Questions to consider:
- Do you wear a Jewish star, kippah or other symbol of being Jewish? Would you wear it in the workplace?
- Can you imagine any scenarios at work wear you would have to state that you are Jewish?
- Does your name portray your Jewish identity? Do you ever feel uncomfortable about your name?
- When are you willing to say that you are Jewish at work? Would you ever hide it?
- Are there any risks or benefits to wearing symbols of your Jewish identity?
(י) לֹא־הִגִּ֣ידָה אֶסְתֵּ֔ר אֶת־עַמָּ֖הּ וְאֶת־מֽוֹלַדְתָּ֑הּ כִּ֧י מָרְדֳּכַ֛י צִוָּ֥ה עָלֶ֖יהָ אֲשֶׁ֥ר לֹא־תַגִּֽיד׃
(10) Esther had not made known her people nor her kindred; for Mordecai had charged her that she should not tell it.
(א) וַיְהִ֣י ׀ בַּיּ֣וֹם הַשְּׁלִישִׁ֗י וַתִּלְבַּ֤שׁ אֶסְתֵּר֙ מַלְכ֔וּת וַֽתַּעֲמֹ֞ד בַּחֲצַ֤ר בֵּית־הַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ הַפְּנִימִ֔ית נֹ֖כַח בֵּ֣ית הַמֶּ֑לֶךְ וְ֠הַמֶּלֶךְ יוֹשֵׁ֞ב עַל־כִּסֵּ֤א מַלְכוּתוֹ֙ בְּבֵ֣ית הַמַּלְכ֔וּת נֹ֖כַח פֶּ֥תַח הַבָּֽיִת׃
(1) Now it came to pass on the third day, that Esther dressed herself in royalty, and stood in the inner court of the king’s house, against the king’s house; and the king sat upon his royal throne in the royal house, against the entrance of the house.
אסתר דכתיב (אסתר ה, א) ויהי ביום השלישי ותלבש אסתר מלכות בגדי מלכות מיבעי ליה אלא שלבשתה רוח הקדש
Esther, as it is written (Esther 5:1) "And it came to pass on the third day that Esther dressed herself in royalty." Shouldn't it say 'garments of royalty'? Rather, that she dressed herself in the Holy Spirit.
Concepts to Consider:
Marit Ayin – “the appearance of the eye” – Any action or appearance of action that is technically permissible but gives off the appearance that it is prohibited.
Kiddush Hashem – “the sanctification of the name of God” - Any action by a Jew that brings honor, respect, and glory to God (and by extension, the Jewish people).
Chillul Hashem – “the desecration of the name of God” - Any behavior or action that disgraces, harms or shames God and the Jewish people.
Marit Ayin – “the appearance of the eye” – Any action or appearance of action that is technically permissible but gives off the appearance that it is prohibited.
Kiddush Hashem – “the sanctification of the name of God” - Any action by a Jew that brings honor, respect, and glory to God (and by extension, the Jewish people).
Chillul Hashem – “the desecration of the name of God” - Any behavior or action that disgraces, harms or shames God and the Jewish people.