Customer Reviews

The Dawn: Political Teachings of the Book of Esther

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In this beautifully organized book, the old story of Mordecai and Esther's successful plot to defend their people from destruction is given new perspective. Recognizing an intolerable evil in the new vizier, Haman, Mordecai takes decisive action when he calculates he has a good chance of succeeding. The book analyzes from the original text the political situation in ancient Persia and the predicament of the Jews. Explaining the motivations of the participants in this extraordinary twisting of fates, the author breathes new life in a story whose details many people take for granted. Realpolitik, idolatry and faith are interwoven themes in all history and play a major role in the Esther story. The lesson to be learned is that one must recognize evil and take a proactive, though thoughtfully planned, stance against it. The sense of empowerment one learns from this commentary makes this required reading for any student of history, especially those familiar with the Megillah. A pity this sense of empowerment was so lacking in the Holocaust period.

After studying the Book of Esther in so many different educational settings, I had never learned so much about the story as I did from this book. I especially admire Hazony's logical analysis of the sequence of events through a careful study of the language and subtlety of the text. He brings the world and milieu of ancient Persia to life, while at the same time making the story as interesting as a modern tale of power, greed, and heroism. Aside from that, Hazony proves to be not only an excellent writer and scholar, but a truly wise thinker as well. The lessons he takes from the story are ones that I would hope inspire our leaders today.

According to Rava's dictum, the Jews accepted the Tora twice, once at Sinai, where they HAD to accept it, and again, in Persian diaspora, "in the days of Ahashverosh," where they CHOSE to accept it. Hazony examines Rava's dictum with respect to Esther as he breaks away from its traditional interpretation, where the enemy (Haman) fails in his conspiracy to destroy the Jews, and he himself and the rest of anti-Semites are destroyed because of a series of minor miracles. Instead, Hazony discovers a simple and effective theory to manage political processes and a pragmatic methodology to achieve power, which Esther and Mordechai applied systematically to beat despair, avoid defeat, and achieve their fantastic victory in spite of God's absence.

Hazony shows how Mordechai and Esther saw God's justice and peace even though it was not handed to them; they built it, using three principles of action:

(1) The principle of investment, or positioning, familiar to every chess player from Nimtzovich's "The Praxis of My System" and to every reader of Machiaveli's "The Prince";

(2) The principle of boldness, so colorfully argued by Machiavelli two thousand years later: "...fortune is a woman...; and it can be seen that she lets herself be overcome by the bold rather than by those who proceed coldly;" and

(3) The principle of faith, which places Mordechai's political theory above Machiavelli's: "Do not think you will escape because you are not a Jew. Deliverance will come." If we do our part, God will do his.

"In the great Hebrew tale of the formation of the world and its abandonment, as it seems, by its maker, Esther ranks barely as a postscript," writes Hazony. Then he shows, in this beautifully written and absorbing book, how Esther is the classic text of Jewish continuity and a pragmatic guide for modern politics.

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Important lessons for our time

This riveting and informative work is highly relevant for our time, now that the shadows are lengthening and the dragon of Antisemitism is resurgent. It deals with faith and politics, and with religion in an era when there are no prophets, when miracles have ceased and the survival of the Jewish people depends on the belief and courage of the individual. In this way it opens up the political dynamics of the scriptural narrative into teachings that are of cardinal importance for our day.

The Book of Esther presents to the reader a choice between two antithetical conditions: the one a nightmare of impotence and destruction, the other a political choice to act in defense of the Hebrew nation and how it may be done in practice. The narrative of Esther deals with historical, religious, psychological and theological matters and provides answers to relevant questions. In this regard, please also consult Jews and Power by Ruth R Wisse.

Hazony claims that contrary to popular opinion, the plot does not unfold according to "luck" or "coincidence", but succeeds by virtue of Mordechai and Esther's understanding of the principles of politics, their courage and their faith in a seemingly godless world. The author does a splendid job of explaining these teachings which demand our attention more than ever today. He does this without once referring to the hidden codes or acrostics in the book, about which he cannot be ignorant.

Each chapter is introduced by a chapter from the Book of Esther which is then discussed in fascinating and illuminating detail as regards the characters, their motivations, the twists and turns of the plot, the options available and the choices that had to be made. The author draws on Talmudic commentary throughout for additional insights.

There is not enough space in a short review to fully do justice to the myriad lessons and insights into politics and human nature contained in this wonderful book. Gems of wisdom and meaningful allusion are found on every page, but it is important to be aware of the everlasting hatred of Amalek and the way it manifests in every generation.

Moreover, it hurts not only the Jews but brings unspeakable suffering to all people in all cultures where it is allowed to pursue its path of murder & destruction. It is therefore incumbent upon both Jew and Gentile to oppose it. The spirit of Amalek is that same spirit of totalitarianism that made the 20th century an era of so much death and suffering. See A Century of Horrors by Alain Besançon.

One of the significant lessons of Esther is that God's apparent absence does not need to induce despair and defeat. Mordechai and Esther prove that even in the bleak condition of dispersion, the most horrible of evils can be opposed and overcome as long as people themselves are willing to take the initiative. Mankind must be instrumental in bringing God's peace and justice into the world.

Ether and Mordechai repeatedly chose to risk everything for that which is right and true. They did not only take the initiative in political actions, they also injected their actions with moral force through vital philosophical & religious deeds. This includes Mordechai's refusal to bow before Haman and the fast that Esther called.

People of good will must work to preserve liberty and justice according to the principles of investment, boldness and faith. Investment = Purposeful effort; Boldness = Acting at the right time with all one's might; Faith = Knowing why you are doing what needs to be done.

Since God has hidden His face, the initiative to act has passed to mankind. The worst man can do is to hide his face too. Then even God cannot respond to the cries of his children. Hazony speculates that perhaps this is why the Shoah occurred - that there weren't enough Esthers and Mordechais who acted in time.

The book has 34pp of notes arranged by chapter, 9pp of scriptural and rabbinic references, an index, and concludes with the complete text of the Book of Esther in Hebrew. Other books of interest include Shackled Warrior: Israel and the Global Jihad by Caroline Glick and Strike Zion! by William Stephenson.

This book is must reading for anyone intereted in the political process as well anyone interested in the Bible. Author Yoram Hazony demonstrates not only excellent research skills and a good understanding of history but also a logical, clear-thinking mind combined with a healthy dose of common sense (which, as Voltaire once said, is not all that common).

Having also read Mr. Hazony's other book, The Jewish State, I can only conclude the State of Israel is fortunate to have people with his degree of wisdom. In fact, I believe he would make an excellent prime minister.

A foe and an enemy, that wicked, wicked Haman. Esther 7:6

"All the king's servants and the people of the king's provinces know that there is but one law for anyone who comes to the king in the inner court without being summoned: that he be put to death, except if the king extends to him the gold scepter that he may live." Esther 4:11

In this book, Haman tries to take the Eichmann approach and have all the jews killed in Persia. Due to behind the scenes planning by Queen Esther and her uncle Mordecai, the jews are saved and even are victorious over their enemies.

I love this book. Forget Veggie Tales. This book is the one to read about Queen Esther. To make the book even more kosher, the entire Book of Esther is written in Hebrew and is located in the back of the book. It is read in its entirety, every Purim, usually in March, (all jewish holidays are set based on the lunar calendar). People bring noise makers, the kind you find at children's birthday parties, and dress in costumes, kind of like Halloween but sans gore. I've been several times to a local synagogue in my neighborhood; it's now become my favorite holiday. There's nothing like it. Whenever Haman's name is mentioned, everyone makes so much noise with their noise makers, you can't hear his name.

What happened in the palaces in Persia, was a miracle according to the rabbis. That was the take home message of Yoram Hazony and was new thinking to me. What's great about this book is how Hazony recreates the Palace atmosphere in Susa, analyzing the dynamics of the principal characters' psyches and relationships in this book. Of course, one can't avoid the subject of anti-semitism in discussing this true story, a very ancient movement which probably dates to Genesis 3:15 when the Messiah is first mentioned in the bible.

For christians, I've been taught that this book had almost been removed from the canon because G-d's name is never mentioned among other reasons. Also, Queen Esther is not in direct line of ancestry to Jesus, and was a jew who never returned to Eretz Israel, remaining in the diaspora (lands other than Eretz Israel). I'm so glad the church fathers kept it. There are many, many lessons to learn from this story which Hazony thoroughly covers. I tell you, this book's a keeper!

I love this book! The climax of the story occurs in the biblical account in Esther 4:15 which Hazony covers in the chapter "The Decision". As Hazony explains, Esther has always been obedient never asking for more, never asking for special treatment, but at the news that Haman was going to order all the jews killed, some sort of switch is flipped in her character. "It is when she understands that such a choice is before her that the greatness of the queen is revealed...'Go assemble all the Jews present in Susa and fast for me. Do not eat nor drink for three days, night and day, and I and my maids will fast as well. Then I will go in to the king, though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish.'" Esther 4:16-17.

I got this title for the review from an artifact that I read about in my local newspaper. A young student at Bar-Ilan University in Jerusalem dug through some rubble tossed out of the temple mount which was left at a dump site. The only article I can remember from all his finds is a coin with this inscription which to me expresses the jews' heartfelt messianic hopes of redemption and victory.

Without a doubt, Hazony has brought fresh eyes to an old tale. His interpretation of the Book of Esther in light of the insights of modern political science is refreshing and remarkably coherent. There are insights here on nearly every page, some of which respond appropriately to questions that I've always had about the text. Why does Esther need to return to the King and seek his blessing yet again, after Haman has been hanged? How does the story of the foiled Bigtan/Teresh plot against the King relate to the elevation of Haman soon afterwards?

Hazony's use of well-known works on politics, including Machiavelli's The Prince, to explain the actions of the main characters in the Megillah is equally insightful.

I would give this five stars were it not for the quite tendentious insertion of neo-conservative politics towards the end of the book. Mordecai's and Esther's actions should not be identified with a particular trend or tendency of the twenty-first century.

This riveting and edifying work is highly relevant for our time, now that the shadows are lengthening and the dragon of Antisemitism is resurgent. It deals with faith and politics, and with religion in an era when there are no prophets, miracles have ceased and the survival of the Jewish people depends on the belief and courage of the individual. In this way it translates the political thought of the scriptural narrative into teachings that are of cardinal importance for our day.

The Book of Esther presents to the reader a choice between two antithetical conditions: the one a nightmare of impotence and destruction, the other a political choice to act in defense of the Jewish people and how it may be done in practice. The narrative of Esther deals with historical, religious and theological matters and provides answers to relevant questions. In this regard, please also consult Jews and Power by Ruth R Wisse.

Contrary to popular opinion, the plot does not unfold according to "luck" or "coincidence", but succeeds by virtue of Mordechai and Esther's understanding of the principles of politics, their courage and their faith in a seemingly Godless world. Hazony does a splendid job of explaining these teachings which demand our attention more than ever in today's world. He does this without once referring to the hidden codes or acrostics in the book, about which he cannot be ignorant.

Each chapter is introduced by a chapter from the Book of Esther which is then discussed in fascinating and illuminating detail, as regards the characters, their motivations, the twists and turns of the plot, the options available and the choices that had to be made. The author also draws on Talmudic commentary for further insights.

There is not enough space in a review to fully do justice to the marvelous lessons and insights into politics and human nature contained in this wonderful book. Gems of wisdom are found on every page, but it is important to mention the everlasting hatred of Amalek and how it manifests in every generation.

Moreover, it hurts not only the Jewish people but brings unspeakable suffering to all people in all cultures where it gains a foothold. It is therefore incumbent upon both Jew and Gentile to oppose it. The spirit of Amalek is that same spirit of totalitarianism (See Sinisterism: Secular Religion of the Lie (Revised and Updated Edition) by Bruce Walker) that made the 20th century an era of so much death and suffering.

One of the significant lessons of Esther is that God's apparent absence does not need to induce despair and defeat. Mordechai and Esther prove that even in the bleak condition of dispersion, the most horrible of evils can be opposed and overcome, as long as people themselves are willing to take the initiative. Mankind must be instrumental in bringing God's peace and justice into the world.

People of good will must work to preserve liberty and justice according to the principles of investment, boldness and faith. Since God has hidden his face, the initiative has gone over to mankind. The worst man can do is to hide his face too. Then even God cannot respond to the cries of his children. Hazony speculates that perhaps this is why the Shoah occurred - that there weren't enough Esthers and Mordechais who acted in time.

The book has 34pp of notes arranged by chapter, 9pp of scriptural and rabbinic references, an index, and concludes with the complete text of the Book of Esther in Hebrew.

Christians reading this review might be interested in the following:

Christian Attitudes Towards the State of Israel by Paul Merkley
God's Promise And the Future of Israel: Compelling Questions People Ask About Israel And the Middle East by Don Finto
Ruth & Esther: Shadows of Our Future by Frank Morgan
Standing With Israel by David Brog
Why Care about Israel?: How the Jewish Nation Is Key to Unleashing Gods Blessings in the 21st Century by Sandra Teplinsky

All of these works deal with the relationship between Israel and Christians in these times, now that the darkness is rising.

An inteligent analysis, in slow motion, of the book of Esther, with all the intricacies and implications well-framed in the historical context of the Jewish dispersion in the Persia of Xerxes.

A joy to read and a most educative experience. Many political lessons are to be extracted, mainly to the benefit of Israel herself, but to all nations as well, as they come to face their litmus test over the question of Israel.

There's a tendency to blame God, among the godless masses, of His non-interventions in human politics, His seemingly lack of care for our societal ills. Here's a story to honestly ask ourselves if we are doing our jobs or not; after all, we were made free, right? "Mordechais's decision to stand against Haman's elevation ... Esther's decision to go in to the king twice, both times knowing that she may die even before having explained her cause, and her final face-to-face confrontation with her enemy ... all of these are, according to the narrative, the political initiatives of men, and no one else. A number of events suggest that Mordechai and Esther understood this shift in responsibility from God to man ... the fact that this absence (of God) does not induce defeat and despair ... prove that even in the grim new universe of the dispersion, the most fearsome evils may yet be challenged and beaten -so long as man himself is willing to take the initiative to beat them."

And: "God's justice and peace ... will not be handed to him; he will have to build it." Jewish wisdom at its best. The Jews of the dispersion in Persia, those who did not return to their God-given land in Palestine, were separated from God: they weren't supposed to remain in Persia. However, God never forsook them. God's name isn't mentioned even once in the book of Esther. But in 4:14 Mordechai says to Esther: If you fail to act ... "relief and deliverance will come to the Jews from elsewhere." Elsewhere is the closest it comes to mentioning "God". A message unheeded through the Holocaust, since God had to use another nation (USA) to do the job. There was no Esther nor Mordechai in Europe during the pogroms; or rather: there were, only they didn't do their jobs.

A study on many issues. Here's a note on the persistence of idolatry through the ages: "The obstinate persistence of idolatry derived precisely from the element of truth that was in it: they would kill a human being and the rain would in fact come." So one must assume that if it isn't due to mathematical probability alone, who but demonic powers intervene? Jewish wisdom at its best, for today and for all times.