SCROLL OF ESTHER

The Scroll of Esther is the biblical Book of Esther in scroll form so that it might be easily read in the synagague during the Festival of Purim. It tells the story of how Queen Esther and her uncle Mordecai delivered the Jews of Persia from a plot to kill them, and relates how Mordecai established the festival of Purim on the 14th and 15th of the Jewish month of Adar in order to remember and celebrate the event. The public reading of the Scroll forms the center-piece of the Purim celebration. Like the Torah itself only a hand-written scroll may be used for ritual purposes.

The holiday of Purim is a post-biblical festival that occurs in late winter or early spring. It has taken on over the centuries a carnivalesque character. Masquerading, partying, drinking and general merriment are customary in celebrating the hoiday. The Book of Esther itself is the most secular of biblical books, the name of God never appears in it. Scribes and artists, therefore, felt freeer in decorating the scroll than other biblical books where they would have been concerned about diminishing their sanctity. A common means of ornamentation is the artistic depiction of scenes from the book's story as can be seen in the selection of scrolls in this exhibit.

Scroll of Esther

On vellum. Italian, 18th C.?

Ornamental border with miniature paintings of scenes from the Book of Esther.

Scroll of Esther

On vellum. Place and date unknown

Text within architectural frames. The illustrations are of the twelve signs of the zodiac (above) and the twelve tribes of Israel (below).

Scroll of Esther

On vellum. Place and date unknown

Calligraphic square letters. Includes a separate leaf of blessings (next image) to be recited before and after the reading of the scroll on the festival of Purim.

(leaf of blessings)

Scroll of Esther

On vellum. Italy? Ca. 1700

Ornamental borders with miniatures depicting scenes from the Book of Esther.

Scroll of Esther

On vellum. Place and date unknown.

Calligraphic square characters with ornamental floral borders in black and white.