• Home
  • Parashah
  • Ask the Rabbi
  • Festivals
  • Freemasonry
  • Articles
  • About
  • Books
  • Media
  •  

    Esther’s intermarriage – Ask the Rabbi

    Q. How can we think so highly of Queen Esther since she married out?

    Painting depicting Esther & Mordechai, 1685

    Painting depicting Esther & Mordechai, 1685

    A. The Talmud (Sanhedrin 74b) discusses the question, offering the views of Abayye and Rava.

    Both recognise that there is a problem but defend her on the basis that she did not act willingly or voluntarily but was caught up in a situation she would not have chosen.

    It was, however, not a time of religious persecution, and she was not required to sacrifice her life rather than commit this transgression.

    Comments are closed.