Purim

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Purim is not one of the major festivals mentioned in Leviticus 23, but is still important because of the message it holds.  Purim takes place in the spring of the year, usually in February or March. The Purim story is recorded in the book of Esther.
The Story
Many Jews were exiled and living in Babylon and other parts of Persia Media. King Ahasuerus had ascended the throne.  Ahasuerus gave a great party for the men of his court.  He wanted to show off his great wealth and beautiful Queen, Vashti.  When Vashti was summoned, however, she refused to come.  Ahasuerus was so angry, that he had Vashti banished. It wasn't long before Ahasuerus realized how lonely he was.  One of his advisers suggested that all the beautiful women of the kingdom be brought to the palace, and that Ahasuerus pick one of these women as his new queen.  He liked the idea. The king's soldiers went throughout the entire kingdom looking for beautiful women.  When they came to the house of Mordecai, the Jew, they told him of the king's decree that all the beautiful women of the kingdom be brought to the palace...that one of them would be the new queen.  Mordecai had a young girl living with him, named Esther.  Esther was Mordecai's cousin, and had come to live with him when her parents had died.  Esther was not interested in going to the palace, but eventually agreed to do so.  Mordecai warned her not to tell anyone that she was a Jew. The young women were dressed in fine clothing and perfumed.  When they were brought before the king, all were dismissed until he saw Esther.  The king was pleased when he saw her beauty, and a few days later she was crowned as his new queen. King Ahasuerus had a new court adviser named Haman.  Haman was very wicked, and next to the king, he was the most powerful man in Persia.  One morning when Haman was passing through the palace courtyard, he passed Mordecai who was on his way to visit Esther.  Haman was greatly angered when Mordecai refused to bow before him.  Mordecai told Haman,  "I am a Jew, and will bow to no one but God." Haman was furious.  His anger for Mordecai and the Jews increased daily.  Finally he went before King Ahasuerus and told him how the Jews refused to bow before him as the law commanded, and continued to worship their own God. When Ahasuerus asked Haman what should be done with these people, Haman did not hesitate with his answer.  "All the Jews should be killed!" Haman drew lots to decide when the Jews should be executed, and King Ahasuerus signed Haman's decree into law.  Haman built a gallows with plans to hang Mordecai on it. When word reached Mordecai that Haman planned to kill all the Jews, he made his way to the palace to see Esther.  Mordecai told Esther of Haman's plan and asked her to go before the King to plead for her people.  Esther was fearful.  She knew that no one was allowed to go before the king without his invitation, an that if she went before the king and he did not extend his scepter to her, that she'd be killed.  Mordecai told her that perhaps God had brought her to this place, "for such a time as this". Esther was still fearful, but told Mordecai that she would go before the king.  She asked that Mordecai and her people spend three days in prayer and fasting.  After that she would go before the king.  "And if I die, I die!"
On the third day, Esther put on her crown and royal robes and went before King Ahasuerus.  As she waited, he extended his scepter to her, and asked her to enter. "What is it you want, Queen Esther?", King Ahasuerus asked her.  "Ask and I'll give it to you ... up to a half of my kingdom." Esther told Ahasuerus that she was giving a feast the next day and wanted him and Haman to attend.  Haman was thrilled that the queen would invite him to a feast that she was giving for the king. The next day King Ahasuerus and Haman came to the feast that Esther had given in the king's honor.  Once again he asked her... "What is it that you want, Queen Esther?  Ask and I'll give it to you ... up to a half of my kingdom." "If I have found favor with you, O King, and if it pleases you ... spare my life, and that of my people", Esther told the king. "Spare your life?  Why", asked King Ahasuerus.  "Where is any man who would dare to harm the Queen?" "The adversary and enemy is this vile man, Haman!", responded the Queen. Haman was terrified and began to tremble.  Ahasuerus commanded that Haman and his ten sons be hanged on the gallows that he had built for Mordecai. That same day King Ahasuerus gave Queen Esther the estate of Haman, and made Mordecai his royal adviser. It had been a difficult time for the Jews living in Persia Media during the Babylonia captivity, but God never left them or forgot about them.  They had always been, and will always be, the Apple-of-His-Eye.  Monarchs will come and go, empires will rise and fall, but Ha-Shem will always be in everlasting covenant with the seed of Israel.  The Jews decided that the 14th and 15th of Adar be used to celebrate and remember how God had delivered his people.
How to Celebrate
1. Read the book of Esther. 2. Purim plays are frequently performed 3. Dress in costumes and masks. 4. Eat festive meals. 5. Eat special treats called Hamantaschen (or Haman's hat). 6. Give gifts the poor and needy. 7. Use Groggers to drown out the mention of Haman's name.
Purim Celebrations
2003 Purim Play
Mordecai, King Ahasuerus, Queen Esther at Gates of Praise 2003
"For such a time as this!"			Esther, King Ahasuerus & Vashti
Greg says the Ha'Motzi	Costumes for celebration!			Mordecai & his horse.
Who is that Masked Man?	Reading our Purim Play			Another Queen Esther
2004 Play "Here's Looking at You, Esther!"
The 2004 Purim play was a parody of the movie "Casablanca", but still told the entire story of Esther and God's deliverance for the Jews.
King's: The Place for Root Beer
King & Sam: "Play it again, Say!"			Vashti and handmaiden, Jasmine
The beauty contest gives King an opportunity to find a new Queen.
Miss Chaldea, Miss Babylon, Miss Lincolnton, Miss Persia-Media, Miss Shushan
Esther and Mordecai enter King's Place.			King chooses Esther as his new Queen.
Haman confronts Mordecai.			Haman gets his just rewards!
A little fun as Haman gets his hat, nose & glasses.
Groggers, as well as Boos and Hisses, are used to drown out Haman's name each time it is mentioned.
Songs
Special songs are always fun to prepare for our Purim plays and everyone always seems to enjoy them.
The Purim Bunch Tune: The Brady Bunch Lyrics: Curtis & Carolyn Loftin It's the story, of a Feast called Purim, Comes in Adar, each and every year, And the plans by Haman, to kill the Jews, They lived in so much fear. It's the story of a Jew named Esther, Who decided to go before the King, Even though she knew it could mean her life, She had to do this thing. Well the King heard what Esther was saying, On the day that she invited him to lunch, And this story is written in the Bible, And the way they all became the Purim Bunch. The Purim Bunch, The Purim Bunch, God delivered them all at Esther's lunch.
Here In Old Shushan Tune: Gilligan's Island Lyrics: Curtis & Carolyn Loftin Just sit right back and you'll hear a tale, A tale about Purim, That started in Persia Media, In a town called old Shushan. There lived a King, a good old guy, Who tried to do his best, To make his princes happy, But it put him to the test, It put him to the test. A plan was made to rid the place, Of every single Jew, An awful predicament, Whatever will they do, Whatever will they do. The story is an old, old tale, Told long ago, but true ... ...about Esther, and Vashti, too, Ahasuerus, and Mordecai, There's Haman, and there's Zeresh, too, Here in old Shushan.
Vashti, You Should Have Listened Tune: Take Me Out to the Ballgame Lyrics: Curtis & Carolyn Loftin Vashti, you should have listened, When your husband called you, He wanted to show off his beautiful Queen, How could you have done such a horrible thing? Now, you're out, you're out of the palace, Looking for something to do, For it's 1, 2, 3 strikes you're out, In Old Shushan. Vashti, What will the Girls think? And what will they do? If he lets you slide without punishing you, What in the world will the other girls do? Now you're out, you're out of the palace, Looking for something to do, For it's 1, 2, 3 strikes you're out, In Old Shushan.
How Do You Solve A Problem Like Haman? Tune: Maria (from "Sound of Music") Lyrics: Curtis & Carolyn Loftin How do you solve a problem like Haman? How do you get him not to kill the Jews? How do you solve a problem like ol' Haman? If Esther could, and Mordecai, could you? Many a thing you know you'd like to tell him, Many a thing he ought to understand, Like if you come against the Jews, Regardless of what you do, God'll always see His people through. O, How do you solve a problem like ol' Haman? Trust in the Lord and He will see you through.
Esther, O Esther Tune: Matchmaker (from "Fiddler on the Roof") Lyrics: Curtis & Carolyn Loftin Esther, O Esther, you smell so sweet, From the top of your head, to the soles of your feet, Esther, O Esther I think you will be, The one chosen by the King. Esther, O Esther, you are the one, God has placed here, even better than a son, Esther, O Esther, please go to his side, Who you are, you can not hide. O, Uncle, I'll go before him, I'll do - what - you tell me to do, But, Uncle, I just can't tell him, His Queen to be was born a Jew! Esther, O Esther, you have to choose, God has a plan, who He wants to use, You have been chosen for such a time as this, His will you don't want to miss.
Mordecai's His Name Tune: Secret Agent Man Lyrics: Curtis & Carolyn Loftin There's a man we know by name of Haman, Who had a plan for the Jews, He planned to hang 'em, Mordecai was Haman's thorn, He cursed the day he was born, Odds are he won't live to see tomorrow. Mordecai's his name, Saving Jews his game, Haman tossed a dice to see, The day you're gonna die. Mordecai's his name ... Haman's men constructed a large gallows, With plans to get rid of all those Jewish fellows, He got the king's decree, Cause the Jews won't bow their knee, Odds are they won't live to see tomorrow.
Israel Is the Place to Be Tune: Green Acres Lyrics: Curtis & Carolyn Loftin Israel is the place to be, Persia will never be home to me, I've had too much captivity, Keep it all, Give Israel back to me. Jerusalem is where I'll live some day, Going home is what I always pray, Keep the King's robes and signet ring, Without Jerusalem, They don't mean a thing. The land - God's plan, I'll take - my stand, There's been such strife, Goodbye Shushan life, Israel, we'll go there!
Family Purim Photos
Our daughter, Beth, and granddaughters. Alex (left) and Savanna (right), enjoy the 2004 Purim Play and festivities.