Texts for Vashti's Den

Texts for Vashti's Den

Esther 1:10-12

בַּיּוֹם הַשְּׁבִיעִי כְּטוֹב לֵב הַמֶּלֶךְ בַּיָּיִן אָמַר לִמְהוּמָן בִּזְּתָא חַרְבוֹנָא בִּגְתָא וַאֲבַגְתָא זֵתַר וְכַרְכַּס שִׁבְעַת הַסָּרִיסִים הַמְשָׁרְתִים אֶת פְּנֵי הַמֶּלֶךְ אֲחַשְׁוֵרוֹשׁ: לְהָבִיא אֶת וַשְׁתִּי הַמַּלְכָּה לִפְנֵי הַמֶּלֶךְ בְּכֶתֶר מַלְכוּת לְהַרְאוֹת הָעַמִּים וְהַשָּׂרִים אֶת יָפְיָהּ כִּי טוֹבַת מַרְאֶה הִיא: וַתְּמָאֵן הַמַּלְכָּה וַשְׁתִּי לָבוֹא בִּדְבַר הַמֶּלֶךְ אֲשֶׁר בְּיַד הַסָּרִיסִים וַיִּקְצֹף הַמֶּלֶךְ מְאֹד וַחֲמָתוֹ בָּעֲרָה בוֹ

On the seventh day, when the king was merry with wine, he ordered Mehuman, Bizzetha, Harbona, Bigtha, Abagtha, Zethar, and Carcas, the seven eunuchs in attendance on Ahaseurus, to bring Queen Vashti before the king wearing a royal diadem, to display her beauty to the peoples and the officials; for she was a beautiful woman. But Queen Vashti refused to come at the king's command conveyed by the eunuchs. The king was greatly incensed, and his fury burned within him. [JPS translation]

Suggested Discussion Questions

1. What model does Queen Vashti provide for feminism and activism? What precedence did she set by refusing the king?
2. As a result of her refusal, Queen Vashti was banned from the palace. To what extent must we gauge consequences before acting to defend our own sense of justice?
3. How is this story viewed in the Jewish tradition? Is Vashti a heroine? A traitor? A feminist?

Esther 2:10

לֹא הִגִּידָה אֶסְתֵּר אֶת עַמָּהּ וְאֶת מוֹלַדְתָּהּ כִּי מָרְדֳּכַי צִוָּה עָלֶיהָ אֲשֶׁר לֹא תַגִּיד:

Esther did not reveal her people or her kindred, for Mordecai had told her not to reveal it. [JPS translation]

Suggested Discussion Questions

1. Esther kept her identity from King Ahasuerus so that she could infiltrate the kingdom of Shushan and save her people. To what extent may a person withold their identity for a later sake of greater good?
2. Does Esther's method serve as an effective model for social change? What power did she gain through her initial silence?
3. What other historical figures have initially masked their identity in order to help their people?

Esther 4:14

כִּי אִם הַחֲרֵשׁ תַּחֲרִישִׁי בָּעֵת הַזֹּאת רֶוַח וְהַצָּלָה יַעֲמוֹד לַיְּהוּדִים מִמָּקוֹם אַחֵר וְאַתְּ וּבֵית אָבִיךְ תֹּאבֵדוּ וּמִי יוֹדֵעַ אִם לְעֵת כָּזֹאת הִגַּעַתְּ לַמַּלְכוּת:

On the contrary, if you keep silent in this crisis, relief and deliverance will come to the Jews from another quarter, while you and your father's house will perish. And who knows, perhaps you have attained to royal position for just such a crisis. [JPS translation]

Suggested Discussion Questions

1. How does Mordechai attempt to convince Esther to intervene and stop the plan to kill the Jews?
2. Esther is convinced to risk her life and approach the king in an attempt to convince him to stop the plan to kill the Jews because the threat is on her life as well. What do you think of this story as an example of advocacy and heroism?
3. Do you think you are in a unique position to advocate on behalf of a certain community?