Introduction to Esther

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1. Timeframe and Chronology

   Chapter 1

   Prof. Jonathan Grossman

   The story of Esther could begin with Haman's edict in chapter 3; the decision to begin the story with Ahashverosh's feasts and the choosing of Esther conveys the message that God puts a cure in place before the disease is inflicted, providing important information about the Jews of Shushan and King Ahashverosh that will enable a resolution of the problem.

2. The Structure of Megillat Esther

   Prof. Jonathan Grossman and Rabbi Dr. Yehoshua Reiss

   The reversal of fates in the book of Esther is expressed in the reverse parallel literary structure of the entire narrative, as demonstrated in this diagram. 

3. The Timeline in Megillat Esther

   Prof. Jonathan Grossman and Rabbi Dr. Yehoshua Reiss

   Where does the story of the Megilla begin? Why is Ahashverosh's feast the starting point of the Book of Esther, when the content of the story begins long after Vashti's expulsion? The distinction between the literary starting point and the actual narrative creates a spiritual challenge for the readers, who are expected to find the divine providence that guides the events that transpire before our eyes, even when God's presence is not explicitly revealed.

4. Esther's Brilliant Plan

   Rabbi Yitzchak Etshalom | Hour and 3 minutes

   What do the first two chapters of Megillat Esther add to the story? Why do we need this seemingly unimportant background to the Purim story? Through a close examination of the first few chapters of the megillah, we notice that these chapters provide us with important psychological profiles of the main characters – Achashverosh, Esther, and Haman. It is based on these character descriptions that we can understand Esther’s plan- playing into their psychological weaknesses in order to ultimately save the Jewish nation.  

5. Rivka & Esther: Mirror Images

   Vivien Hidary

   תאריך פרסום: 5777 | | Hour and 7 minutes

   The genre for Megillat Esther seems to be cryptology -  the message is encrypted, because otherwise it would have been censored by the ruling powers in the Persian Empire. To decipher the message, we need the codebook, and for us - the codebook is the Torah.

   Our focus in this shiur is on Esther and Rivka, two women who had to take action for the sake of the nation. But our study of Esther will bring us to far-reaching comparisons with other women (and men) in Tanakh, as we pay careful attention to the wording, leitmotif (milah manha), and other tools that offer hints at a hidden message about an enduring struggle.