This class compares the books of Esther and Daniel for the sake of comparing two approaches to Jewish politics. Each book presents a model for how a minority may relate to a majority. In Esther, moral and political compromise are essential for the sake of the preservation of the community, while in Daniel, moral conviction admits of no compromise for the sake of the individual. We will compare these two approaches with an eye toward the contemporary American-Jewish political situation, as well as to what these modes may mean in relation to Zionism. We will also consider how humor in Esther (in opposition to Daniel) helps develop the book’s literary and political themes.
