Heroine of Purim
Scroll of Esther
Queen Esther (c. 4th Century B.C.E), the daughter of Avichayil, she was originally named Hadassah (meaning “myrtle”), and was given the Persian name Esther (which has multiple meanings, including “morning star”, “moon”, “goddess” and “hidden”). The first official Miss Universe, she was selected for her beauty from thousands of candidates across the whole known world. King Ahashverosh was enchanted by her instantly, and promptly made her his queen. A humble orphan girl raised by her cousin (or uncle) Mordechai, she used her wits to overturn the genocidal decree of Haman. Taking both a religious and militaristic approach, Esther organized three days of fasting and repentance, while mobilizing the Jews to defeat Haman’s evil forces. Ultimately, she saved the Jewish nation from total extinction. She is one of the 7 known prophetesses of Israel.
Chag Purim Sameach!
Words of the Week
The king loved Esther more than all the women, and she won more of his grace and favour than all the other girls, so that he set the royal crown upon her head and made her Queen…
– Scroll of Esther 2:17
ly known as the Krebs Cycle, for which he won the Nobel Prize in 1953 (shared with Fritz Lipmann – a fellow Jew). Served in the German army until 1933, when he fled to England for the crime of being a Jew. For his awesomeness, he was knighted by the Queen in 1958 (that’s right, there are Jewish Knights). His son is currently a member of the House of Lords in the U.K. (equivalent to our Senate).