More in ‘Book of Esther’

In the cosmology of Jewish holidays, Passover has traditionally been the celebration whose readings and rituals inspire worshippers to question the nature of their own Jewish values and beliefs. For decades, Jews of all persuasions have fashioned their own seders, some adding a cup for the prophetess Miriam in celebration of Jewish women, others supplementing ...

• A blogger compares the kerfuffle over President Barack Obama’s bow to Japanese Emperor Akihito with the tale from the Book of Esther in which valiant Mordechai refuses to bow to evil Haman, which Talmudic rabbis felt was “a needlessly obstinate decision to make a point in public” and had to justify it by explaining ...

Move over King David. The new biblical character of choice for public figures in distress is Queen Esther. First there was Carrie Prejean, the beauty pageant contestant embraced by Christian conservatives for her opposition to gay marriage. Focus on the Family, celebrating her “courage to speak for biblical truth” called her the “modern Queen Esther.” ...