--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Over the front altar wall, we see the…" description: "\"“Over the front altar wall, we see the spandrel of Esther and Haman. This story is found in both Hebrew and Christian Bibles in the book of Esther. It ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/136/benjamin-blech-5721_beauty-pageant_over-the-front-altar-wall-we-see-the-spa_2302821.jpg" --- # Over the front altar wall, we see the spandrel of Esther… ![“Over the front altar wall, we see the spandrel of Esther and Haman. This story is found in both Hebrew and Christian Bibles in the book of Esther. It is read in full every year by the Jews on Purim, the holiday that celebrates the salvation of the Jews in the ancient Persian Empire, the largest…” quote by Benjamin Blech](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/136/benjamin-blech-5721_beauty-pageant_over-the-front-altar-wall-we-see-the-spa_2302821.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/136/benjamin-blech-5721_beauty-pageant_over-the-front-altar-wall-we-see-the-spa_2302821.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/136/benjamin-blech-5721_beauty-pageant_over-the-front-altar-wall-we-see-the-spa_2302821.jpg) > ““Over the front altar wall, we see the spandrel of Esther and Haman. This story is found in both Hebrew and Christian Bibles in the book of Esther. It is read in full every year by the Jews on Purim, the holiday that celebrates the salvation of the Jews in the ancient Persian Empire, the largest community of Jews in the Diaspora at that time. The emperor Achashverosh, whom some historians think might be Xerxes II, rules over his vast empire from his capital of Shushan (Susa in modern Iran) but cannot run his personal life very well. He holds enormous marathon banquets and orgies with his decadent pagan wife, Vashti. According to the unexpurgated Talmudic version, he has her killed after she refuses to dance nude for his guests. The Persian emperor’s vizier, or right-hand man—indeed, he practically runs the empire for him—is Haman, a power-hungry egomaniac who yearns to be as mighty as the emperor himself. He advises the newly widowed ruler to hold a sort of “beauty pageant” to find the most desirable woman in Persia to be his next wife. Esther, a beautiful young Jewess, wins the pageant and is crowned queen of Persia. However, she doesn’t tell anyone in the palace—especially the emperor or Haman—that she is a Jew. Later in the story, Haman decides to massacre all the Jews in the empire and dupes Achashverosh into validating the decree. At the last minute, Esther finds enough faith and courage to tell the king that she is a Jew, condemned to die because of Haman’s evil machinations. The emperor has Haman strung up high on the very tree upon which he wanted to hang the leaders of the Jews. In an ironic way, the wicked vizier gets his wish, being elevated high above the common crowd.”” [Benjamin Blech](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-blech/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Esther’s hidden identity and courage overturn a genocidal plot, showing faith and agency. **In simple terms:** Esther saves her people through bravery. Key Takeaway Act with courage and faith. Themes faith courage identity justice Mood inspirational reflective Type historical spiritual When to use this quote - religious festivals - leadership decisions - ethical dilemmas Key Concepts heroic agency cultural memory Questions to Reflect On - What personal risks did Esther face? - How does hidden identity empower change? 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He holds enormous marathon banquets and orgies with his decadent pagan wife, Vashti. According to the unexpurgated Talmudic version, he has her killed after she refuses to dance nude for his guests. The Persian emperor’s vizier, or right-hand man—indeed, he practically runs the empire for him—is Haman, a power-hungry egomaniac who yearns to be as mighty as the emperor himself. He advises the newly widowed ruler to hold a sort of “beauty pageant” to find the most desirable woman in Persia to be his next wife. Esther, a beautiful young Jewess, wins the pageant and is crowned queen of Persia. However, she doesn’t tell anyone in the palace—especially the emperor or Haman—that she is a Jew. Later in the story, Haman decides to massacre all the Jews in the empire and dupes Achashverosh into validating the decree. At the last minute, Esther finds enough faith and courage to tell the king that she is a Jew, condemned to die because of Haman’s evil machinations. 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