Author(s): Yoram Hazony

Judaica

Esther, queen of Persia, determines she must risk her life to save her people. Her decision is bold, disobedient and daring-but it is just the tip of the iceberg of intrigue, heroism and power politics described in the biblical book of Esther. But when the dust has settled and the Jews emerge victorious, many readers of Esther are still left wondering: What is such a book doing in the bible? Hazony introduces us to a different book of Esther, removed from the fairy-tale feel that is normally associated with it. It is, in truth, about politics - the politics of a Jewish nation newly in exile.