... Story of Purim ...

... Recommend this holiday to a friend.

The story of Purim is recounted in The Megillah ... in the scroll on which the Book of Esther is written. It tells the story of Queen Esther, King Achashverosh, Esther's uncle (or cousin) Mordechai, and the king's chief advisor Haman.

Though synagogues are mostly solemn places, the atmosphere changes as children dress up as their favorite Purim characters and rattle graggers (noisemakers) at every mention of Haman's name. The Megillah is read twice on the holiday, once at night and once during the day.

First a quick summary of this history ... After the Israelites were driven from Jerusalem, many found refuge in Persia ... A beautiful Jewish girl, concealing her Hebrew name (Hadassah) was selected by Xerxes to be his queen. When Haman, the king's evil vizier, set a date for the extermination of all Jews in the kingdom, Esther was implored by her cousin Mordecai to intercede on her people's behalf.

Hadassah (or Esther) took her life in her hands by approaching the king, asserting her Jewishness, and then making the plea. Meanwhile, Mordecai tipped off the king about the plot he had uncovered: that Haman aalso planned to assassinate Xerxes and assume the throne. Xerxes empowered Esther and her cousin to get even with the anti-Semites on the day Haman had chosen by lot, or pur… hence the feast of Purim.

Get even they did. Not only were Haman and 10 of his sons hanged on the gallows he had built to hang Mordecai, but tens of thousands of other anti-Semites were slain to wipe out empire-wide bigotry.

Now the details: In the third year of his reign, the King of Persia, Xerxes, also known by us as Achashverosh, or Ahasuerus or Ahashuerus, decided to have a feast. It was on the seventh day of these festivities that the King summoned his queen, Vashti, to appear before him and demonstrate her beauty for the King's officials. This Vashti refused to appear. (According to the Talmud, G-d afflicted her with leprosy to cause her downfall and Esther's rise.) Being incensed (kings being kings with absolute power), he asked his officers for a suitable punishment. One advisor, Memuchan (some think he was was actually Haman) ... argued that Vashti should be killed for her disobedience. The King took his advice and Vashti was killed.

As time passed the King desired a new queen. And to find a suitable wife, a contest was initiated among all the eligible girls in the kingdom. One of those was Esther, a Jewish girl ... Esther had been raised by her relative Mordechai after her parents' death ... Mordechai instructed Esther not to divulge her Jewishness when she went to meet the king. Each day Mordechai would walk by the court and inquire as to her well being. Well, Esther impressed all who met her, including the King, and she was elevated to queen.

So years later the King elevated Haman, a descendant of Amelak, the traditional enemy of the Jews, to the position of chief advisor. Haman was a wicked and vain man who expected everyone to bow down to him. This Mordechai refused to bow because Jews are to bow only before G-d. Not content to just punish Mordechai, Haman wanted to destroy the entire Jewish people in Persia. And he cast lots or "purim" to determine the day of annihilation.

Haman went to the King, he slandered the Jews, and convinced the King to go along with his plans. Upon learning of the plot, Mordechai tore his clothes, wore sackcloth and ashes, and walked through the city bewailing the cruel sentence upon the Jews. When Esther heard of Mordechai's display she quickly dispatched a messenger to discover what was troubling her relative ... Mordechai recounted the details of the evil decree and instructed Esther to intercede on the Jews behalf. Esther agreed to appear before the King and instructed Mordechai to organize a three-day fast for all the Jews on her behalf.

After completing the three-day fast, Esther boldly entered the king's inner court dressed in her most royal garb ... The King inquired as to Esther's desires. Esther replied that she wished to invite the King and Haman to a banquet. After the feast Esther asked both the King and Haman to return for another banquet on the next night. Haman left the banquet consumed with self importance and pride, but these feelings were turned to anger when he saw Mordechai. Haman went home, and his wife, Zeresh, advised him to construct a gallows ... Haman joyously acted upon the suggestion.

That night, the King discovered that Mordechai had never been properly rewarded for saving him from the assassination plot of two servants. When Haman appeared in the court ... the King decided that it's his trusted servant who should determine Mordechai's compensation. Haman, intending to obtain the King's permission to hang Mordechai, unwittingly answered the King's questions. Then the King asked Haman, "What should be done for the man the King wishes to reward?" ... Haman, believing that Ahashverosh intended to reward him, gladly replied that the honoree should be dressed in royal clothing, ride upon a royal horse ... and be led through the city streets by an official proclaiming "This is what is done to the man the King wishes to honor."

Achashverosh agreed and then instructed Haman to carry it out for Mordechai. Unhappily, Haman followed the King's orders ... Haman's daughter, mistakenly believing that her father was being led by Mordechai, dumped garbage on her father, the horses' leader.

At Esther's second banquet Haman's downfall continued. Esther revealed Haman's villainous plot and the fact that she was Jewish ... She asked the King to "grant me my soul and my people." Ahashverosh consumed with anger ordered that Haman be hanged on the gallows intended for Mordechai ... The King elevated Mordechai to a position of great influence, and allowed him to issue edicts permitting the Jews to fight their enemies. Finally on the thirteenth and fourteenth of Adar the Jews won tremendous victories and were saved from the threat of total annihilation.

Ever since then, Jews have observed Purim. The day before Purim is a day of fasting, in memory of Esther's fast. The fast is then followed by two days of dancing, feasting, merrymaking, and gladness.

Visit here ... Jewish Studies ... interesting.
Shalom ... Navigator ... aleichem