ABOUT THE HOLIDAY

Purim, held on the 14th day of Adar, celebrates the deliverance of the Jewish people from destruction by a Persian tyrant during the Babylonian exile in the 5th century B.C.E. In the story, told in the Book of Esther, King Ahashverosh's evil vizier, Haman, hatched a plot to kill the Jews because Mordechai (a Jew) refused to bow down to him. To determine the day of the Jews' destruction, Haman casts “lots” (Purim). Thanks to the intervention of brave and beautiful Queen Esther, the Jews defended themselves against their enemies, wicked Haman was executed, Mordechai became the new prime minister, and the Jews were saved! It is interesting to note that God's name never is mentioned explicitly in the Megillat Esther.