By Barrett Holman Leak
SAN DIEGO — One of my favorite times of the year is coming soon. Each year, I volunteer at the annual Temple Emanu-El of San Diego’s Purim Carnival. I serve my community by handing out tickets and dispensing snacks and drinks to the colorfully costumed and joyful children and their adults. The carnival this year will be held from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Sunday, March 9.
The atmosphere is greatly festive, with a costumed Mordecai (carrying a loud grogger to drown out Haman’s name) who always looks suspiciously like the synagogue’s Rabbi Emeritus Marty Lawson. It’s a joyous celebration that reminds me of the incredible story of Esther. Most significantly, Purim always reminds me that I descend from intelligent, courageous women, like Hadassah, also known as Esther.
Esther lived during the Persian Empire under King Ahasuerus (Xerxes) around the 5th century BCE. This was a time of political intrigue, royal opulence, and social stratification. The Jewish Diaspora community in Persia lived precariously in their daily lives.
Women in Esther’s time had limited rights and were largely confined to domestic roles. Royal women, however, wielded influence within the palace. Esther’s beauty and wisdom led her to become the Queen of Persia, but her true legacy lies in her courageous leadership.
Esther’s story is chronicled in the Book of Esther. Haman, the king’s prime minister, held a lot of power and influence, as the chief advisor to King Ahasuerus. His plot against the Jews was rooted in personal animosity towards Mordecai, Esther’s cousin, who refused to bow down to him (Esther 3:2-5). Ticked off, Haman decided to seek personal vengeance by plotting to annihilate the Jews (Esther 3:6-11), This compelled Esther, at great personal risk, to approach the king to plead for her people.
Some back story here is important: Haman was an Agagite, a descendant of the Amalekites, a long-standing enemy of the Israelites (Esther 3:1). His motivations were not only political but also deeply personal. Mordecai’s refusal to bow down to him (Esther 3:2) fueled Haman’s generational rage and led him to seek the destruction of all Jews in the Persian Empire. He cunningly manipulated King Ahasuerus into agreeing with his plot, offering a large sum of money to the royal treasury in exchange for the decree to annihilate the Jews (Esther 3:9-11).
Mordecai’s relationship with Esther was one of deep care and mentorship. He had taken her in as his own daughter after her parents’ death (Esther 2:7), and their bond was one of trust and mutual respect. Mordecai, who had raised his cousin Esther, learned of Haman’s decree and urged Esther to intervene. He reminded her that she, too, was a Jew and that her silence would not guarantee her safety. He reminded her that her life was not an accident: “And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?” (Esther 4:14). When someone reminds you of who you are, what do you do? Esther, understanding the gravity of the situation, bravely resolved to act, saying, “If I perish, I perish” (Esther 4:16).
Esther’s strategy involved inviting King Ahasuerus and Haman to a banquet where she gained the king’s favor (Esther 5:1-5). Instead of immediately revealing her request, she invited them to a second banquet (Esther 5:6-8), heightening the suspense and ensuring Haman’s presence.
During the second banquet, Esther revealed her Jewish identity and exposed Haman’s plot to destroy her people. She said, “For we are sold, I and my people, to be destroyed, to be slain, and to perish” (Esther 7:4). King Ahasuerus, enraged by the betrayal, demanded to know who was responsible. Esther pointed to Haman and declared, “The adversary and enemy is this wicked Haman” (Esther 7:6).
Haman’s downfall was swift and dramatic. The king ordered that Haman be executed on the very gallows he had prepared for Mordecai (Esther 7:9-10). This turn of events not only saved the Jewish people from annihilation but also led to the elevation of Mordecai to Haman’s former position (Esther 8:2).
Purim is a reminder of the resilience and unity of the Jewish people and the importance of remembering who you are, and in that, standing up against injustice.
Esther had a profound impact: she benefited her people by not only saving the Jewish Diaspora in Persia from destruction, commemorated today by the festival of Purim, a celebration of deliverance and resilience. As I hand out drinks and chips at the carnival this year, I will again be thinking about this timeless Jewish woman and her powerful story of strategic thinking, courageous leadership and commitment to justice.
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Barrett Holman Leak is a freelance writer based in San Diego.