Jews Among the Nations:
A Purim Reader
Get your Purim reader from Tikvah Ideas now
The Book of Esther is one of the most beloved in the Hebrew Bible. It is a serious reflection on how a vulnerable minority survives in a nation not its own, a story of a Jewish heroine who answers the call of history, and a model for political and strategic judgment.
In this special Purim reader, Tikvah Ideas gathers essays and conversations exploring the theological and political depth of Esther—the tension between Providence and action, the meaning of political prudence, and the challenge of Jewish existence under a capricious foreign power.
Inside you'll find:
- Rabbi Meir Soloveichik on what Esther understood that Shakespeare did not.
- Jonathan Silver on the Book of Esther as a manual for Jewish survival.
- Andrew Koss on the surprising role of righteous gentiles in the Purim story.
- Maxim D. Shrayer on a Purim "shpil" in Soviet Moscow and hope under repression.
- Philologos on the second Ahasueros and the legend of the "Wandering Jew."
These are just a few of the eight unique selections in Jews Among the Nations.
Purim invites celebration. But the Book of Esther also demands reflection.
When you sign up, we humbly suggest a Purim donation of $100 to support Tikvah's important educational programming to advance Jewish and Zionist ideas. Tikvah is a 501(c)(3) charity classified as a private operating foundation. Your gift will help ensure that we can continue to:
- Bring the best teachers of Jewish, American, and Zionist ideas to thousands of students worldwide.
- Defend Israel's moral legitimacy with intellectual clarity and unapologetic pride.
- Show how the poisonous spread of anti-Semitism threatens not only Jews, but America and Western civilization.
- Prepare a new generation of Jews to live with dignity, purpose, and conviction.
On Purim, we are reminded that Jewish survival has always required not only faith, but judgment. At Tikvah, we seek to cultivate that clarity of thought in our students through education, and in our community through courses, podcasts, and essays like these. We hope this reader makes your Purim more meaningful and are grateful for any gift you can make.
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