Fifty years later, Babylonia was defeated by Persia. King Achashverosh was the second ruler of the

2. Over 2,500 years ago, the Holy Temple, the Bet HaMikdash, in Jerusalem was destroyed by the Babylonian King, Nebuchadnezzar. The Jewish people were sent away from the Land of Israel and were forced to live in Babylonia, and were ruled by Nebuchadnezzar.

3. Fifty years later, Babylonia was defeated by Persia. King Achashverosh was the second ruler of the 127 provinces which stretched from Hodu (India) to Kush (Africa). It was the largest, strongest kingdom in the world. His capital was Susa, also known as Shushan.

4. After three years, the King held a great feast in his magnificent palace. It lasted for 180 days. He then invited the townspeople, including all the Jews of Shushan, to continue feasting for another week.

5. One of the Jewish leaders, Mordechai, warned them not to take part in the festivities, but they did not listen to him as they were afraid to disobey the King. Mordechai was very sad that the King was using the beautiful gold and silver ornaments from the destroyed Bet Ha Mikdash and he did not want the people to join in the banquet..

6. The King’s wife, Vashti, made a feast at the same time, and on the 7th day he sent messengers to her and ordered that she should be brought to the royal palace so he could show her off to his guests. The Queen refused to come! The King was very angry and he asked his ministers for advice about what to do with her. They advised that she should never be allowed to appear in the King’s palace again, and she never did.

7. King Achashverosh now had no queen and he sent messengers to search throughout all his kingdom for young and beautiful women who would be brought the palace. They would stay in the palace for 12 months to be prepared to meet the King who would choose one to be his new wife and queen.

8. Mordechai was one of the exiles from Jerusalem. He had adopted his cousin Esther who was beautiful and modest. When the King’s men came to take her to the Royal Palace, Mordechai told her not to be afraid but also not to tell anyone that she was Jewish. He knew that a time would come in the future when her secret would be told.

9. In the Palace, Esther had her own rooms and seven servants, one for each day of the week. She was able to keep Shabbat and have Kosher food prepared. She kept her secret as she waited to be called to the King.

10. When Esther was presented to the King, he chose her to be his new Queen. Mordechai stayed at the palace gates to hear news of her.

11. One day, Mordechai overheard two guards, Bigtan and Teresh, plotting to kill the King. Mordechai was able to to tell the Queen, and she informed the King of the plot. Mordechai’s name was written in the Book of Records because he had saved the King’s life.

12. Some time after this, the King promoted Haman to be his Prime Minister. Haman was very rich and very important. Everyone in the kingdom was ordered to bow down to him as he passed by.

13. Everyone bowed, except Mordechai. He refused to honour Haman by bowing to him because Haman wore an idol on his clothes. Unlike others who were afraid of Haman, Mordechai would not bow because, as a Jew, he was forbidden to worship or honour idols.

14. Haman was filled with rage against Mordechai and all the Jewish people and he made a plan to destroy all the Jews in the Kingdom. In the month of Nissan, he cast lots, or purim, to work out when would be the best time to carry out his plan. The time was set for the next year, in the month of Adar.

15. Haman then told King Achashverosh that there were certain people living throughout the kingdom, who lived by different laws and would not eat and drink as the other people did, and did not observe the King’s laws. He then asked permission to destroy these people and even offered the King a fortune in silver coins if he would sign a decree to do so. The King told Haman to keep the money and gave him permission to carry out his evil request.

16. The King gave Haman his own ring and his scribes wrote out the decree, dictated by Haman, in all the different languages of the Kingdom, so that everyone would understand the order to kill all the Jews. The scrolls were signed in the King’s name and sealed with his ring.

17. The people of Shushan were shocked and terrified. When Mordechai heard the news, he tore his clothes in grief and put on sackcloth covered with ashes. He told Esther she must go to the King to try to save the Jews but Esther was afraid because no-one was allowed to come to the King without being invited.

18. Mordechai then told Esther that the time had come for her to speak up for the Jews. She was ready to put her life at risk for her people. First, she sent Mordechai a message to tell all the Jews to fast and after 3 days, she would go to the King.

19. Now the people fasted and prayed for forgiveness. They realised that they should not have attended the King’s feast and they should not have broken the laws of the Torah. They asked Hashem to save them From Haman’s terrible plan.

20. On the third day, Esther put on her royal clothes and stood waiting for the King outside his Throne Room. He stretched his golden sceptre and she was allowed to enter and talk to the King. He asked for her request and she replied that she wanted to invite him and Haman to a private banquet that evening. He agreed and the banquet was prepared.

21. During the banquet, the King again asked, “What is your wish, Esther? Whatever it is, you shall have it!” She asked only that he and Haman come to another banquet the next day. Haman was very happy to have another invitation and went home to tell his wife but he saw Mordechai on the way and was furious when Mordechai again refused to bow. He decided to build a gallows to be used to punish him.

22. That night, the King could not sleep and he asked for his record book. He read that Mordechai had saved his life and had not been rewarded. Just then, Haman came to visit, to talk about the punishment he had planned for Mordechai.

23. The King asked Haman, “What should be done for the man whom the King especially wants to honour?” Haman thought the King wanted to honour him! “Give him a royal robe and a horse that the King has ridden and also a Royal crown! Parade him through the city square!”, he replied.

24. The King said, “Hurry and do all these things - for Mordechai, who is at the Royal Gate!” Haman was shocked but had to carry out the King’s order and call out: “This is what is done for the man whom the King wants to honour!”

25. The time had come for the Queen Esther’s second banquet. The King once again asked Esther what was her request. “Save my life and the life of my people!”, she cried. The King was astounded when Esther accused Haman of planning the terrible decree to kill her and the Jews. The King ordered Haman to be taken away.

26. Haman was taken to his own gallows and given the punishment he had planned For Mordechai. His 10 sons were also punished the same way.

27. The King now gave Mordechai the Royal ring and made him his new Prime Minister. Esther pleaded with the King to cancel the order to kill the Jews. The law was that any order, with the King’s name, could not be cancelled, but the King wrote another decree, allowing the Jews to defend themselves and their towns, on the date in Adar that Haman had decided. They would be saved!

28. Mordechai was given a robe of fine white linen and a large golden crown was put on his head. The city was happy and glad. The Jews had light and gladness, and joy and honour. He and Esther wrote down everything so it would always be remembered. It was recorded that the 14th and 15th of the Hebrew Month ofAdar would always be celebrated as days of feasting and gladness, and sending gifts of food and giving tzedakah (charity) to the poor.