Purim Story: The Tale Behind the Jewish Halloween

The Purim story lies at the heart of a unique Jewish Holiday, one in which children get to dress up in costumes, make raucous noise with rattles (called graggers), and eat lots and lots of sweets. Told in the biblical book of Esther, the Purim story rivals the greatest fairytales with its weak King and vain Queen, evil Vizier and innocent young woman who saves her people through wisdom and courage.

Strangely, the Purim Story is not about God or his greatness. Rather it shows what a fearless woman can do when guided by a wise mentor. In that sense it is a story about family values and loyalty to one's nation. The Purim story is also a tale of vanity and corruption, intrigue and abuse of power. Told without once mentioning God, it is a Jewish holiday story that seems almost modern, like a historical drama written by a feminist.

So here it is... the Purim Story

The Purim Story (Please Assume a Storyteller's Voice)

Once upon a time in the Kingdom of Persia lived a fat lazy King. His robes were made of velvet and his plump fingers were adorned with rubies and gold. The greatest builders in the land built him thousands of palaces, and the most beautiful women from every village were brought to him-for he had as many wives as jewels.

But the King's first wife, the beautiful Vashti, was his most important wife. And what a shrew she was! Always adorning herself before a mirror, always complaining. And when summoned to meet important guests, she even refused to greet them. Furious with her, the decadent King banished her once and for all, then chose another wife to replace her.

The beautiful Esther was very young and very frightened. When the guards took her to the palace the week before, she had wept to see her beloved uncle , Mordecai, waving goodbye. Was this just an act of revenge by Haman, the King's powerful vizier, she wondered. After all, every man on the street had bowed obsequiously before the King's agent, but not Mordecai. Not the Jew! He had stood proud and tall, and the vizier swore to have his revenge.

And now he has, thought Esther as the guards led her away from the only home she had ever known. Soon she entered the golden palace where the jewels glittered in the walls and the scent of flowers filled the air.

That night, the King took her to his room, and every night thereafter she was commanded to appear, dressed in a soft white dress more beautiful than anything she had ever seen before.

Every day Esther sat at the fat King's feet listening to State business that meant nothing to her. She could think only of her beloved uncle, Mordecai, who raised her since her parents died. If she could only see him one more time? His parting words were ever echoing in her ears-"Keep the secret of who you are. Jews are disliked by the Persians. Keep your secret, and you will be safe."

But a morning came when the voice of the evil vizier, Haman, trickled into her thoughts like poison. He spoke soft words in the ear of the King, and she watched his thin lips drooling slightly as his anger rose.

"There's a Jew," Haman said. "A Jew who mocks you." Soon the King's anger was rising to meet that of his councilor. That a single man should defy the will of the State was heresy. All must bow before the King's representative. That one Jew refused seemed proof that all Jews were plotting against the King.

Frightened for her people, Esther fled to think in solitude. Haman was given permission to execute her uncle and purge her people from the land. What could she... a mere girl... do? She must reveal her true identity and hope to soften the King's heart. But if she failed? Then she would die, as every Jew will in the Kingdom.

Esther fasted for three days, seeking her uncle's advice by carrier. Then on the third day she approached the King in dread. To enter his chamber without a summons was to enter a lion's den. She held her breath and waited. But the King welcomed her. And so Esther approached the throne, not as a woman but as an emissary of her people. Carefully she unfolded a tale of deception and vanity, revealing all the wicked deeds inflicted on her people in the name of the crown.

"Who? Who has done this?" roared the King. And then Esther told him, and the fate the King had promised to the Jews was overturned in a flash. The wicked vizier, Haman, who had planned to ride through the city robed in gold and led by a barefoot, tortured Jew-by Mordecai himself-was to be the one leading the horse, with Mordecai as rider.

The Jews were saved that day, and Haman who had plotted against them was hung on the gallows tree with his wicked sons. And so the Purim story draws to a close in veneration of the courage, wisdom and virtue of a young woman who chose to save her people or die trying.

Conclusion to the Purim Story

The book of Esther is read in synagogues on Purim night, where children, all dressed in costumes and smiles, make a racket with their rattles each time Haman's name is mentioned. And what's a favorite holiday cookie that comes from the Purim story-it's called Ozney Haman (Hamentashen), which translated means: Haman's Ears. These delicious cookies are shaped like triangles and stuffed with jam or poppy seeds.

Learn more about Jewish Holidays, Names and Customs. And for costume ideas, make duct tape costumes, make literary costumes, make erudite costumes.