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The Purim Story It is the 5th century BCE, and the vast Persian Empire (stretching from Ethiopia to India) is ruled by King Achashverosh, a well-meaning, but somewhat bumbling and foolish king. His chief advisor is Haman, wicked and cruel, and not particularly enamored of the Jewish nation. Achashverosh holds a fabulous feast, and in order to impress his friends, summons his wife, Queen Vashti to "display her beauty". The feisty Vashti refuses and the king follows his advisors' counsel and has her killed for her defiance. Achashverosh then plans a beauty pageant so that he can choose the loveliest girl in his kingdom as his new queen. He is immediately smitten by Esther, a beautiful Jewish orphan being raised by her cousin Mordechai, a prominent Jewish religious leader, in Shushan, the capital of Persia. Mordechai, sensing a Divine plan, advises Esther to conceal her Jewish identity from everyone in the king's court and she complies. Soon afterwards, Mordechai overhears two of the king's guards (Bigthan and Theresh) plotting to kill the king. Mordechai reports the conversation to the palace, and thus saves the king's life. The incident is recorded in the king's chronicles. Meanwhile, the evil and pompous Haman decides that everyone in the kingdom should bow down to him. As Jews bow down to G-d only, Mordechai refuses to give this honor to Haman. This is the last straw for the anti-Semitic Haman. After consultation with his wicked wife, Zeresh, he casts lots (purim) and sets the date for the annihilation of the Jews - the 14th of Adar, the day we celebrate Purim. Mordechai convinces Esther that it is by Divine Providence that she became queen and that her role is to plead with the king to save her people from certain death. She is terrified, and together with all the Jews of the realm, fasts and prays for three days, begging for G-d's assistance. Esther devises a plan. She invites Achashverosh and Haman to a private banquet. Achashverosh asks Esther what he can grant her; he even offers her half of the kingdom. Mysteriously, she eludes his questions. Later that night, suffering from insomnia, Achashverosh reads from the chronicles of his kingdom and of Mordechai's intervention to save him. Haman overhears the king deliberating over how to honor a man to whom he feels greatly indebted and mistakenly assumes the king is referring to Haman, himself. He rushes to advise the king to dress this man in the king's robes and crown, parade him through the streets and proclaim him as the king's honored subject. Achashverosh is delighted with Haman's suggestion, and orders Haman to be the man to lead Mordechai through the streets of Shushan the very next day. Humiliated, Haman complies. That night, a dejected Haman arrives at a second banquet with the king and queen, where Esther reveals that she is a Jewess and that Haman is plotting to kill both herself and her people. Furious, Achashverosh hangs Haman and his sons on the gallows constructed for the Jews. Since Haman's decree against the Jews bears the king's seal, Achashverosh is unable to rescind it. Instead, he warns all the Jews and urges them to arm themselves and fight. On the 13th of Adar, the Jews miraculously defeat their enemies in the provinces, and on the 13th and 14th of Adar, the Jews defeat their enemies in Shushan and the cities. Mordechai is chosen by the king to become his chief advisor, replacing Haman. Esther and Mordechai record the story of Purim in what is now known as Megillat Esther (the scroll of Esther), and initiate the celebration of Purim with a festive meal, the exchange of presents of food and the giving of monetary gifts to the poor. Back to Purim Story Activity Back to Jewish Attitude to Miracles Activity Back to Esther and Vashti Activity
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