The Unknown Side of Esther HaMalka

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Of all the contestants in the beauty pageant vying for Achashverosh’s hand in marriage, one desperately hoped that she wouldn’t be chosen as the future queen of Persia. That one was Esther.

When Esther was taken to the palace to meet Achashverosh, she was 75 years old, which was far past the age limit for potential candidates. However, she was selected because she was one of the most beautiful women in the world, along with Sarah, Rachav, and Avigail¹. Mordechai tried to hide Esther from the royal agents, however, it was Hashem’s will that she be spotted by the king’s servants and taken to Achashverosh. Esther’s arrival at the palace caused a great commotion. She possessed great beauty, personality, and character, and all who saw her were certain that she would be selected as queen in place of Vashti.

The name Esther means hidden. This is because Esther concealed her identity from Achashverosh, and secluded herself from others even after being crowned queen². The name Esther is also related to the word sahar meaning radiance, because Esther was as radiant as the moon. She is credited with bringing light and hope to the Jewish people in the dark days of Haman’s plans for genocide of the Jewish nation³.

Esther had another name – Hadassah, meaning a myrtle. Esther’s complexion was green like a myrtle, however, this didn’t detract from her majestic beauty. A myrtle has a fragrant smell but a bitter taste. This represented Esther who was fragrant in her mitzva observance but would be a bitter enemy of the evil Haman. A myrtle is an evergreen plant which retains its freshness in all seasons. Likewise, Esther would remain a great tzaddeket even after her marriage to King Achashverosh. Esther demonstrates that one must constantly strive to serve Hashem regardless of the circumstances. It is so easy to excuse one’s behavior by blaming one’s difficult situation, however, this stunts growth instead of accelerating it. Wherever we are in life is exactly where Hashem wants us to be, and it is precisely from that place that tremendous growth is possible.

Esther was a queen of mystery. She acted with supreme tzniut in concealing herself. Despite pressure from Achashverosh himself, Esther refused to divulge her identity. She inherited this trait of tzniut from her forefather King Shaul. When the people were seeking Shaul to coronate him as king, he was nowhere to be found. Where was the king at this auspicious moment? He was hiding amongst the luggage out of humility and bashfulness⁴. It was due to his great merit that his descendant Esther would be the redeemer of the Jewish people in the times of Purim. How many of us shy away from honor and glory instead of being drawn towards it? Esther teaches us that true majesty is found in those who shun glory.

Esther can be credited with saving the Jewish people from destruction. Through her guidance and the guidance of Mordechai, as well as the whole-hearted repentance of the Jewish people, the decree of genocide was averted and the Jewish nation was saved from destruction.

There is a difference of opinion as to the relationship between Esther and Mordechai. According to some opinions, they were married⁵. Others say that Mordechai was Esther’s caretaker⁶ as Esther was orphaned by her parents at a young age. Hashem was clearly watching over Esther from when she was a child through to her difficult days in the palace of the king.

As soon as Esther arrived at the royal harem, Haggai, the administrator of the harem, was certain that she was the future queen. Her incredible grace, beauty, and modesty virtually guaranteed her being chosen by Achashverosh. Haggai therefore, lavished expensive clothing and jewels upon Esther, however, she declined these royal favors and remained in her own modest clothing⁷. Esther’s priorities were of a spiritual rather than physical orientation. She shows us how to prioritize the needs of the soul over that of the body.

Esther was given seven servant girls who would be her personal attendants. These girls had previously served Vashti when she was the queen. Esther thought of a brilliant plan that would enable her to keep Shabbat while in the palace. She designated one girl for each day of the week. When Shabbat came, her attendant would see that she was refraining from any manner of work, but would assume that she behaved the same way on the other days of the week. In this way, Esther safeguarded the sanctity of Shabbat while in a completely heathen environment.

Esther also kept the laws of kashrut. To manage this, she ate a vegetarian diet⁸. She followed the example of the righteous servants of Nevuchadnetzar, Chananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, and ate lentils, rice, seeds, citrons, peas, and beans.

Esther tried her utmost to avoid the despicable idols which filled the palace. She would spend her days alone, out of the limelight which she found so distasteful.

Esther kept her origins a secret for as long as she could, however, when the noose was around the collective neck of the Jewish people, Esther realized that she could be silent no more. When Haman decreed that every Jewish man, woman, and child should be killed on the 13^th of Adar, Esther requested the presence of the king at a wine feast. It was at this point that she divulged her long-hidden identity to Achashverosh. She revealed to him that she was Jewish and that the wicked Haman was planning a genocide of her nation. Esther knew when to remain silent and when to speak out. It was through her bravery and courage that Achashverosh reversed the death decree and allowed the Jewish nation to remain alive.

This Purim, as you hear the megillah, think about Esther’s remarkable virtues of tzniut, courage, and resilience. Let it resonate with you as a Jewish woman, since you are the daughter of Queen Esther and therefore you possess her spiritual DNA. We too are queens of our homes.

Just as there was light, joy, and festivity in the days of the Purim miracle, may we experience the same in our days.