Last night at sundown marked the beginning of Purim, a Jewish holiday that celebrates the triumph over opression, as told in the Book of Esther. The story recounts that Haman, the advisor to King Ahasuerus of Persia, had planned to destroy the Jewish race. Meanwhlie, a charming Jewish woman named Esther was taken to the House of Ahasuerus to become part of the King's harem. The King fell in love with Esther, not knowing that she was a Jew. When Haman approached the King about his plan, he told the King that the Jews did not follow his laws. King Asasuerus then granted Haman the right to pursue his plan of annihilation. Word of these plans spread, and Mordecai, Esther's cousin, advised Esther to reveal her identity and convince the King to stop Haman. Haman was hanged on the gallows and the Jewish people were saved.
Purim is commemmorated on the 14th and 15th days of Adar, the twelfth month of the Jewish Calendar. The year 2007 is the Jewish year 5767. The word "purim" translates in Hebrew to "lots" and refers to the lottery that Haman used to pick the date for his massacre. Purim festivities generally include plays, parodies, masks, costumes, games, and of course, delicious food like Hamantashen pastries, kreplach pasta with meat served in soup, and shlach manos, which translates to "sending portions" and is usually a basket of baked goods and other treats.
Happy Purim!
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I thought Mordechai was Ester's uncle? That's what my boyfriend told me when he recounted the entire story (in a quite amusing way) to me last night.
~C
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C,
I'm not quite sure as to their exact relation; different accounts say that Mordecai was Esther's cousin; others say he was her Uncle. This issue is just as mysterious as the relationship between Jack and Meg White: siblings, or lovers... the world will never know. Alright, poor analogy. Anyway, here is a helpful website that may provide some answers: http://www.biu.ac.il/JH/Parasha/eng/purim/ziv.html
jenn