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The Feast of Purim
"Mordechai left the king's presence, dressed in real clothes, blue and white with a large gold crown and a robe of fine linen and purple. And the city of Shushan the cheering jubilantly" (Megillat Esther 8:15)
"The Jews established and set up for them ... and for posterity, the obligation to celebrate each year, these two days ..." (Megillat Esther 10:27)
King Ahasuerus had good reason to be proud of Esther. Sue she was descended from the royal family of Saul, first king of the Jews. When he discovered that Mordechai was a descendant of this noble family and cousin of Esther, named him the successor of Haman.
The king presented Esther with the house of Haman, and Mordechai gave the royal seal that he had taken from Haman. Although Mordechai and Esther were deeply grateful to the king for his favors, and they felt safe under his protection, lost no time in reaching your true objective. The evil decree of Haman was still in force and if not repealed, the Jews would be lost.
Once again Esther interceded with the king in favor of their doomed brethren. Throwing himself down and his eyes filled with tears, begged the king to save them from the terrible fate that awaited them and cried with an anguished voice: "How could I watch the massacre of an inert my brothers?"
0 king, deeply moved, he wanted to allay her grief. Unfortunately, it was very difficult to set aside the decree in question, as had been promulgated with your order, and had the stamp of the actual ring, so a decree was irrevocable.
Finally a solution was found. A new edict was issued, warning that Haman abused the trust of the king, proclaiming decrees forged. Rather than declaring the removal of the persecution of Jews throughout Persian territory, which was the true intention of the king, Haman, the traitor, had ordered the extermination of loyal citizens. Moreover, the hanging of Haman, the king's express command, was a clear proof that disapproved of his policy.
Once again, the scribes were summoned to draw up new decrees that this time dictated by Mordechai himself. Royal messengers riding the fastest horses in the kingdom, went immediately to each of the 127 provinces of the Persian empire, which stretched from India to Ethiopia, to deliver new orders to the governors and princes.
By royal order, the Jews were allowed to gather on the 13th of Adar to defend, attack and kill all the enemies that threatened them.
The news quickly spread like lightning to the farthest corners of the empire, and everyone started to treat Jews with respect.
On the 13th of Adar, the date on which the Jews should be exterminated by Haman and his forces, they gathered in public squares in every town and village, condemned to death by order of the king, who had all shown themselves as enemies. Seventy-five thousand men, ready to attack them, were sentenced to death, five hundred more in Shushan, as well as the ten sons of Haman.
When King broke the news to Esther and asked her if she was now satisfied.
"There are still in Shushan, numerous and formidable enemies who have not ceased their activities and must be exterminated if it is to live in peace. If the king feel right, tomorrow will be dedicated to judging, in Shushan, the last of the enemies Jews, for they are both enemies of humanity. And it must also hang the bodies-without-life of the sons of Haman. "
Esther's request was immediately attended to and, while Jews from other cities were celebrating and feasting on the 14th of Adar, the of Shushan were too busy condemning the enemies. They then entered the next day, the great day of his miraculous salvation.
Thus it was decided that the 14th of Adar was chosen as the feast of Purim, commemorating the miraculous salvation of our people and the downfall of the wicked Haman.
In respect to the Land of Israel which at that time lay in ruins, the Sages instituted in cities surrounded by walls, Purim was celebrated, as in Shushan, the 15th of Adar. This day is called Shushan Purim, the two are days of joy and gladness, and on this occasion, the Jews exchange mishloach Manot (gifts edible), and the poor receive donations.
At the same time, the Jews decided that the 13th of Adar, Purim eve, it would be a day of fasting, called the Fast of Esther "in remembrance of the prayers and fasts undertaken by people throughout the initiative of Queen Esther, the led to repentance and religious fervor, when they accepted willingly, all the commandments of the Torah.
Our sages explain that the two days of Purim will be celebrated forever, even in the messianic era, when other parties are void.
For 23 centuries, each generation of Jews celebrated every year, the festival of Purim. For the enemies of Israel, the "Hamans" of all time, this celebration is a solemn warning. For us, this wonderful festivity conveys inspiration, courage and faith and strengthens our devotion and connection to our great God merciful. She is at the same time, a precursor signal and some of our Redemption which will soon come.
