The Jewish festival of Purim starts at sunset tonight, so today before it starts is the time to prepare for Purim, which is all about the story of Esther in the Bible. It ends tomorrow at sunset so today and tomorrow all our readings will be from the book of Esther. From last night until Sunset tonight the Jewish people are fasting.

Most people know about the Holocaust But the Holocaust wasn’t the 1st time someone tried to commit genocide of the Jews. Anti-semetic violence is Centuries old, Jews use the term “Pograms”. Purim is the story of how God used a beautiful young Jewish girl to stop a geneocide of his people.

The Jews had been conquered and carried off as slaves to Babylon (modern-day Iraq). It seems in every Arabian fairy tale there is an Evil Vizier an idea that may have originated in the true story of Esther. The Vizier was named Haman, a descendent of a long-time enemy of the Jews and once he reached power, he made plans for their genocide. But God had not forgotten his children.

Esther was in a bad situatio for an innocent Jewish girl, taken from her home and family abducted for the King's Harem. Jews do not usually marry outside their religion, and here she was being inducted into the Harem of a pagan King. But God took what she and her people would have considered an evil situation for her, and used it for good. In the words of her Uncle Mordecai:-

If you keep quiet at a time like this, God will deliver the Jews from some other source, but you and your relatives will die; what’s more, who can say but that God has brought you into the palace for just such a time as this?” - Esther 4:14

Esther was “born for this”, she would have to risk her life, to save her people.

Purim is celebrated by reading out loud the story of Esther, it has all the drama and intrigue Hollywood looks for so they made a movie, “One night with the King”. Purim is celebrated like Christmas, festive and joyous with a big festive dinner, holiday candle-lighting and giving gifts of fruit and nuts with a couple of bottles of wine thrown in. Also making sure to give gifts to the poor. Some Jews maintain the tradition of dressing up Halloween-style on Purim. Chabad explains wearing costumes during Purim may pay tribute to Jews practising their religion in secret in times of persecution.

Special Purim Treat – Purim Cookies

I found a great recipe with pictures including the story behind the cookies (which of course involves Esther’s story) here. Nice to eat as dessert while watching the movie tonight after lighting the holiday candles.