Jewish Identity on Trial: The Case of Mordecai the Jew
The book of Esther deals with issues of Jewish identity in exile. This article argues that early in the story (chapters 2 and 3) Mordecai is depicted as trying to assimilate into Persian culture before experiencing a reversal and returning to his Jewish identity, a development that occurs from chap...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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University of Alberta Library
2017-01-01
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| Series: | Journal of Hebrew Scriptures |
| Online Access: | https://jhsonline.org/index.php/jhs/article/view/29371 |
| _version_ | 1797862416078340096 |
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| author | Ayelet Seidler |
| author_facet | Ayelet Seidler |
| author_sort | Ayelet Seidler |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description |
The book of Esther deals with issues of Jewish identity in exile. This article argues that early in the story (chapters 2 and 3) Mordecai is depicted as trying to assimilate into Persian culture before experiencing a reversal and returning to his Jewish identity, a development that occurs from chapter 4 onwards. This reading illuminates an important theme addressed in the book, namely, how the danger of assimilation threatens Jews in the Diaspora. The book portrays an ideal Jewish leader operating in a foreign court while adhering to his Jewish identity and serving his fellow Jews.
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| first_indexed | 2024-04-09T22:18:57Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-f6bd5286bec241398aef27f75ef58b1c |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1203-1542 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-09T22:18:57Z |
| publishDate | 2017-01-01 |
| publisher | University of Alberta Library |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Hebrew Scriptures |
| spelling | doaj.art-f6bd5286bec241398aef27f75ef58b1c2023-03-22T20:20:38ZengUniversity of Alberta LibraryJournal of Hebrew Scriptures1203-15422017-01-011710.5508/jhs.2017.v17.a8Jewish Identity on Trial: The Case of Mordecai the JewAyelet Seidler0Bar-Ilan University The book of Esther deals with issues of Jewish identity in exile. This article argues that early in the story (chapters 2 and 3) Mordecai is depicted as trying to assimilate into Persian culture before experiencing a reversal and returning to his Jewish identity, a development that occurs from chapter 4 onwards. This reading illuminates an important theme addressed in the book, namely, how the danger of assimilation threatens Jews in the Diaspora. The book portrays an ideal Jewish leader operating in a foreign court while adhering to his Jewish identity and serving his fellow Jews. https://jhsonline.org/index.php/jhs/article/view/29371 |
| spellingShingle | Ayelet Seidler Jewish Identity on Trial: The Case of Mordecai the Jew Journal of Hebrew Scriptures |
| title | Jewish Identity on Trial: The Case of Mordecai the Jew |
| title_full | Jewish Identity on Trial: The Case of Mordecai the Jew |
| title_fullStr | Jewish Identity on Trial: The Case of Mordecai the Jew |
| title_full_unstemmed | Jewish Identity on Trial: The Case of Mordecai the Jew |
| title_short | Jewish Identity on Trial: The Case of Mordecai the Jew |
| title_sort | jewish identity on trial the case of mordecai the jew |
| url | https://jhsonline.org/index.php/jhs/article/view/29371 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT ayeletseidler jewishidentityontrialthecaseofmordecaithejew |