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This summary condenses the essence of the story which the Jewish nation has been reading on Purim, in the evening and in the morning, for more than 2,000 years. But besides the story itself, the Book of Esther contains an interesting section which is relevant to everyone and which is worth examining.When Mordechai finds out about the impending tragedy, he takes unusual steps: he tears his clothing, puts on sackcloth and puts ashes on his head, goes out into the city streets and screams and cries bitterly. The servants of Queen Esther, who as you recall was Mordechai’s niece, tell her what her beloved and admired uncle is doing. She, of course, sends him new clothes but he refuses to put them on, and informs her of the terrible disaster about to befall her nation.Esther’s reaction might surprise anyone who remembers the story’s “happy ending.”At first, Esther refuses to turn to King Achashverosh to ask him to cancel the decree. She is afraid of endangering herself by approaching the king without being invited. Mordechai hears of Esther’s refusal and fears, and sends her the following sharply-worded message: “Do not imagine to yourself that you will escape in the king’s house from among all the Jews. For if you remain silent at this time, relief and rescue will arise for the Jews from elsewhere, and you and your father’s household will perish; and who knows whether it was for a moment such as this that you came to royalty” (Esther 4, 13-14).After receiving Mordechai’s harsh message, Esther is persuaded that indeed, she must take on the responsibility of saving the Jewish nation. She gathers courage, approaches the king, and comes up with a smart and complicated plan for bringing about Haman’s downfall and saving the Jewish people.What, in actuality, did Mordechai say to her that caused her to change her mind? At the beginning we see her frightened, trying to evade responsibility. Then suddenly she takes on a leadership role, takes initiative, gives out orders to Mordechai and, with great diplomatic shrewdness, manages to change the narrative.We gather that the words said to her shook her to her core, but what was so earth-shattering about them? Esther, an innocent Jewish young woman, experienced a difficult trauma when she was forcibly taken to Achashverosh’s house.Instead of living a Jewish life among her people, she became a queen, married to a despotic and evil king who did not hesitate to kill his wives if they dared to cross him.Her personal status is miserable from any vantage point. From this weak position, she refuses to act. She is nervous, her inner light extinguished.But Mordechai explains the events to her and sheds a different light on them. He tells her: Why did you become Queen? In order to save the entire Jewish nation! You are not miserable, even if your personal fate is difficult. You were given a mission and an important role. You have been given the ability to change reality, to save your nation from destruction.Changing her miserable fate into a significant destiny is what changed Esther’s emotional state and enabled her to take initiative, lead, plan and influence, at the end of which she also saved the Jewish nation. To this very day, we are grateful to Queen Esther for the courage and wisdom she displayed by her actions.This moral is a message for all generations.It happens to all of us that we occasionally feel that fate has led us to depressing and desperate situations. But if we are wise enough to turn the picture around and grab onto the role given us in these difficult situations – then we will be able to lead ourselves, our families, and perhaps even our whole society to a better place.The author is rabbi of the Western Wall and Holy Sites.
Esther – from fate to destiny
Purim is a moral is a message for all generations.
