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Book of Esther

Esther Scroll scribed by Stellina bat Menachem in Venice, 1564. Braginsky Collection, Zurich, Switzerland. The artifact is part of the exhibition “The Girl Who Wrote” between March and September 2026. (Ardon Bar-Hama, Ra'anana/Courtesy of The Braginsky Collection, Zurich)
March 3, 2026, 3:22 pm
Her-storical documents: 2 Esther scrolls copied by female scribes celebrate Jewish resilience
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
By Rossella Tercatin
Jewish men and children, some dressed in costumes, read the Scroll of Esther as they celebrate the holiday of Purim in an underground parking garage as a precaution against Iranian missile attacks, in Tel Aviv, March 2, 2026. (AP Photo/Ohad Zwigenberg)
March 3, 2026, 9:55 am
The Purim story ‘with a different cast’: Mid-war, festival readings and parties move to bomb shelters
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
By Melanie Lidman
Jews read the Megillat Esther (the Book of Esther) on the eve of the Jewish holiday of Purim, in Katzrin, northern Israel, on March 13, 2025. (Michael Giladi/Flash90)
March 2, 2026, 4:44 pm
From Zoom megillahs to sirens during reading, all you need to know about Purim at war
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
By Rossella Tercatin
In 2018, Paradesi Jews from all over the world gathered in Cochin to celebrate the 450th anniversary of their synagogue. (Shalva Weil)
March 14, 2025, 9:27 pm
Burning Haman: The lost Purim tradition of India’s ancient Cochin Jewish community
For centuries, Cochin Jews marked Purim by burning effigies of Haman, while the holiday represented the day when Jews from all backgrounds celebrated together
By Rossella Tercatin
Israelis dressed in costumes walk on Jaffa Street in Jerusalem on March 12, 2025, ahead of the Jewish holiday of Purim. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)
March 13, 2025, 10:54 am
Jerusalem gets ready for rare triple Purim: ‘The main goal is to take care of others’
In a sporadic occurrence that will next repeat itself in 2045, Jews in the capital get to celebrate a three-day holiday
By Rossella Tercatin
Rembrandt van Rijn, 'A Jewish Heroine from the Hebrew Bible,' 1632–33. Oil on canvas, 43 x 37 ⅛ in. (109.2 x 94.4 cm). National Gallery of Canada, Ottawa, purchased 1953, accession no. 6089. (NGC)
March 12, 2025, 12:53 am
Drawing on Dutch masters, NY exhibit explores Christians painting themselves into Purim parable
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
By Cathryn J. Prince
An illustrative picture of Israelites reading from a scroll. (iStock photos)
March 24, 2024, 10:52 am
How the Bible – and the Purim story – helped form a nation from an exiled people
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
By Rich Tenorio
Jordan Gorfinkel edited the DC Batman franchise from 1991-99. (Courtesy of Gorfinkel via JTA)
March 7, 2023, 1:54 am
A graphic novel of the Purim story, from a Batman comics editor
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’
By Julian Voloj
A snapshot of an 18th century Esther megillah, illustrated by a 14-year-old female scribe in Italy, on exhibit at the Israel Museum for Purim 2022 (Courtesy Israel Museum)
March 15, 2022, 5:41 am
How to make Purim meaningful as war rages in Ukraine
The Book of Esther, the traditional 3-cornered pastries, and other ways to observe a holiday that celebrates the triumph of good over evil
By Jessica Steinberg
An 18th-century Book of Esther written by a teenage Italian girl. (Courtesy/Kedem Auction House)
November 17, 2021, 8:52 pm
Rare 18th-century Esther scroll penned by teenage Italian girl unveiled in Jerusalem
‘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
By ToI Staff
A rare scroll of the Book of Esther, believed to have been penned in mid-15th century in the Iberian Peninsula. (National Library of Israel)
February 22, 2021, 6:19 pm
15th-century Esther scroll, among oldest in world, gifted to National Library
Rare full text believed to have been penned in Iberian Peninsula around 1465, mere decades before Spanish and Portuguese expulsions
By ToI Staff
Students at the Leffell School in Westchester County, which emerged as an early epicenter for the coronavirus last spring in New York state, celebrated Purim from home in 2020. (Courtesy of Yael Buechler/ via JTA)
February 2, 2021, 2:14 pm
COVID-fatigued US Jewish communities prepare for a socially-distanced Purim
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
By Shira Hanau
Illustrative: In this March 11, 2017 picture, a man reads The Book of Esther. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)
December 20, 2020, 6:20 pm
Cutting-edge scientific analysis reveals secrets of ancient Jewish Purim scroll
Romanian researchers use a battery of noninvasive techniques to gain insight on production of badly deteriorated manuscript containing opening chapters of Book of Esther
By Stuart Winer
The Tomb of Esther and Mordechai in Hamedan, Iran. (CC BY-SA Philippe Chavin/Wikipedia)
February 21, 2020, 7:35 am
US ‘troubled’ by report Iranians want to raze tomb of Mordechai and Esther
Militant student group in Hamadan proposes turning Purim heroes’ tomb into Palestinian consulate in response to Trump plan; local official says site protected
By ToI Staff
Corey Dalton Hart, tenor, in the role of Mordocai in the March 2, 2019 Miryam Ensemble performance of Lidarti's 'Esther.' (Credit Daniel Lieber/courtesy Miryam Ensemble)
March 20, 2019, 8:44 pm
Baroque ‘Esther’ oratorio’s fate overturned by miraculous rescue from obscurity
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
By Penny Schwartz
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