In the Jewish community, the Scroll of Esther is chanted aloud as part of the carnivalesque festival of Purim, when we celebrate the Jewish community of ancient Persia's success in overturning Haman's plot to annihilate the Jews. Even though the genre of Esther is a farce set against the backdrop of a burlesque version of the Persian empire (see Adele Berlin), nonetheless, it serious aspects as well. How would you use this passage in your work in your congregation?
(1) When Mordecai learned all that had happened, Mordecai tore his clothes and put on sackcloth and ashes. He went through the city, crying out loudly and bitterly, (2) until he came in front of the palace gate; for one could not enter the palace gate wearing sackcloth.— (3) Also, in every province that the king’s command and decree reached, there was great mourning among the Jews, with fasting, weeping, and wailing, and everybody lay in sackcloth and ashes.—
Questions:
- Has there been a time when you or your community had a similar response to learning about injustice as Mordechai and the Jewish people?
- Bonus: Who else cried loudly and bitterly? What connects these narratives?
(4) When Esther’s maidens and eunuchs came and informed her, the queen was greatly agitated. She sent clothing for Mordecai to wear, so that he might take off his sackcloth; but he refused.
Questions:
- About what was Esther informed? What does she seem be aware of at this point?
- When have our communities responded to injustice in the same way as Esther?
- How does Esther's response relate to Micah 6:8? What is she aiming for? Where does she fall short?
(8) “You have been told, human, what is good, and what GOD requires of you:
Only to do justice
And to love lovingkindness,
And to walk modestly with your God.
(5) And Esther summoned Hatach, one of the eunuchs whom the king had appointed to serve her, and sent and connected him to Mordecai to learn the what of this and why of this.
Questions:
- What prompts Esther to take the next step?
- What are the elements of Hatach's "research"?
- Why does she even need to do research? Is she not the closest to the seat of power? What can we learn about justice from Esther's ignorance?
(6) Hatach went out to Mordecai in the city square in front of the palace gate; (7) and Mordecai told him all that had happened to him, and all about the money that Haman had offered to pay into the royal treasury for the destruction of the Jews. (8) He also gave him the written text of the law that had been proclaimed in Shushan for their destruction. [He asked him] show it to Esther and inform her, and command her to go to the king and to appeal to him and to plead with him for her people.
Questions:
- Where does the research take place?
- What kinds of information are learned in this research process?
- After research is done, what is the relationship between those who are affected and those who have access to power?
(9) When Hatach came and delivered Mordecai’s message to Esther, (10) Esther told Hatach to take back to Mordecai the following reply: (11) “All the king’s courtiers and the people of the king’s provinces know that if any person, man or woman, enters the king’s presence in the inner court without having been summoned, there is but one law for him—that he be put to death. Only if the king extends the golden scepter to him may they live. Now I have not been summoned to visit the king for the last thirty days.”
Questions:
- What is the subtext of Esther's response to Hatach and Mordechai?
- When have we or our communities responded in a similar way? What are some of the excuses that we draw upon?
(יג) וַיֹּ֥אמֶר מׇרְדֳּכַ֖י לְהָשִׁ֣יב אֶל־אֶסְתֵּ֑ר אַל־תְּדַמִּ֣י בְנַפְשֵׁ֔ךְ לְהִמָּלֵ֥ט בֵּית־הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ מִכׇּל־הַיְּהוּדִֽים׃
(12) When Mordecai was told what Esther had said, (13) Mordecai had this message delivered to Esther: “Do not imagine that you, of all the Jews, will escape with your life by being in the king’s palace.
Questions:
- What is the subtext of Mordechai's initial response to Esther?
- How does this address Esther's concern?
- What does this exchange have to say about taking risks when doing justice work?
(14) On the contrary, if you keep silent in this crisis, will relief and deliverance come to the Jews from another quarter? You and your father’s house will perish! And who knows, perhaps you have attained to royal position for just such a crisis.”
Questions:
- What role does silence play in the pursuit of justice?
- What is the underlying theology of Mordechai's response to Esther in this verse?
- How would you use this particular verse when speaking to your community about engaging in justice work?
(15) Then Esther sent back this answer to Mordecai: (16) “Go, assemble all the Jews who live in Shushan, and fast in my behalf; do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my maidens will observe the same fast. Then I shall go to the king, though it is contrary to the law; and if I am to perish, I shall perish!” (17) So Mordecai went about [the city] and did just as Esther had commanded him.
Questions:
- Why do you think that Esther requests everyone in the city to do a three-day fast with her and her servants? What would be an analogous practice for our communities?
- Esther is willing to risk her life in this situation. What risks do we take when we confront authorities in the pursuit of justice?