Proximate Holidays, Parallel Narratives: The Stories of Esther and Moses Speak to Our Times
There are approximately thirty days between Purim and Passover, and although these holidays are set in dramatically different historical periods, their stories share notable similarities that make them particularly relevant today. Both stories originate in the Hebrew Bible, which is largely set in the land of Israel. However, the central figures—Esther and Moses—exist entirely outside of Israel. Their narratives are distinctly diaspora stories, illustrating what it means to be Jewish in foreign lands and the challenges inherent in diaspora life. Despite initial reluctance, both Esther and Moses ultimately become saviors of their people.
According to the stories, Moses was born into slavery in Egypt, while Esther came from an ordinary background as a Persian Jew. Despite their humble origins, they rose to greatness. Moses’s journey to the Egyptian royal court is well known. He remained unaware of his true identity until adulthood. Similarly, Esther was thrust into the volatile Persian court by her guardian, compelled to compete in the king’s months-long search for a wife, something that resembled a perverse game of The Bachelorette. As a fully Persian queen, her Jewish heritage remained hidden beneath her royal robes.
It was only when the fate of their communities was threatened that Esther and Moses discovered their greatness. In Esther’s story, Mordechai warns her:
“Do not imagine that you, of all the Jews, will escape with your life by being in the king’s palace. 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.” (Esther 4:13-14)
Esther responds with courage:
“Then I shall go to the king, though it is contrary to the law; and if I am to perish, I shall perish!”
These words are reminiscent of God’s challenge to Moses as he doubts his own ability to deliver the Israelites:
“Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and free the Israelites from Egypt?” (Exodus 3:11)
Moses’s self-doubt was far more intense than Esther’s. Convincing him of his mission required several Divine miracles and the promise of his brother Aaron’s support before he dared approach Pharaoh. Esther, notably, received no Divine signs and yet risked her life by defying court protocol to approach the king.
Both Esther and Moses pleaded their people’s case and faced fierce opposition from those who sought their destruction. Haman and Pharaoh serve as parallel antagonists, each perpetuating the classic conspiracy trope of antisemitism: “There is a certain people who are different from us.” Despite the dangers, both heroes took decisive action resulting in the downfall of the evildoers and the liberation of their people.
The journeys of Esther and Moses are poignant. Redemption for themselves and their communities was not found through continued assimilation or separation, but through a deeper embrace of their origins and identities. Moses became not only the liberator but also the lawgiver. Esther was not just the fortunate winner of a royal contest; she became a proud Jewish ruler who empowered her people to secure their well-being.
The stories of Esther and Moses prompt reflection on our own tumultuous times. Jews are well-established across the globe, having risen to prominence in government, academia, corporations, and media. Yet some former allies and friends have proven unreliable or even hostile and our enemies have become emboldened. Just as Moses and Esther responded by embracing their fully realized selves, the times call for us to assert our identity, live with pride, overcome fear, and stand up for our inalienable rights. Now is the time for Jewish pride and affirmation of our place in the world. It is the time to strengthen the institutions that reinforce our Jewishness and advocate for our security. Merely lamenting our status or endless doomscrolling on social media will not address the challenge. Esther and Moses stood up and because of that, they are our people’s heroes. We must follow in their footsteps.
— Rabbi Ron Stern