Mordecai was the first person in history to be called a Jew, although he was not the first Jewish person. As a result, the Jews killed over 70,000 of their enemies.The villain Haman was hanged on the gallows that he had built to execute Mordecai, and Mordecai was given Haman's job in his place.The book of Esther is the only book of the Bible that does not contain the name of God. Purim Traditions. 'In Israel, Purim baskets containing an assortment of sweets, cookies, bagels, wine, nuts and fruit are sold.A common treat at this time of year are 'Haman's pockets', sometimes called hamantashen.

The days following the Jews’ struggle with their enemies (the 14th and 15th of Adar) are declared days of feasting and merrymaking, today celebrated as Purim. Purim is celebrated on the 14th and 15th days of Adar, the twelfth month of the Jewish Calendar. Gragger (rattle) and traditional Purim cookies called hamantashen The leap year contains an extra month: Adar I and Adar II. Mordecai was the first person in history to be called a Jew, although he was not the first Jewish person. Mordecai then received a place of honor in the King's palace as second in rank and encouraged all Jews to participate in an annual celebration of feasting and joy, in remembrance of this great salvation and turn of events. Mary Fairchild is a full-time Christian minister, writer, and editor of two Christian anthologies, including "Stories of Cavalry. Esther is a Jewish girl who becomes Queen to King Xerxes of Persia, and through her bravery, is able to thwart an attempt to slaughter all the Jews living in Persia at that time.Purim commemorates Esther's courage in saving the Jewish people living in Persia 2000 years ago from extermination.The heroes are Esther and her cousin Mordecai. For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father's family will perish.And he pointed out that the reason she had become Queen was so that she could rescue the Jews.Going to see the King was risky for Esther, because if you approached the King without being invited you could be executed. Purim means 'lots' in ancient Hebrew and refers to the lottery whereby Haman was to choose a day for his planned Jewish massacre. There are seven leap years in each cycle. Previously the term was 'Israelite' or 'Hebrew'. So Xerxes issued another decree, which allowed the Jews to defend themselves against those who tried to kill them. See the  JESUS CELEBRATED PURIM. Believing that God had prepared her for this very moment in history -- "for such a time as this" -- as a vessel of deliverance for her people, Esther urged all of the Jews in the city to fast and pray for her. So Haman went to the King and told him that he ought to get rid of the Jews.There is a certain people scattered abroad and dispersed among the peoples in all the provinces of your realm.

Purim is observed in some places exclusively on the 14th of Adar and in others, exclusively on the 15th (Shushan Purim). (Esther 3:7)Purim is celebrated on the 14th and 15th days of Adar, the twelfth month of the Jewish Calendar.Adar usually falls in March, and is synonymous with joy because it has traditionally been a month of hope and good luck for the Jewish people.The 14th day of Adar is the day that Haman chose for the extermination of the Jews.In leap years, when there are two months of Adar, Purim is celebrated in the second month of Adar, so it is always one month before The festival is preceded by a minor fast, which commemorates Esther's three days of fasting in preparation for her meeting with the king.It's a mitzvah that Jewish people should eat, drink and be merry at Purim.A person certainly should not become so drunk that he might violate other commandments or become seriously ill.In addition, Jews are commanded to send gifts of money, food or drink, and make donations to charity.The sending of gifts of food and drink is referred to as 'sending out portions. Mordecai, a Jew from the tribe of Benjamin, had been living as an exile in Susa at the time. Gordon Franz. And the King hadn't sent for Esther for a month.Esther fasted for three days to prepare herself, as did all the Jews in her town, and then went to see the King.Fortunately he was pleased to see her, and she wasn't executed. Purim means 'lots' in ancient Hebrew and refers to the lottery whereby Haman was to choose a day for his planned Jewish massacre. Wine feast Without wine, Purim would have never occurred. This greatly angered Haman, and knowing that Mordecai was a Jew, a member of the race he hated, Haman began to plot a way to destroy all of the Jews throughout Persia. Today Purim is celebrated on day 14 of the Hebrew month of Adar (February or March). He welcomed her, and she, eventually, told him of Haman's plan to exterminate the Jews.She begged the King to show mercy to the Jewish people. The whole search is conducted like a beauty contest; even down to the contestants having to spend a year in a beauty parlour first.The chosen women then each have to spend a night with the King, to see if he enjoys them.She goes to him when he calls her - but if she goes uninvited, he can have her put to death.On a political level women are downgraded since at the end of the Book of Esther, the author ignores the Queen's achievements, and concentrates on praising Xerxes and Mordecai.In 2008 Peter Owen Jones visited the Jerusalem Great Synagogue for Purim.