This week we started learning Megillat Ester. When we first started learning, I didn't think it would be all that interesting. After all I had been learning the story since I was two. But as soon as we started the first perek, I realized how wrong I was. There is so much of the megillah that I really didn't know.

The first huge thing was the fact that Achashvarosh had no power. He is made out to be this huge king who ruled over 127 places. He has this huge party to show off his power. From the first glance, you would think he did have a lot of power. But as you look in the pasukim, it becomes clear that this is not true. Achashvarosh seems to have a lot of power, but he has to ask his advisers about everything. He cannot make any  decisions on his own. He even has to ask the advisors what to do when his wife doesn't listen to him. Achashvarosh seems to stand as the king figure, while his advisers are behind the curtain doing all the work.


The second thing that I didn't know was the real fate of Vashti. Over the years I learnt that she had been killed, but in reality it never says what happens to her. The megillah talks about how angry Achashvarosh was. It continues on to say that a while later Achashvarosh remembers Vashti and the decree he made about her. From this we get the midrash that she was killed, but it is unknown if it is really true.

I think the most shocking thing that I have learnt was the truth behind the beauty pageant. There was no winner. These virgin girls were taken from their homes. They were perfumed and spiced for a year before they could go to the king, bringing anything they wanted. They would be with the king for one night, and in the morning go to another house, where they would stay for the rest of their live. There was no going home once 'the one' was found. They had to stay there; they could not get married. These women were kidnapped from their homes and their whole future was stopped. They had no future at all. They only time they were able to leave was if the king called for them himself. Even after Ester was chosen, these woman still stayed there and this continued.