The holiday of Purim represents the best of times. It emerged, however, from the worst of times.
We were never closer to obliteration, both spiritually and physically. The hedonism of the prevailing Persian culture was part of the air that we breathed. It dulled our senses to the point that when King Achashverosh appeared in the garments of the High Priest of Jerusalem, presenting the treasure that had been robbed from the Holy Temple with the detachment of a museum curator, there was no protest.
We too had reached the point of being able to say, "How beautiful, how fascinating," when we once said, "If I forget you, O Jerusalem, may my right hand be forgotten." We were desensitized to ourselves, and to God.
God is the hidden character of the Book of Esther. His name is never mentioned. As the events were played out in real time, few were able to see His hidden presence.
One of the few was Esther. Somehow she had escaped the desensitization.
FROM LONELINESS TO STRENGTH
Let us look at Esther in order to find the place within ourselves that can help us always see -- like she did -- beyond the exterior facade that calls itself "reality."
Her father had died while her mother was still pregnant with Esther; her mother died at her birth. Thus, she came into this world with the gaping wound of belonging to no one.
Her cousin Mordechai, who later became her spiritual guide and ultimately her husband, took her in. The Maharal of Prague (16th century) tells us that the circumstances of her birth were no coincidence. Alienation and loneliness are tools like any others and are given to us to enable us to become who we can be. It was from that place of emptiness that Esther's profound attachment to God blossomed.
The root of the Hebrew word ester is saiter, meaning "concealment." Her name articulated her very essence -- the ability to pierce the walls of concealment and find God where others could not.
We often are deceived by the opaque nature of our interactions with God. He seemingly does not react when we go off the path. We are not stricken down by lightning when we make bad choices.
Similarly, we do not find ourselves suddenly richer or necessarily in better physical health when we choose to open our vistas to what is profound and eternal within ourselves.
The wicked seem to prosper and the righteous seems to exist with the same constraints as all the rest.
This is how it seems, of course, if we don't commit ourselves to penetrating the surface. Esther was a master at breaking through the walls that surround us. This was her weapon that she had taught herself in her years of solitude and yearning.
Esther had learned to see God wherever she looked. She saw Him as her only parent and she let His presence be her guide.
We all have our empty places. Rather than allowing them to lead us towards embitterment, let us use them as a ladder.
LIKE A MYRTLE
Esther had an additional name -- Hadassah. The Hebrew word hadassah means "myrtle," and it is one of the four species that we use on Succot. The etrog (citron) is shaped like and symbolizes the heart, the lulav (palm branch), the spine, the aravah (willow), the lips, and the hadassah are the eyes. Esther's eyes could see inner reality as clearly as our eyes see external reality.
Her name was not random, but rather it was the ultimate description of her strongest quality.
Let us look into the nature of the hadassah more closely to gain insight into Esther's nature, and ultimately into our own.
The leaves of the myrtle are uniform and green. If I were to name a child after a plant (which is highly unlikely), I would gravitate more to Rose, Lily -- or at worst Daisy -- long before I would call anyone Myrtle or Hadassah.
It is almost a command to aspire to inconspicuous mediocrity!
But the Maharal points out that her modest image embodied an internal strength. The image that Esther projected was one in which the superficial separations that polarize us played no part.
The greater our focus on the uniqueness of our external identities (age, appearance, culture) the more separate we are from the unity and commonality of our internal identities (the need to love, the yearning for meaning and genuine achievement, fear of rejection and inner chaos). We become the children of one Father when we let ourselves see beyond the façade of superficial identity. It is our quiet commonality that bonds our hearts and minds.
The Talmud gives us a concrete example:
Esther was given seven maidservants, as was the court-custom. In order to remember when it was Shabbat she named them after the days of the week. In a society as stratified as ancient Persia, she could have easily dehumanized them by calling them Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, etc. Nothing could be a greater insult to their human value.
So, instead, she named them after God's order of creation. One was Light, the other Transcendence, etc. They all ultimately converted to Judaism, even though that was far from Esther's intent. By becoming more aware of whom they really were, they were able to set their sights towards who they wanted to be. She succeeded in bringing them to a genuine awareness of their inner essence.
COOLNESS AND WARMTH
The Talmud rather cryptically tells us that Esther, like the hadassah was "green."
This does not mean that one would mistake her for Robin Hood or Lyle the Crocodile. Rather, her essence was symbolized by the color green.
Green is a color that is made up of two primary components -- blue and yellow. Blue symbolizes coolness and yellow symbolizes warmth.
Esther's inner light was a composite of two forces as well -- fiery sun-like passion and the cooling nurture of water. Because she had developed her own spiritual nature so completely, she could reach out to anyone and find within her the capacity to connect. Her "greenness" was the spiritual symbol of humility, responsiveness and sensitivity.
When we are able to peel away the layers of nonsense and glitz that are today's remnants of Achashverosh's palace, we will find the part of us that -- like Esther -- can pierce through any armor, even our own.
And then we will see God where we never believed He could be found -- in our hearts, in those of others, in the day to day events that form the tapestry of our lives.
(28) Renee White, March 12, 2020 3:45 PM
Loved this article !
What a beautiful writing on Esther. I have read many stories about her but none that drew me in to her as a person quite like this one. Great beginning to my day. Thank you.
(27) Esther Kim, January 1, 2018 12:17 PM
Wow
I once asked my parents why they named me Esther and my said it was because of how pale I was born almost shining thus "a star" was a suitable name and they quickly called me esther but i always wanted to know about my name and thank you so much for explaining much..
(26) esther, June 29, 2014 8:02 AM
Wow. Just my name, and at once my loneliness, my ability to 'read' other souls and my deep connection with our GOD is explained.
(25) gladys, June 3, 2013 2:59 AM
There is an esther in all of us, "quiet commanality that bonds our hearts and minds", and her inner beauty that is strength and courage, beautiful qualities that can only be God
(24) Esther O.A., June 2, 2013 9:03 AM
Our inner strenght lies in our root. Reading this would help you identify yourself and what you stand for. Thank you.
(23) esther j. c., April 30, 2013 6:39 PM
it is great learning the value hidden in the name!greatly inspired.
(22) esther, April 28, 2013 9:10 AM
so it is
So it is with me too. Thank you
(21) Donna, April 9, 2013 9:10 AM
Wow, eye opening
Thank you for investing in others by laying this out so beautifully. These were hidden aspects we would never have known, save for your sharing and teaching. God bless, you are a blessing.
(20) esther, March 16, 2013 8:01 PM
Queen Esther
Reading this helped me identify myself in depth. This was eye opening and a great blessing! Thank you for sharing this. I have always felt like Queen Esther in so many ways, I'm the back bone of my family, friends always come to me for guidance and I am an advicate for justice. It's not easy being an Esther but I know God chose me "for such a time as this".
(19) Esther njay, February 1, 2013 6:14 PM
dis is really nice
I was kinda baffled when i saw the title at first but as I began 2 read through d article I understood more though I ve read about Esther from d bible before now I know better... So happy I read it because it was really inspiring .Thanks
(18) Ntombi, November 24, 2012 2:13 PM
Thank for taking your time to educate us of this name. A child given a wrong name can cause a great confusion and conflicts in his or her journey. I have learnt it. This article is giving me more consciousness on names. Thank you.
(17) Anonymous, October 27, 2012 10:17 AM
Feel orphaned
Also..I have being through some the worst abusive terrors from my parents which has made me never trust them to protect and do what is good for me - it angered me because I want a mum & dad thats safe. but it's actually pushed me to the point where I am sooo reliant on Gods word hat I stubbornly sway from it because I know he has good planned for me!!! I keep to his word no matter how much someone (even my parents who I am always trying to please which is never pleasing Enough for them) disagrees with me because it's like My only place of feeling comfort and feeling secure because he's a rock that I can trust!!!
(16) Esther, October 27, 2012 10:10 AM
Love this!
I was named after Queen Esther by my mother in hopes I'd be like her to help my family. Little did we know it'd come true. I read this description of Esther with my husband and he was just laughing because he said everything it says about her is exactly the way I am!! But I tell you it's not easy being a pioneer and being like this-it can be quite scary facing much opposition and going against the tide-but I guess what is life of you don't lay it down to help build a safer, better and more secure future for the ones that your life will impact!!
Isabel Esther, March 19, 2013 1:31 PM
From the loneliness to strength; from the worst of times to the best of times
I have come to realize that Esther has been my spiritual inspiration for all my experiences thus far. When I am rejected, when I am hurt, when I feel alone; that is truly when God fills the emptiness and gives me strength. He makes me whole when I am broken. It gives me great consolation in that I chose Esther as my confirmation name as a thirteen year old. Now at eighteen, I can see where God has been in all my struggles. God gives me a Grace to see him in everything.. Whether it be themes in a book that other people were blind to or in the face of a suffering person, I see God. My first name, which my parents chose for me,is Isabel which means consecrated to God and then I chose Esther years later by the Grace of the Holy Spirit. I thank God for that. Esther, continue to bring me courage in the face of hardship with God's mighty hand for assistance. For I know that the Lord will lead me from loneliness to strength; and from the worst of times to the best of times. THANKYOU!
(15) Hadassah Martin, October 24, 2012 5:24 PM
I was born Julie Esther
I have always felt a bond with Queen Esther. Our lives are very similiar. Reading this article has given me additional qualities to aspire to. Very informative and uplifting. Thank you for taking the time to write.
(14) Esther hadassah obijiaku, September 26, 2012 11:55 PM
Wow.thank God i waz given dose names.and is every thing about me.i love it
(13) chinumezi, September 25, 2012 9:03 PM
am happy that i checked this out
I am more satisfied that i am clear with the names esther nd hadassah.
(12) Esther Akang, September 14, 2012 3:17 PM
waow!!!
I never really new the hidden tresures around the name apart from the fact that it means 'a star'. Am glad that I was given the name ESTHER.
(11) Hadessa_Elyse, September 6, 2012 8:32 AM
Wow I never really took the time to read the story of Esther, but this sounds so much like me, my name is very uncommon where I live(as far I know.) Except tbe orphan part. This was a very interesting article im glad to have stumbled onto it.
(10) pst.wisdom obiyo, September 4, 2012 2:31 AM
its really interesting
I.m glad my immediate younger sister is Esther and since her birth she always see hidden treasures before others.
(9) Ebere Obiyo Njemanze, August 8, 2012 11:10 AM
This is really inspiring,I'm glad I named my daughter 'Esther.'
(8) Josephine, July 27, 2012 3:09 PM
This is so inspiring,i choose this name as my business name,just for the fact Esther was a lady that found favor in the sight of everyone that looked unto her ,and i desire this for my business,i thank God for more insights i have gotten through this, Thank you. Josephine
(7) Esther, May 4, 2012 6:32 AM
Its a unique story of a real queen. Each time, i try as much as possible to act like an esther by God's grace. I want to stand out as one and stand in the gap for young men and ladies like me...i love the fact that am a queen..
(6) Allison, March 11, 2012 2:10 AM
This essay is so well done and I learned so much. Ir's unification of Divine description is Zenlike in a way so, I would urge the author to look even deeper; refine it just a bit more because , it approaches something momentous. Possibly about the distinctions between concealed, invisible, and clear as descriptives of God and/ or the state necessary for a transcendant relationship with God . I don't know if this is helpful but you certainly helped me. Thank you!
(5) Shira, March 5, 2012 5:43 AM
Thank you
I appreciate this article - thank you
(4) deboarh, March 4, 2012 10:12 AM
on th 1st of march 2012 was world book day at work. The children and adults had to dress up as a character from a book. As a teaching assistant I took this opportunity to tell the story of esther to primary school children. I dressed up as esther and introduced the book of esther to those who were not familiar with the story. I t was a great day. I have always pictured myself to be like esther working hard behind the scenes to benefit the people that I work for with my intercessions and inspirirational words.
(3) Anonymous, November 16, 2011 1:06 AM
Is my stumbling on this piece Happenstance or Providence ?
My father named me Patricia and Esther. When I was very young, just before he died he told me that he picked my names with care. I was familiar with the Bible story of Esther at an early age. In fact, by 9, I could almost recite the entire book of Esther. I was so proud of who Esther was in my fantasy world, I used to tell myself, I was a queen and therefore I had to be kind to all my friends and people, even though they did not like me. Through the years, I distanced myself from organised religion, but I could not distance myself from the magnet of that name and the principles for which it stands. Today, I am described by my professional organisation, a mentor extrordinaire and mentorship enthusiast. I enjoy working with at-risk or marginalised youth and have this continuous passion to save youths from whatever dilemma he or she faces. I think I live an estherian life. When my colleagues or friends or husband ask me if I do not know how to say no when asked to do an added task of community work, my answer is, I always say, "No!" I "Nurture" and I "open" "oppportunities" for youths: "N. O". As I read the piece about Esther, I identified with every aspect of the description of her character; although I am not a secular queen, I am a child of the King - the Lord, Almighty. If you search the name on the Internet, you will find more information about me; you may see "E.", but not the full name. Thank you for sustaining my inspiration to be proud of who I am, even my name - Esther!!
(2) Aidel, March 12, 2006 12:00 AM
Esther
Esther was totally unique.
No-one else could have her total meseris nefesh/dedication. Who else but Esther could make herself off-limits to Mordechai forever in order to save the jewish nation.
Every jewish woman should learn from her and do one single act that 'puts them out'.......surely then the terrible Exile will end.
(1) Rebecca, March 9, 2006 12:00 AM
This article was very inspiring and inspirational. After I finished reading it, I looked to see who wrote it, and it was none other than the amazing Tziporah Heller. Her writing always amazes me!