In the third year of his reign, the King of Persia,
Ahashverosh (also known as Ahasuerus and
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.
Vashti refused to appear. (According to the Talmud,
G-d afflicted her with leprosy to cause her
downfall and Esther's rise.) Incensed, the King
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. 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 walked by the court and
inquired as to her well being. Esther impressed
all who met her, including the King, and she was
elevated to queen
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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.
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. He cast lots or
PURIM to determine the day of
annihilation
Haman went to the King,
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 crying loudly.
When Esther heard of Mordechai's display she
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 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 the King and Haman to a
to return for another banquet 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 rewarded for saving him from
the assassination plot of two servants. When
Haman appeared in the court,
the King decided that his trusted servant should
determine Mordechai's compensation. Haman ,
intending to obtain the King's permission to hang
Mordechai, unwittingly answered the King's questions.
The King asked Haman,
"What should be done for the man the King wishes to reward?"
Haman, believing that Ahashverosh intended
to reward him, 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"
Ahashverosh agreed and instructed
Haman to carry it out for
Mordechai, Crestfallen, 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. On
the thirteenth and fourteenth of Adar the Jews won
tremendous victories and were saved from the threat
of total annihilation
Ever since, Jews have observered 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,
merrymaking, feasting and gladness
