Discussion Questions:
1. Why do you think the Torah gives our heroine two names, Hadassah and Esther? How do both of those names connect to the attribute of beauty? Are there times in your life that you feel you have different names? Literally or figuratively.
2. The Megilla refers to Esther as both beautiful of form, and as charming or graceful (chein). What is the difference between being beautiful, and being charming/graceful? What do you think the Torah means by beauty in this case?
3. What is inner beauty according to Torah?
Opinion 1 (Rashi on Mishlei): You can determine if a person is beautiful based on their reputation. What do people say about him? Whats your reputation? What am I going to write on your recommendation letter? Imagine if you had to write God a recommendation letter in order to get into heaven. What would that paper say?
Opinion 2 (Rabbeinu Yona): You can determine if someone is beautiful based on what they praise. Who you choose to praise and what qualities you choose to highlight are reflective of your own values. What do you aspire to be?
According to Opinion #2 above -- As long as we value something, and think big - does that mean we are good to go? We don't actually have to DO anything to be beautiful? Is that true?
Are there other definitions of beauty in Torah that you connect to?
4. What can we do, practically speaking, to strengthen each other so that we are not as influenced by the media and to minimize the impact of the outside world? How can we become more confident in the beauty that Hashem has given us and use our masim tovim and mitzvot to develop true inner beauty and chein?
5. Haman's fatal flaw was his ego that craved attention and couldn't look past his nose to those around him. Esther, in contrast was described as "someone who was able to connect with others even those from different backgrounds." Describe a transition period (ie. moving to a new community, new job,) and meeting someone who was either an Esther or a Haman and how that changed your view of yourself and/or the community.
Inspiration Materials:
(ז) וַיְהִ֨י אֹמֵ֜ן אֶת־הֲדַסָּ֗ה הִ֤יא אֶסְתֵּר֙ בַּת־דֹּד֔וֹ כִּ֛י אֵ֥ין לָ֖הּ אָ֣ב וָאֵ֑ם וְהַנַּעֲרָ֤ה יְפַת־תֹּ֙אַר֙ וְטוֹבַ֣ת מַרְאֶ֔ה וּבְמ֤וֹת אָבִ֙יהָ֙ וְאִמָּ֔הּ לְקָחָ֧הּ מָרְדֳּכַ֛י ל֖וֹ לְבַֽת׃
(7) He was foster father to Hadassah—that is, Esther—his uncle’s daughter, for she had neither father nor mother. The maiden was shapely and beautiful; and when her father and mother died, Mordecai adopted her as his own daughter.
(טו) וּבְהַגִּ֣יעַ תֹּר־אֶסְתֵּ֣ר בַּת־אֲבִיחַ֣יִל דֹּ֣ד מָרְדֳּכַ֡י אֲשֶׁר֩ לָקַֽח־ל֨וֹ לְבַ֜ת לָב֣וֹא אֶל־הַמֶּ֗לֶךְ לֹ֤א בִקְשָׁה֙ דָּבָ֔ר כִּ֠י אִ֣ם אֶת־אֲשֶׁ֥ר יֹאמַ֛ר הֵגַ֥י סְרִיס־הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ שֹׁמֵ֣ר הַנָּשִׁ֑ים וַתְּהִ֤י אֶסְתֵּר֙ נֹשֵׂ֣את חֵ֔ן בְּעֵינֵ֖י כָּל־רֹאֶֽיהָ׃
(15) When the turn came for Esther daughter of Abihail—the uncle of Mordecai, who had adopted her as his own daughter—to go to the king, she did not ask for anything but what Hegai, the king’s eunuch, guardian of the women, advised. Yet Esther won the admiration of all who saw her.
(ל) שֶׁ֣קֶר הַ֭חֵן וְהֶ֣בֶל הַיֹּ֑פִי אִשָּׁ֥ה יִרְאַת־ה' הִ֣יא תִתְהַלָּֽל׃
(30) Grace is deceptive, Beauty is illusory; It is for her fear of the LORD That a woman is to be praised.