Purim is a Jewish festival that celebrates the survival of the Jews in Ancient Persia from a genocidal plot by Haman, the king’s jealous advisor, as told in the Book of Esther. 

Esther, according to the scroll which bears her name, was a Jewish orphan named Hadassah who was raised by her cousin, Mordechai. Eventually, she was made queen by Ahasuerus and assumed the Persian name Esther. 

Shortly thereafter, Mordechai offended the king’s advisor, Haman, by refusing to bow down to him. Haman decided that it was not enough to punish Mordechai, but that all of Mordechai’s people should be punished with him. 

Haman asked the king for permission to kill a group of people in his kingdom who “do not keep the king’s laws.” When the king agreed, Haman had a royal decree issued on the 13th day of the first month (Nisan) stating that the Jews were to be attacked and destroyed on the 13th day of the last month (Adar).

When Mordechai heard the edict, he mourned, putting on sackcloth and ashes. Queen Esther, seeing her cousin mourning at the entrance to the king’s gate sent messengers to find out why he was grieved. 

When Haman’s plot against the Jews was revealed to her, Esther bravely risked her life to expose Haman’s plot to kill her people. 

Read the full article at All Israel News.