Esther’s Legacy is a collection of 140 men’s
and women’s personal thoughts, observations, memories,
and descriptions on the holiday of Purim. Written by people
from nearly 100 Jewish communities, the collection strives
to represent the diversity of worldwide Jewry while exploring
the commonalities of celebrating Jewish life—and Purim
in particular.
The stories in this book illustrate how Purim has survived
and taken many forms as Jews move to different parts of the
world: although the core remains the same, the cultures in
which the Jews live give their practices a special flavor
in each case. In many of the communities represented in Esther’s
Legacy, the holiday of Purim was the only holiday that survived
or was the holiday that enabled the Jewish community to survive.
The testimonials contained in the book follow the loose guidelines
we set out for the writers: that they have 500 words or less,
and that they focus on Purim to some extent. We received all
manner of responses—stories and recollections, recipes
and poems, song lyrics, and descriptions of current celebrations.
Many—if not most—contain some family or community
history. They are humorous, touching, and informative. Some
are from communities that no longer exist, some from communities
that are just now being rejuvenated in the new millennium.
Some give cause for worry and concern about the future, while
others engender hope. They show vulnerability, but also remarkable
resilience and resourcefulness to perpetuate Jewish traditions.
Please contact the HBI for additional
information about the project and the publication that lead
up to its culmination. |
