The Queeen is Dead- Long Live the Queen - Elizabeth and Esther Dedicated to their people

This week show Biz lost a star that was way beyond her year. When Elizabeth Taylor took the stage you knew she was all there. He accolades are too numerous to list. Since Purim has just passed by, it is most appropriate to point out the connection between Elizabeth Taylor and Queen Esther.

Perhaps one of her most famous films, Cleopatra, The Queen of Egypt, was the one who put her over the edge to become the highest paid actress up to that time in 1960. She won two Academy Awards for best actress. She also was honored by the Screen Actors Guild with the Lifetime Achievement Award. Among other awards, she was also named a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire by Queen Elizabeth II.


While Taylor was indeed a movie star, she was known for quite a few other things, like her beauty, her many marriages (and divorces), and most notably, her charitable work. Taylor was a famous activist and a generous humanitarian for HIV/AIDS. In fact, in a little over 30 years of active participation, she was involved with or responsible for raising more than $100 million for HIV/AIDS related charities. Her work earned her the Jean Herscholt Humanitarian Academy Award in 1992. She was also the co founder of the American Foundation for AIDS Research, and formed her own organization, the Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation in 1993. She was also known for her charitable work involving Jewish and Israeli causes.

  After her conversion to Judaism at the age of 27, Taylor worked for Jewish causes throughout her life. In 1959, her large-scale purchase of Israeli Bonds triggered Arab boycotts of her films In 1962, she was barred from entering Egypt to complete Cleopatra; its government announced that "that Miss Taylor will not be allowed to come to Egypt because she has adopted the Jewish faith and 'supports Israeli causes.'" In 1974, Taylor and Richard Burton considered marrying in Israel, but could not because Burton was not Jewish. Taylor helped to raise money for organizations such as the Jewish National Fund; advocated for the right of Soviet Jews to emigrate to Israel and canceled a visit to the former USSR because of its condemnation of Israel due to the ix Day War; signed a letter protesting the United Nations General Assembly Resolution 3379 of 1975; and offered herself as a replacement hostage during the 1976 Entebbe skyjacking
Taylor was also known for being a fashionista and a pioneering business woman in the beauty and fashion industry. Her perfumes, "The Elizabeth Collection," including "Passion," "White Diamonds," and "Black Pearls," earn an estimated $200 million in sales yearly.

Like the Ancient Queen Esther, Liz wanted to do everything  to use her power of influence. I have no doubt that both Esther and Liz were beautiful both on the inside and out. Esther was born Jewish , AKA Hadassa and hid her Jewish Identity until the right time. Elizabeth Taylor was not born Jewish but chose to take on Judaism and became was of the strongest world famous advocates for Jewish causes.

It is without a doubt the girl who loved to be Queen on and off stage will forever be remembered, as was Biblical Ruth, also a non Jew by Birth, as "A Woman of Valor"

A Lesson from the Bee “life and death are in the hands of the tongue”

Image by autan via Flickr

Have you ever stopped to appreciate all the work bees do to ensure a continuous cycle? Have you had a chance to observe the way it meticulously collects the pollen or how it hovers over in a field carefully searching for those perfect flowers to bring back their payload to its nest? Although the bee might seem to be a loner it knows well its task and place in the workings of its hive. As a member of its group it can be relied on since it is an integral part of the communal effort to produce its product. The fruits of its labor take much time and effort to produce. A bee keeper tries to maintain a delicate relationship with the bees. In order to keep the secure balance of a healthy community the keeper must ensure that there is healthy equilibrium of all the players and producers in the colony.

As in many of G-d creations bees too have their defense tactics that some of us have found to be unpleasant (not so pleasant). One might find the sting of a honey bee a slight nuisance but may consider the sting of a wasp a more serious sting (offense). The feminine form in Hebrew for bee is Devorah and in the masculine form is Dabur (Hornet). The Hebrew root is Daled Bet Reysh meaning speak.  Our sources are filled with examples helping us to learn the power of speech. Devorah the Prophetess was a true leader who was wise with her words.

Words are like bees. At times a slight sting may be irritating or just be an annoyance. At other times certain words can serve as a massive strike. Certain bees in the hive protect their community. The Israeli Navy has chosen to name their patrol class boats respectively DABUR and DEVORA.

Words can sting or be sweet. We should emulate the bee who can hover over beautiful and delicate flowers taking only what is needed from each of G-d creation and pollinating in a positive way the nearby flowers. We should reflect and be gentle with words we choose. We are in essence the beekeepers. As we reflect on our actions during the Holidays of Tishrei we should be mindful of the quote from Mishlei (proverbs) 18:21  (Mavet v’chayim beyad Halashon) – “life and death are in the hands of the tongue”.

May each of your days be overflowing with sweetness of honey