כִּי אִם הַחֲרֵשׁ תַּחֲרִישִׁי בָּעֵת הַזֹּאת רֶוַח וְהַצָּלָה יַעֲמוֹד לַיְּהוּדִים מִמָּקוֹם אַחֵר וְאַתְּ וּבֵית אָבִיךְ תֹּאבֵדוּ וּמִי יוֹדֵעַ אִם לְעֵת כָּזֹאת הִגַּעַתְּ לַמַּלְכוּת:
On the contrary, if you keep silent in this crisis, relief and deliverance will come to the Jews from another quarter, while you and your father's house will perish. And who knows, perhaps you have attained to royal position for just such a crisis.
[JPS translation]
Suggested Discussion Questions:
1. How does Mordechai attempt to convince Esther to intervene and stop the plan to kill the Jews?
2. Esther is convinced to risk her life and approach the king in an attempt to convince him to stop the plan to kill the Jews because the threat is on her life as well. What do you think of this story as an example of advocacy and heroism?
3. Do you think you are in a unique position to advocate on behalf of a certain community?
Time Period: Biblical (early ancestors to 165 BCE)