5784/2024

Mordechai Read Aloud and Not Esther

Why is the Megillah named after Esther and not Mordechai? After all, Ashkenazim and Sepharadim read aloud the Pesukim introducing Mordechai, announcing his rise to power, and concluding his mission in the Megilla’s very last Pasuk.  Esther’s role is not highlighted in the Pesukim we read aloud. So why call it Megillat Esther?

A Classic Answer 

An answer often given alludes to the Gemara (Chullin 139b), which states: 

From where in the Torah can one find an allusion to the events involving Esther? He replied to them that the verse states: “And I will hide [haster astir] My face on that day for all the evil which they shall have wrought, in that they are turned to other gods” (Devarim 31:17–18). 

Accordingly, the name and word Esther allude to Hashem’s hidden hand. The word Megillah also may be understood as Megaleh, revealing. Thus Megillat Esther may be understood as Megaleh Hester, revealing the invisible. In other words, this story reveals how to discover Hashem’s hidden hand when His providential hand is not obvious. 

Rav Soloveitchik’s Answer 

Rav Yosef Dov Soloveitchik explains that we call it Megillat Esther since Esther clinched the Jewish people accepting the Purim holiday and convinced the Chachamim to incorporate the Megillah in the Tanach (Esther 9:32 and Megillah 7a). 

Esther is the Prime Architect of Our Salvation

Although Mordechai played a more public role (and hence we read aloud the central Pesukim about him), Esther with her Binah Yeteira (extra wisdom Hashem accords women; Niddah 45b) saved our people. While Mordechai instructed Esther to beg Achashverosh for her people (Esther 4:8). Instead, she chose the much savvier approach of inviting Haman to join her and Achashverosh in their two parties. We dedicate a chapter showing how this shocking move was the key to driving a wedge between the king and Haman and convincing the king to hang his errant Prime Minister.  

Only later in Perek 8 does Esther fall before Achashverosh and beg for her people. However, at that point, after Haman’s hanging and Mordechai’s elevation to Mishneh LaMelech, she is in a much stronger position to make requests from the king, and her falling to his knees is paradoxically more effective. At that point, she stresses that she is not trying to usurp the king’s power and subordinates herself to him (even though she calls all the shots regarding the Jews!).  

Moreover, Esther realizes that our spiritual malaise must be rectified for her to succeed in approaching Achashverosh.  Thus, her demanding the extreme three-day fast (4:16) moved Hashem to intervene on our behalf. 

In the five years Esther was the queen before Haman’s promotion to Mishneh LaMelech, Hashem’s preceding the cure before the affliction (Megillah 13b), Esther mastered the ways of Persian royalty. She masterfully employs these ways when needed most. For example, after Esther in 7:6 identifies Haman as the evildoer, Esther lets the action unfold while she wisely does nothing. Esther leaves Haman to set himself up for the noose without her intervention.  

 I have a sneaking suspicion that Esther whispered the idea of neutralizing Haman’s decree as an alternative to repealing it, which was forbidden under Persian custom. Perek 9 Pasuk 13 indicates it was Esther who conceived and convinced Achashverosh of the idea of adding another day in Shushan for the Jews there to eliminate their enemies.  

Finally, although Mordechai began the process of perpetuating the Purim holiday to the Jews, it was Esther who solidified our acceptance. We could not say no to her after all she did and sacrificed for us.  

Thus, we see that while Mordechai played a larger public role, such as organizing and galvanizing us to join the three-day fast, building the Jewish defense on the thirteenth of Adar, and strengthening Achashverosh’s kingdom after we eliminated our enemies, Esther was the chief architect of our rescue. Thus, we call it Megillat Esther instead of Megillat Mordechai.  

This idea also fits with our earlier mentioned idea of Megaleh Hester. A careful examination of the story that the woman quietly working behind the scenes is our people’s primary redeemer leads us to realize that there is more to reality than what meets the eye. One must look even further behind the scenes to discover the Ultimate Savior of our People – Hashem!   

Esther Reflects Our Story

Another reason for calling it Megillat Esther is Esther reflecting our story. Just as Esther rose from an extreme orphanage, her father died after conception and her mother after childbirth (Megillah 13a), so too we rose from the extreme low of Haman’s decree to the other extreme of eliminating our enemies and emerging on top of the social ladder in the Persian Empire.  

Esther and Megillat Esther’s Special Charm

Yet another reason for calling it Megillat Esther is the special charm Esther had on all who beheld her (2:15). Megillat Esther similarly holds special magic on our people, with the Gemara (Megillah 21b) saying it is Chaviva beloved to all. There even are Halachic ramifications of the special love we reserve for Megillat Esther. 

Hidden Themes 

Building on the earlier mentioned idea of Hester, Megillat Esther hides many of its facets. For example, no reasons are given for major aspects of the storyline, such as why Mordechai refuses to bow to Haman and why Esther hides her Jewish identity. One must read between the lines to be Megaleh Hester, revealing this magnificent Megilla's rich and varied themes.  

Moreover, part of Megillat Esther’s charm is its hiding of so many major points. Tzeniut enhances a person’s charm and appeal. In its way, Megillat Esther’s “Tzeniut” helps generate the Jewish people have for this Sefer (Megilla 21b). Thus, we have yet another reason for calling it Megilat Esther.  

Conclusion – Esther Sacrificed More than Anyone

Finally, “L’Fum Tza’ara Agra, the greater the suffering, the greater the reward (Avot 5:23).” No one sacrifices more than Esther. Twice, she risked her life to appear before Achashverosh without permission. Moreover, while Esther rescues all of us, she is the only Jew who is not redeemed. She remains trapped for life in the palace with the vile Achashverosh, forever separated from her people and her life partner Mordechai (Megillah 13a). Therefore, the least we can do is to honor Esther by naming the Megillah in her honor.