Queen Esther was a figure of inspiration to Jews who had fled from oppressive regimes. In the Netherlands, she became a broadly popular symbol of courage and resistance.

The item is anticipated to draw attention due to its ... The auction house noted that the Megillat Esther serves as a rare physical testimony to a Jewish community that was almost forgotten ...

A show argues that the Jewish tale was interpreted as a symbol of liberation from Spanish rule in 17th-century Dutch society.