Chosenness and Sacred Violence Reading Esther in Settler-Colonial Contexts

This lecture, by Dr. Sarojini Nadar, was presented at a conference called “Palestine, Settler Colonialism and an Ecumenical Call to Action” held in Winnipeg, Canada, May 14-16, 2026. This conference brought together approximately 130 participants from across Canada, including scholars, students, clergy, Indigenous leaders, artists, activists, human rights advocates, and members of diverse faith communities.

Dr. Sarojini Nadar is a South African theologian and biblical scholar who is The Desmond Tutu Research Chair in Religion and Social Justice at the University of the Western Cape. Her lecture was entitled “Chosenness and Sacred Violence: Reading Esther in Settler-Colonial Contexts.”