Esther in Early Modern Iberia and the Sephardic Diaspora. Queen of the Conversas pdf download

 Esther in Early Modern Iberia and the Sephardic Diaspora. Queen of the Conversas

“Esther in Early Modern Iberia and the Sephardic Diaspora: Queen of the Conversas” by Spain Emily Colbert Cairns is a fascinating exploration of the life and legacy of Esther, a biblical figure who has long been celebrated in Jewish tradition as a symbol of courage, resilience, and faith. In this book, Cairns examines how Esther’s story was interpreted and reinterpreted by Sephardic Jews living in early modern Iberia and the wider diaspora, and how her image became a powerful tool for negotiating the complex social, political, and religious realities of the time.

Through a careful analysis of a wide range of historical and literary sources, Cairns reveals how Esther was transformed from a biblical heroine into a cultural icon, a symbol of Jewish identity and resistance in the face of persecution and oppression. She shows how Sephardic Jews in Iberia and beyond used Esther’s story to express their own anxieties and aspirations, and to assert their place in a rapidly changing world.

At the heart of the book is the figure of the conversa, the Sephardic Jew who had converted to Christianity in order to escape persecution, but who often continued to practice Judaism in secret. Cairns argues that Esther became a particularly potent symbol for conversas, who saw in her story a reflection of their own experiences of living between two worlds, of having to navigate the complex and often treacherous terrain of religious and cultural identity.

Drawing on a wealth of archival material, including letters, diaries, legal documents, and literary texts, Cairns paints a vivid picture of the world of early modern Sephardic Jewry, and of the ways in which Esther’s story shaped and was shaped by that world. She shows how Esther’s image was used to inspire and empower women, to promote education and literacy, and to challenge the dominant narratives of Christian supremacy and Jewish inferiority.

“Esther in Early Modern Iberia and the Sephardic Diaspora: Queen of the Conversas” is a rich and nuanced exploration of a fascinating historical and cultural phenomenon. It will be of interest to scholars and students of Jewish studies, early modern history, and cultural studies, as well as to anyone interested in the enduring power of biblical narratives to shape our understanding of the world..

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