The Times of Israel https://www.timesofisrael.com/topic/book-of-esther/ News from Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish World Mon, 15 Jun 2026 00:08:15 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://static-cdn.toi-media.com/www/uploads/2018/11/toi_icon_512-200x200.png Book of Esther | The Times of Israel https://www.timesofisrael.com/topic/book-of-esther/ 32 32 Her-storical documents: 2 Esther scrolls copied by female scribes celebrate Jewish resilience https://www.timesofisrael.com/her-storical-documents-2-esther-scrolls-copied-by-female-scribes-celebrate-jewish-resilience/ Tue, 03 Mar 2026 13:22:54 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=3767462 The only two known ancient megillahs written by women are part of a new exhibition at the Israel Museum in Jerusalem, whose opening has been postponed due to the Iran war

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]]> The Purim story ‘with a different cast’: Mid-war, festival readings and parties move to bomb shelters https://www.timesofisrael.com/dressed-down-purim-parties-move-to-bomb-shelters-under-threat-of-missiles/ Tue, 03 Mar 2026 07:55:53 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=3767327 As Book of Esther is read aloud in Tel Aviv parking garage, sheltering father says conflict with Persia's modern-day successor feels like the modern iteration of the 2,500-year-old saga

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]]> From Zoom megillahs to sirens during reading, all you need to know about Purim at war https://www.timesofisrael.com/from-zoom-megillahs-to-sirens-during-reading-all-you-need-to-know-about-purim-at-war/ Mon, 02 Mar 2026 14:44:47 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=3766615 In light of the emergency situation, Israel's Home Front Command has banned public gatherings, including recitations of the Book of Esther. Leading rabbis weigh in on how to celebrate

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]]> Burning Haman: The lost Purim tradition of India’s ancient Cochin Jewish community https://www.timesofisrael.com/burning-haman-the-lost-purim-tradition-of-indias-ancient-cochin-jewish-community/ Fri, 14 Mar 2025 19:27:44 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=3501518 For centuries, Cochin Jews marked Purim by burning effigies of Haman, while the holiday represented the day when Jews from all backgrounds celebrated together

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]]> Jerusalem gets ready for rare triple Purim: ‘The main goal is to take care of others’ https://www.timesofisrael.com/jerusalem-gets-ready-for-rare-triple-purim-the-main-goal-is-to-take-care-of-others/ Thu, 13 Mar 2025 08:54:32 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=3501855 In a sporadic occurrence that will next repeat itself in 2045, Jews in the capital get to celebrate a three-day holiday

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]]> Drawing on Dutch masters, NY exhibit explores Christians painting themselves into Purim parable https://www.timesofisrael.com/drawing-on-dutch-masters-ny-exhibit-explores-christians-painting-themselves-into-purim-parable/ Tue, 11 Mar 2025 22:53:30 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=3499715 Eschewing Persian version, Jewish Museum extends art curation scepter to masters like Rembrandt, who saw Esther's heroism echoed in their own struggle against Catholic Spain

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]]> How the Bible – and the Purim story – helped form a nation from an exiled people https://www.timesofisrael.com/how-the-bible-and-the-purim-story-helped-form-a-nation-from-an-exiled-people/ Sun, 24 Mar 2024 08:52:17 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=3249585 In his bestseller 'Why the Bible Began,' theology Prof. Jacob L. Wright challenges conventional thought on the holy book's history, positing that it was not all about religion

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]]> A graphic novel of the Purim story, from a Batman comics editor https://www.timesofisrael.com/a-graphic-novel-of-the-purim-story-from-a-batman-comics-editor/ Mon, 06 Mar 2023 23:54:50 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=2966957 Jordan Gorfinkel and illustrator Yael Nathan release 'The Koren Tanakh Graphic Novel Esther,' a biblical story that has it all: 'Emotions, action, intrigue, battles and redemption'

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]]> How to make Purim meaningful as war rages in Ukraine https://www.timesofisrael.com/how-to-make-purim-meaningful-as-war-rages-in-ukraine/ Tue, 15 Mar 2022 03:41:27 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=2719670 The Book of Esther, the traditional 3-cornered pastries, and other ways to observe a holiday that celebrates the triumph of good over evil

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]]> Rare 18th-century Esther scroll penned by teenage Italian girl unveiled in Jerusalem https://www.timesofisrael.com/rare-18th-century-esther-scroll-penned-by-teenage-italian-girl-unveiled-in-jerusalem/ Wed, 17 Nov 2021 18:52:04 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=2651068 'They shall praise her actions at the city gates': Auction house says item written by 14-year-old Luna Amron sheds light on role of women in era's Italian Jewish community

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]]> 15th-century Esther scroll, among oldest in world, gifted to National Library https://www.timesofisrael.com/15th-century-esther-scroll-among-oldest-in-world-gifted-to-national-library/ Mon, 22 Feb 2021 16:19:38 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=2493454 Rare full text believed to have been penned in Iberian Peninsula around 1465, mere decades before Spanish and Portuguese expulsions

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]]> COVID-fatigued US Jewish communities prepare for a socially-distanced Purim https://www.timesofisrael.com/covid-fatigued-us-jewish-communities-prepare-for-a-socially-distanced-purim/ Tue, 02 Feb 2021 12:14:23 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=2480521 The wearing of masks, typically part of raucous celebrations, takes on an added poignance as the holiday marks one year of all-but-suspended communal activity

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]]> Cutting-edge scientific analysis reveals secrets of ancient Jewish Purim scroll https://www.timesofisrael.com/cutting-edge-scientific-analysis-reveals-secrets-of-old-jewish-purim-scroll/ Sun, 20 Dec 2020 16:20:16 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=2451951 Romanian researchers use a battery of noninvasive techniques to gain insight on production of badly deteriorated manuscript containing opening chapters of Book of Esther

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]]> US ‘troubled’ by report Iranians want to raze tomb of Mordechai and Esther https://www.timesofisrael.com/us-troubled-over-report-iranians-want-to-raze-tomb-of-purim-heroes/ Fri, 21 Feb 2020 05:35:23 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=2244731 Militant student group in Hamadan proposes turning Purim heroes' tomb into Palestinian consulate in response to Trump plan; local official says site protected

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]]> Baroque ‘Esther’ oratorio’s fate overturned by miraculous rescue from obscurity https://www.timesofisrael.com/baroque-esther-oratorios-fate-overturned-by-miraculous-rescue-from-obscurity/ Wed, 20 Mar 2019 18:44:20 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=2040011 18th century Hebrew-language musical dramatization of Purim story was nearly lost to time; now, just ahead of the holiday a recent production marks its East Coast premiere

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