“All of the holidays will be nullified in the world to come except the holiday of Purim.” —Midrash Mishlei 9:2, 8th century
Whether you believe that Jesus was the physical manifestation of God or if you believe that he was a teacher and rabbi, there is one thing about Jesus that every human being on this planet can agree with: he was born, lived, and died as a Jew. Jesus was born to a Jewish mother; he was circumcised (Luke 2:21), and he observed the laws, traditions, customs, and holidays of Judaism throughout his entire life.
One of those holidays that he observed begins this Monday night: the holiday of Purim. It is based on the Book of Esther, and tells of the defeat of the Persian tyrants 2,500 years ago through the combined efforts of people and the miracles of God.
The entire Book of Esther is recited, and we learn and remember about God’s miracles, the defeat of evil, and the ultimate victory of the Jews against all odds. The story takes place in Shushan, the capital of the ancient kingdom of Elam, and then the capital of the Achaemenid Empire founded by Cyrus the Great. Today, it is known as the city of Shush, and is in the southwest region of Iran, close to the borders of Iraq and the Persian Gulf.
