The Lost Crown of Tel Aviv’s Queen Esther

Woven from silver threads and adorned with shimmering gemstones, a special crown once graced the head of Tel Aviv’s modern Queen Esther, a symbol of beauty and tradition in what was once the grand Adloyada parade. Until recently, I had no idea about this fascinating tradition, but let me take you on a journey through time.

Decades ago, Purim in Tel Aviv was marked by a grand parade, an homage to the biblical Queen Esther, chosen by King Ahasuerus as the most beautiful woman in his kingdom. During the 1930s, Hebrew women in Israel—specifically in Tel Aviv—participated in a beauty contest inspired by this story. Yes, you read that right! Before Israel was officially founded in 1948, Tel Aviv had already established itself as a cultural hub, having been founded on April 11, 1909. Between 1926 and 1931, the city’s Purim celebrations included a major parade and the crowning of a beauty queen.

When the winner was selected, the mayor of Tel Aviv at the time, Meir Dizengoff, would ride up to her on horseback and place an exquisite Middle Eastern-style crown on her head. These beauty queens became local celebrities and models, embodying both modern glamour and traditional reverence.

But what happened to this dazzling tradition?

First, there was significant public opposition. Many people argued that beauty pageants were not a Jewish custom and did not align with the values of the growing Israeli society. To this day, pageants remain a controversial topic in Israel, with some believing they do not reflect national values. As a result, the competition faded into obscurity, and the crown itself vanished—no longer passed from queen to queen, disappearing from the city’s memory.

Years later, an anonymous benefactor offered the crown to the Museum of the History of Tel Aviv. However, the price was steep, and the museum could not afford to purchase it. That’s when the prominent Chelouche family stepped in. As one of Tel Aviv’s founding families, they had deep historical ties to the city. To honor their legacy—and a past beauty queen from their own lineage—the Chelouche family funded the restoration and acquisition of the crown for the museum.

Now, this stunning piece of history is displayed beside Meir Dizengoff’s horse saddle at the Tel Aviv-Yafo City Museum in Bialik Square. The crown once again gleams under the museum lights, whispering stories of joy, splendor, and Tel Aviv’s vibrant Purim past.