Timeless leadership lessons

Monday night marks the beginning of Purim, one of our most iconic and joyous festivals. Like so many of our holidays, Purim carries multiple layers of meaning and instruction. Among its central themes is one that resonates particularly in our current moment: women’s leadership, and the varied forms courage can take. 

The Purim story presents us with two female protagonists who embody distinct but equally important models of feminist leadership. Vashti is often oversimplified as a quasi-villain, yet her dignified act of defiance, which comes at tremendous personal cost, demonstrates that a woman’s dignity and bodily autonomy outweigh even the status of queen. Esther, by contrast, begins the story in what appears to be a passive role but evolves into a courageous, strategic leader who ultimately uses her position and influence to save her people. 

The story teaches us that there is no singular path to heroism. Vashti represents direct, uncompromising resistance, while Esther represents strategic, behind-the-scenes navigation. Vashti is immediately strong in her refusal, whereas Esther takes a measured, strategic approach, ultimately risking her life to confront the king at precisely the right moment. 

South African Jewish Board of Deputies (SAJBD) National President Zev Krengel often refers to situations requiring such calculated courage as “Queen Esther moments”, instances when we must accept risk but nevertheless stand up for our people. But, in truth, the SAJBD and our community more broadly has faced both Queen Vashti and Queen Esther moments in recent years. There have been incidents demanding swift, uncompromising clarity about our red lines, such as confronting blatant hate speech and antisemitism. And there have been more complex crises requiring careful navigation, broader strategic considerations for community safety, even under intense criticism and considerable personal and institutional risk. It’s not lost on me that just as Esther found herself thrust into crisis, so too did we find ourselves navigating a fundamentally altered reality after 7 October 2023, contending with challenges to Jewish safety and dignity worldwide. 

Purim also offers us a third leadership model: Mordechai, who provides the strategic vigilance and support that enables others to act courageously. Esther’s power and courage are the direct result of Mordechai’s intelligence and steadfast presence. The two are symbiotic, and the people cannot be saved without their cooperation. 

This year, the festival, which occurs in ancient Persia, coincides with a moment of great upheaval and bravery from the modern Persian men and women in Iran who continue to risk everything in their fight for dignity and freedom. 

It’s no secret that the Board today is an organisation with women leaders at the fore who embody both the fearlessness of Vashti and the strategic acumen of Esther. Currently, women chair the Durban, Cape Town, Gauteng, and national councils. Women serve as our national director and deputy national director. But this wasn’t always the case. It was the irrepressible Marlene Bethlehem who opened this door in the late 1990s, fundamentally changing the composition of the Board’s leadership. Since then, we have been privileged to have a number of formidable women in leadership positions, including current National Vice-President Mary Kluk. 

It’s a point of profound pride that our women serve in such pivotal roles within our community. This is a genuine point of difference and strength that we must continue to champion and foster. The villain in the Purim story was ultimately thwarted because he failed to foresee the vigilance of Mordechai or the courage of Esther. As we enter Purim, I pray that as a community, we continue to exhibit precisely these qualities – strategic intelligence paired with moral courage – and that we remain steadfast in our commitment to protecting and nurturing our community. 

Chag Purim sameach.