During the Persian empire, in the capital city Shushan, King Ahasuerus made a great feast and invited his Queen Vashti to dance naked in front of the gathering.

She refused. (Our Rabbis teach that she developed a terrible rash or debilitating disease of some kind.) The King, furious at having his command disobeyed, had her killed. He then had to find a new Queen. He ordered every young and beautiful virgin in his domain, to be brought to the capital, beautified and adorned, then brought to him for a night.

Amongst the Jews in the capital, was a beautiful girl called Esther, an orphan, who lived with her Uncle Mordechai. She like all the virgins, was forcibly brought to the harem house and beautified. When the King saw her, he fell in love with her on sight. She was chosen as Queen.

The King had a wicked prime minister called Haman who was an ancestor of Hitler, and had a similar policy. To destroy all the country's Jews. Esther thought it prudent to keep her origins a secret, even from her husband, the King and certainly from Haman.

Her Uncle Mordechai kept vigil at the gate of the palace to make sure she was OK. He was the only person who refused to bow down to Haman as he came and went, which infuriated him beyond reason.

Mordechai once overheard a plot by two local thugs to poison the King. He passed this information to Esther who told the King; the two plotters were apprehended and hanged..the incident written up in the Book of Chronicles.

Haman gained more and more power; he even got the King's permission to destroy all the Jews in his province on one day, the 14th Adar (which is this Sunday) and plunder their belongings. Esther was distraught, as was Mordechai.

She made a feast, for just herself, the King, and Haman. Haman understandably thought he was becoming a favourite.

At the feast the king asked her purpose, he promised her anything; even half the Kingdom. He adored her. She replied that all she wanted was that the King and Haman should come to a second feast the next day.

That night the king couldn't sleep. He asked for his Book of Chronicles to be read to him, and heard how Mordechai had saved his life.

The King asked "Has anything had been done to reward Mordechai?" and was told, "Nothing has been done."

At that moment Haman came in to tell the king of his plan to hang Mordechai (who continued to be a thorn in his side by refusing to bow to him,) on a specially built gallows, 50 cubits high, at Haman's house.

The King said to Haman: "What would you do to the man whom the King seeks to honour?"

Haman thought: "Whom else could this mean, but me!!"

He said: "I would dress this man in the royal garments, seat him on the royal horse and lead him through the city calling: "Thus is done to the man whom the King delights to honour!"

The King said: "go, do exactly as you have said, to Mordechai the Jew who sits outside my gate! Don't leave out a single detail!!"

Haman had to comply, and was humiliated. His wife Zeresh told him: "This is the beginning of the end for you." But Haman still thought of the feast he was invited to with the Queen and King and was comforted.

At the next feast, the King said to Esther: "What is your desire? Anything, even half my Kingdom shall be yours! Just name it!"

She said: "My desire is my life, and my people's life"

The king was furious. "WHO seeks to kill you and your people??"

She pointed . "Haman the Wicked One!!"

The King was so angry he had to go outside for a while, into his garden.

Haman flung himself on her couch seeking mercy; the King came back and saw him lying on her.

"Ah so you would also rape my wife in my house?"

One of the courtiers said: "Your Majesty, Haman has built a gallows 50 cubits high, for Mordechai the Jew."

The King said: "Hang Haman on it."

So it was done. Haman and his ten sons were hanged on the gallows he had prepared for Mordechai, and the day of 14th Adar became a day of rejoicing for the Jews of Shushan, and all generations to come.

Nowadays Purim is celebrated joyously. It is the one Jewish festival during which over-the-top riotous behaviour is encouraged; to some extent at least!! Celebrated by children (and adults too!) putting on fancy dress costumes. Because the whole story of Purim is about things being turned on their head; the Jews were earmarked for destruction on the 14th Adar; instead the Jews were able to take vengeance on their enemies on that day. As Esther was hidden or disguised, we do the same by putting on fancy dress to mark the occasion! It is also celebrated by the giving of gifts of food to each other (Mishloach Manot), charity to the poor, a festive meal, and the reading of the Purim story (Megillat Esther) twice in synagogues. Charity is often collected by means of groups of touring players known as "shpielers" who perform in fancy dress in people's homes.

The header gif on this page shows a fancy dress mask. We eat"Hamentashen" which mean literally Hamen's pockets or Hamen's hats, tricornered pastries filled with poppy seeds raisins or dried fruit.

Purim this year (2011) is on Sunday 20th March.