Brush up on the basics of this festive holiday.
The Purim story is the Book of Esther; which is a part of the Ketuvim or Writings (also called the Hagiographa), the third section of Tanach [the Hebrew Bible].
Outline of the Purim Story
• King Ahasuerus dethrones Queen Vashti.
• Esther is crowned queen after winning a beauty contest.
• Mordecai (Esther’s cousin) uncovers a plot to kill the king and reports it.
• King Ahasuerus promotes Haman, making him more powerful than all the other officials.
• Mordecai refuses to bow before Haman [a close confidant of the king].
• Haman seeks to destroy the Jews after his run-in with Mordecai.
• Mordecai appeals to Esther to save her people. Esther approaches King Ahasuerus and invites him and Haman to a banquet.
• Mordecai is honored for having saved the king’s life. Esther entertains the king and Haman, and invites them to a second banquet.
• Esther pleads for her people at the second banquet. She accuses Haman.
• The king grants Esther’s request and condemns Haman to die on the gallows that he built for the Jews.
• The Jews defend themselves throughout Persia [against those following out the decree to destroy the Jews].
• The holiday of Purim is established.
• Mordecai advances to a position of importance.
Rabbi Robert Goodman is a contributing writer to My Jewish Learning and JLife magazine.
