The book of Esther is one of only two books in the Hebrew Bible named for a woman.
Esther is the heroine of this book, but she is an unlikely leader: an orphan, a somewhat assimilated Jew, chosen for her appearance, rather than her strength of character, as company for the king. In most societies, even today, it would be rare for such a woman to be raised up into the highest echelons of leadership.
If we read the story closely, we get the impression that Esther is also a reluctant heroine.
She is in the king’s palace through no active choice of her own. When Mordechai comes to ask her to intervene on behalf of the Jewish people, she is initially unwilling to do so, as the penalty for approaching the king without invitation is death.
As Mordechai explains the gravity of the situation to Esther, he says:
“And who knows if for this moment you were made queen!” (Esther 4:14)
This is a pivotal point in the story of the Megillah. Esther decides to intervene, and her strategic intervention eventually culminates in averting the destruction of the Jews in the Persian empire—and our celebration of Purim.
In 2025, Purim falls during the confluence of International Women’s History Month and the Rabbinical Assembly’s celebration of forty years of women in the rabbinate. Throughout our history, numerous women, despite the ingrained prejudices of their times and other challenges in their individual circumstances, have risen to leadership, and changed the history of the Jewish people for the better.
Each of these pioneering women was willing to accept the mantle of Esther and step up to leadership at the exact right moment in the history of our people, even when the stakes were high and the task difficult.
Thanks to their contributions, our Tradition is richer and our Jewish law is more inclusive. Their leadership paved the way for the leaders of today.
As Esther had Mordechai, many of our more recent women leaders have allies, including male allies, surrounding them, showing support and maybe even helping with the right-timed feedback, encouraging them, and reminding them that they have a unique contribution to make.
As we prepare to celebrate Purim, may we all lift each other up, and stand ready to make our contributions to the Jewish people if and when the moment demands it.
