Purim -פורים

PURIM – THE FESTIVE FESTIVAL

This festival celebrates the story told in the biblical Book of Esther, in which evil Haman plans to kill all the Jewish people of ancient Persia (now Iran), but is stopped by Queen Esther and her cousin Mordecai, who are Jewish.

The Persian King, Achashveyrosh, who was looking for a wife, after having banished Queen Vashti from his kingdom, decided to marry Esther.  Her cousin, Mordecai, forbade her to tell the King that she was Jewish.

Mordecai stayed as close to the palace as he could.  When he discovered that two of the King’s servants were planning to kill him, Mordecai told Esther, who told the King.  The King had the two servants put to death.  Haman, the Prime Minister, was very angry when Mordecai refused to bow down to him.  Mordecai refused because Jewish people are not supposed to bow down to anyone, apart from G-d).  As a result, wicked Haman decided that all the Jewish people in the kingdom should be killed. 

For some reason, King Achashveyrosh agreed to this plan, which was to be carried out on 13 Adar (some time in March).  According to tradition, this day was decided by thowing lots.  Thus, Purim means “lots”.

Mordecai convinced Esther to tell the King that she was Jewish.  This was risky because it was against the law for anyone, including the Queen, to approach the King without his permission.  Fortunately, the King accepted Queen Esther into his presence.  Esther invited the King and Haman to a special feast.  At that dinner, she requested that they both come to a second feast, the following night.  Haman happened to see Mordecai and was so enraged, that he ordered gallows to be set up immediately so Mordecai could be hung the next morning.

However, that night, the King was unable to sleep, so he asked a servant to read the court chronicles to him.  However, instead of making him sleepy, he became interested in the story about Mordecai helping to save his life from the two servants.  When he realised that nothing had been done to show Mordecai his appreciation, he called Haman to him and asked him what should be done for a man who the King wishes to honour.