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There are other female characters in Megillat Esther as well. The girls and women who were gathered for Achashverosh’s harem so that he could choose a wife spent a year undergoing all kinds of treatm…
As is well known, the Scroll of Esther contains no mention of the Almighty. Yet the Almighty’s presence can be glimpsed through all the “chance” events that determined the fate of the Jewish people.…
Based on the books of Rabbi Eliyahu Eliezer Dessler and Rabbi Pesach Eliyahu Falk It is well known that Boaz married Ruth after noticing her modest conduct. Rashi explains that Boaz was struck by the…
Many women are virtuous, but you surpass them all... This refers to Ruth. A line of righteous people descended from her; her descendants were Kings David and Solomon. In Hebrew, the root of the name…
She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness... This refers to the wife of Obadiah, who was in charge of the royal household under King Ahab. Though an Edomite…
She clothes herself in strength and splendor, looks joyfully to the future... In a more precise translation, the end of the verse reads differently—“‘laughs’ at the last day.” It refers to Elisheva,…
Last time, in our discussion of Eshet Chayil, we examined the verse “Her husband is renowned; he sits with the elders at the city gates…” and explained why it is understood to refer to Michal, David'…
She weaves rugs for herself and dresses in fine linen and purple... This refers to Bathsheba, the mother of Solomon, who became king of Israel and wore royal garments (fine linen is finely woven flax…
She extends her palm to the poor, and her hands to the weary… Here the reference is to a woman from Zarephath who, in order to feed the prophet Elijah, held out bread to him in her palm. (In essence,…