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If Esther married a non-Jewish king, why are Jews against intermarriage?

  

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Rabbi Silberberg: Good morning and welcome to Askmoses! How can I help you?

Miriam: Good morning Rabbi. Maybe you can help me. I'm reading the Purim story and there is something which is bothering me. If Esther was Jewish and she married a non-Jewish king, why are so many Jews against intermarriage?

Rabbi Silberberg: You understand that Esther's relationship with Ahasuerus wasn't consensual? In fact, according to the Talmud, Esther was already a happily married woman; married to her cousin Mordechai.

Miriam: So Esther wasn't interested in winning the "beauty contest"? That's not the impression I got in Hebrew school...

Rabbi Silberberg: Absolutely not. The Megillah says that while all the other maidens spent twelve months beautifying themselves with ointments and cosmetics in preparation for their royal rendezvous, Esther requested no beautifying agents at all.

Rabbi Silberberg: Esther's personal life is the often forgotten sad side of the story of Purim. Indeed she brought salvation for all her brethren--which certainly brought her great satisfaction--but the salvation came at a steep price. Our righteous heroine languished in a pagan palace for years. Bear in mind the savagery and corruption which typified royal courts of old.

Miriam: I guess this teaches us that one person's liberty and success is often the result of another's sacrifice.

Rabbi Silberberg: exactly.

Miriam: Thanks, and have a happy Purim.

Rabbi Silberberg: You too :)


 

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COMMENTS

Rabbi Silberberg's answer to question on Queen Esther

Posted by: Anonymous, Chicago, IL on Jan 12, 2005

Rabbi, read your Bible again. Esther was NOT married to Mordechai. He was her UNCLE.
Thank you.

Editor's Comment

1. The fact that Esther was married to Mordechai is not explicitly stated in the Bible. It is, however, a tradition which is mentioned in the Talmud (Megillah 13a).

2. It is a common misconception that Mordechai was Esther's uncle. The Bible clearly states (Esther 2:7) "And he [Mordechai] had raised Hadassah, that is Esther, his uncle's daughter."

Moses

Posted by: Blake on Feb 14, 2005

Well wasn't Moses married to a Midianite (a non jew) who didn't even bother to circumcize her son until G'd threatened to kill Moses?

Didn't Judah himself marry a Canannite?

Editor's Comment

Both Moses and Judah married before the giving of the Torah. Technically, there was no such thing as Jew or non-Jew at that time. There were only monotheists and pagans -- and their wives certainly were monotheists.

Esther being mordichai's wife

Posted by: Anonymous, Brooklyn, NY on Feb 19, 2005

the phrase says mordichai took her (esther) as a daughter, it says "l'bas" according to meforshim it says don't read it as l'bas, for a daughter, rather read it l'bayis- as a wife

Is marrying a cousin a negative Mitzvot?

Posted by: Wong on Jun 23, 2005

I'm not sure. please clearify.

Editor's Comment

Marrying a cousin is not forbidden by the Torah.

Acheshverosh didn't touch Ester

Posted by: Mordechai on Sep 26, 2005

I read in the Zohar that Achashverosh never touched Ester... there was an angel protecting her like in the case of Abraham and Sarah when Pharoh took Sarah to be his wife.

marriage

Posted by: Jennifer, Bridgeton, MO on Oct 25, 2005

is it permissble for a african-american to marry a jew?

Editor's Comment

Judaism is color-blind. If the African-American is Jewish, then there is no problem!

RELATED CATEGORIES

Holidays » Purim » The Story
Jewish Identity » Non-Jews » Intermarriage
Talmud
Usually referring to the Babylonian edition, it is a compilation of Rabbinic law, commentary and analysis compiled over a 600 year period (200 BCE - 427 CE). Talmudic verse serves as the bedrock of all classic and modern-day Torah-Jewish literature.
Purim
A one-day holiday celebrated in late winter commemorating the miraculous deliverance of the Jewish people from a decree of annihilation issued by Persian King Ahasuerus in the year 356 BCE.
Megillah
A scroll. Usually a reference to the Book of Esther, one of the books of the "Written Torah", which is read--from a scroll--on the holiday of Purim.
Esther
1. Jewish wife of Persian King Ahasuerus in the 4th century BCE. Foiled the plot of Haman, the prime minister, to exterminate all the Jews. The holiday of Purim commemorates this miraculous salvation. 2. One of the 24 Books of the Bible, which chronicles the abovementioned story.
Ahasuerus
King of the Persian Empire in the 4th century BCE. Husband of Esther, heroine of the Purim story.
Mordechai
Cousin of Queen Esther, and Jewish leader in the 4th century BCE. Played a large role in saving the Jews after Haman, the Persian prime minister, plotted to exterminate them all. The holiday of Purim was established to commemorate this miracle.
Miriam
Older sister of Moses and Aaron, and a prophetess in her own right.