We have the real in-person Megillah reading by Asher Nathan Monday March 2 at 6:30 p.m. Come in costume, and eat some Beth-Ami-made hamentashen. In-person and on Zoom.
The story of Purim, summarized (spoiler alert)
King Ahasuerus ruled in ancient Persia, from his palace in Shushan. His queen, Vashti, refused to appear at his 180-day party, and was banished. Ahasuerus then ordered all young women to be presented to him, and chose an orphan named Esther to be his new queen, unaware that she was Jewish. Her cousin Mordecai accompanied her to the palace; he was given a position guarding the palace gates.
One day, he overheard a plot by palace eunichs Bigthan and Teresh to assassinate the king. Mordecai reported the plan and saved the King’s life. Meanwhile, the King appointed a new prime minister, Haman. When the Jews would not bow down to him, this evil man proposed that all of the Jews of Persia should be executed, telling King Ahasuerus, “There is a certain people dispersed among the peoples in all the provinces of your kingdom who keep themselves separate. Their customs are different from those of all other people, and they do not obey the king’s laws; it is not in the king’s best interest to tolerate them.”
Mordecai pleaded with Esther to intervene. Going to the king unsummoned was punishable by death, unless he commuted the sentence by raising his golden scepter. Esther decided, “If I perish, I perish,” and went to the king. When he raised his golden scepter, she invited him and Haman to two banquets.
After the first banquet, the king was told that Mordecai saved his life and asked Haman, “What shall be done for the man whom the king wishes to honor?” Thinking the king was referring to him, Haman said the honoree should be dressed in the king’s royal robes and led around on the king’s royal horse. To Haman’s horror, the king instructed Haman to render such honors to Mordecai. That night, at the second banquet, Esther revealed that she was Jewish and that Haman was planning to exterminate her people, which included her. Haman tried to get Esther to pardon him but instead fell onto her couch, making the king even more angry.
Ahasuerus ordered Haman’s execution and allowed the Jews to defend themselves from Haman’s execution militias – thus Esther saved her people and originated Purim.
