Purim 5784 – Why is the Purim Scroll Named for Esther?

By Rabbi Freedman.

We all know the Purim story – which we will hear Saturday night and Sunday morning  – is named for Queen Esther, but why? That was a curious choice by the ancient rabbis living in a man’s world. 

For the sake of argument, why not call it Megillat Mordecai? After all, he was the one who overheard the guards plotting to kill the king. His passing along the message – and his subsequent reward of being paraded around in public – were integral to the story. Most important of all, he was the brains behind the mission to save the Jewish people. He devised the plan for Esther to approach the king to save their people. And he inspired her when she initially refused. Those are significant contributions, and the Jews may not have survived otherwise.

So why not name the scroll after him? To borrow a baseball analogy: even the best managers remain on the sidelines. It really comes down to the player in the batter’s box to win the game. In other words, it’s important to have a great idea, but more credit goes to the one who executes it. And here is where Esther shines.

It is Esther whose life is on the line in the near term when she approaches the king unsolicited, not Mordecai. It is Esther who displays unsurpassed courage and bravery when she reveals herself to him as a Jew amidst the genocidal decree, not Mordecai. It is Esther who sticks out her neck, not Mordecai. The rabbis were wise enough to recognize the distinction, and they gave her the ultimate, enduring credit – naming the story after her.

Queen Esther is primarily known for her beauty, but let us not forget her unrivaled bravery and courage as well.