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Purim- In the twelfth month, which is the month of Adar, on its thirteenth day ... on the day that the enemies of the Jews were expected to prevail over them, it was turned about: the Jews prevailed over their adversaries. - Esther 9:1 And they gained relief on the fourteenth, making it a day of feasting and gladness. - Esther 9:17 [Mordecai instructed them] to observe them as days of feasting and gladness, and sending delicacies to one another, and gifts to the poor. - Esther 9:22 This year we read Megillah Esther on February 27, 13 Adar (and at morning minyan February 28, 2010.) On that night, when we hear the megillah- we make noise (usually with groggers) to drown out the name ‘Haman’. The Book of Esther is the only book that never mentions God.,although Mordechai makes a comment to the fact that someone else will save the Jews. Purim means lots and refers to Haman’s lottery which is how he selected the date for the destruction of the Jews. The holiday is preceded by a day of Fast, which marks the 3 days Esther fasted before her meeting with the king. We are commanded to hear the Book of Esther. We are also commanded to eat, drink and be merry as well as to make gifts for charity (shalach manot). We eat hamentaschen, triangular filled cookies, representing Haman’s tri cornered hat. Carnivals are held and parodies performed (and even beauty contests). And so the story: Esther, a beautiful Jewish woman, raised by her cousin Mordechai, is taken to the house of the King of Persia, Ahasuerus to join his harem, but instead he made her his Queen. The king had no idea that Esther was Jewish. Haman, an advisor to the king hated Mordechai because he refused to bow down to Haman so Haman plotted to destroy the Jews. There is a certain people scattered abroad and dispersed among the peoples in all the provinces of thy kingdom; and their laws are diverse from those of every people; neither keep they the king's laws; therefore it does not profit the king to suffer them.” Esther 3:8 Mordechai persuaded Esther to speak to the king on behalf of the Jews- she did and the Jewish people were saved.
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