדְתָּהּ – What did Esther not tell? According to most of these exegetes, Esther hid her Jewish identity since the Jewish nation was degraded in the eyes of the Persians. The opinion brought in Ibn Ezra and Reggio emphasize instead that she was to conceal the fact that she came from exile since this, rather than her Jewish roots, was the potential source of humiliation.1
Until when did Esther not tell? Esther hid her identity both before and after her coronation, lest she lose the crown upon revelation.
Was Esther taken by force?
Achashverosh's Attitude Towards Jews
Revealing the secret
Religious Observance
Avoid Becoming Queen
Esther and Mordechai's religious identity
אֶת עַמָּהּ וְאֶת מוֹלַדְתָּהּ – What did Esther not tell?
Why did Esther not tell after she was chosen?
Was Esther taken by force?
Achashverosh's Attitude Towards Jews
Enable Torah Observance
Esther and Mordechai's religious identity
אֶת עַמָּהּ וְאֶת מוֹלַדְתָּהּ – What did Esther not tell?
Until when did Esther not tell?
Was Esther taken by force?
