Loanwords in Megillat Esther

Throughout history Jews have borrowed words from many languages, whether they were speaking/writing in Hebrew or a variant of the local language. Megillat Esther (the Book of Esther) is written in Hebrew but includes many loanwords:

saris (eunuch) from Akkadian

patshegen (copy) from Old Persian and Aramaic

ahashdarpan (satrap - a governor) from Old Persian

The names Esther and Mordechai are variants of Babylonian deities - Ishtar and Marduk.

Find out more about Jewish languages across time and in different places at www.jewishlanguages.org.

haggadah Section: Commentary / Readings

Source: Jewish Language Project - www.jewishlanguages.org

Featured clips

Maggid - Beginning

Maggid (Introduction)

by JewishBoston

Pour the second glass of wine for everyone. The Haggadah doesn’t tell the story of Passover in a linear fashion. We don’t hear of Moses being found by the daughter of Pharaoh – actually, we don’t hear much of Moses at all. Instead, we get an impressionistic collection of songs, images, and stories of both the Exodus from Egypt and from Passover celebrations through the centuries. Some say that minimizing the role of Moses keeps us focused on the miracles God...

-- Cup #2 & Dayenu

Dayenu with English Hebrew and Transliteration

by Danielle & Misha Slutsky

One of most beloved songs in the Passover seder is "Dayenu". A few of us will read the stanzas one at a time, and the everyone else will respond, "Dayenu" – meaning, “it would have been enough”.How many times do we forget to pause and notice that where we are is exactly where we ought to be? Dayenu is a reminder to never forget all the miracles in our lives. When we stand and wait impatiently for the next one to...

Urchatz

Pesach Coloring Page

by Haggadot

Koreich

Schitt's Creek Koreich

by Haggadot

Motzi-Matzah

4 Questions for Your Shabbat Table

by OneTable

-- Four Questions

A Child Eating Matzah, Europe, NLI

by The National Library of Israel

Maggid - Beginning

Prayer for the People of Ukraine

by Marilyn West

-- Cup #2 & Dayenu

Dayenu

by Lizzie Sivitz

Maggid - Beginning

Freeing Your Inner Pharaoh

by Alison Laichter

Urchatz

Seder Symbols

by Jessica Tamar Deutsch

Koreich

Step-By-Step Seder: Step 10, Koreich

by PJ Library

Rachtzah

Garlic on the Seder Plate

by Dori Midnight

GARLIC ON THE SEDER PLATE Dori Midnight I began placing garlic on our seder plate a few years ago, as it has been central to my work of reconnecting to and re-enlivening Jewish folk healing traditions and a lifelong love. After the birth of Nishmat Shoom (the queer, radical, non-zionist minyan project I am part of, whose name, inspired by this work, means Breath or Soul of Garlic), many of the Garlic Eaters in our community began adopting this practice and...

Bareich

Cup of Redemption

by Be'chol Lashon

CUP OF REDEMPTION At a traditional seder we fill a cup of wine for the prophet Elijah who is a symbol of redemption. At this seder we are raising a cup of water as a symbol of the redemption that women have brought through the generations. All: Water is the symbol of life. Reader: The biblical prophet Miriam saved her brother from the waters of the Nile, she led the song of victory aber the waters of the red sea parted...

Motzi-Matzah

DIY Seder - Motzi (Blessing Over the Matzah, with Rabbi Mira Rivera/Romemu)

by Jewish Emergent Network

Yachatz

The Matzah of Peace

by Jeremy Borovitz

THE MATZAH OF HOPE and PEACE Neal Borovitz Avadim Hayinu: Not only were we slaves to the Pharaoh of Egypt, we have also been enslaved and persecuted by other Pharaohs. Among these Pharaohs of every age were the Kings of Babylonia, the Emperors of Greece and Rome, the Churchmen and Nobles of Medieval Spain, Hitler and his Nazi followers, the Pharaohs of Moscow, and the dictators, potentates and terrorists of the contemporary Arab world. The Babylonian exile was followed by a...

More clips from Jewish Language Project

-- Four Questions

Four Questions in Judeo-Persian/Farsi (Transliterated)

by Jewish Language Project

Cherah een shab ba'ah shab hayeh deegar fargh dareht? Dar shab hayeh deegar mah ya na’an ya fateer meekhoreem; valley em shab faghat fateer meekhoreem. Dar shab hayeh deegar hameh jour sabzie meekhoreem; valley em shab faghat sabzayeh talkh meekhoreem. Dar shab hayeh deegar mah sabzeeh-ra dar cirqueh hatah yek bar haleem nemizaneem; valley em shab dough bar meezaneem. Dar shab hayeh deegar mah ghazayeh-mon rah hajourey khosteem meekhoreem; valley em shab kaj meesheeneem vah meekhoreem.

Introduction

Passover Around the World

by Jewish Language Project

The Passover seder (ordered ceremony) as traditionally practiced by Jews includes several ancient languages – Hebrew (most of the Haggadah), Aramaic (Ha Lachma, Chad Gadya), and Greek (afikoman). But Jews around the world have incorporated their own local language and languages of their ancestors into their celebration of the holiday. Inside you will find Passover phrases and songs in various languages.

Introduction

Introduction to Jewish Languages

by Jewish Language Project

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Featured clips

Maggid (Introduction)

Dayenu with English Hebrew and Transliteration

Pesach Coloring Page

Schitt's Creek Koreich

Mimouna

Sing... Sing a Song

Sunflower Seeds on My Seder Plate

4 Questions for Your Shabbat Table

A Child Eating Matzah, Europe, NLI

Prayer for the People of Ukraine

Dayenu

Freeing Your Inner Pharaoh

Seder Symbols

Step-By-Step Seder: Step 10, Koreich

Garlic on the Seder Plate

Cup of Redemption

DIY Seder - Motzi (Blessing Over the Matzah, with Rabbi Mira Rivera/Romemu)

The Matzah of Peace

More clips from Jewish Language Project

Four Questions in Judeo-Persian/Farsi (Transliterated)

Passover Around the World

Introduction to Jewish Languages