Shalom John,
Tomorrow (March 7th) at sunset, the festive one-day holiday of Purim begins.
Purim spiel (Purim play): Part of the fun of Purim is the Purim spiel, atraditional Jewish play that often involves a comic dramatization of events andcharacters found in the Book of Esther.
On Purim, in synagogues around the world, the entire scroll of Esther, which iscalled the Megillah, is read twice-once on the night of Purim and once on thefollowing day of Purim. (All Jewish holidays start in the evening at sunset.)
During the reading, the listeners participate by cheering whenever the heroMordechai, guardian of Esther, is mentioned and by booing whenever HamanÔÇôtheinfluential anti-Semite who had called for the annihilation of all the Jews ofPersiaÔÇôis mentioned.
We invite our readers to celebrate the faithfulness of God with us.
The scroll of Esther
Although Purim is a Biblical festival that is overlooked by the Church, it’s aneye-opening read for all people devoted to the God of Israel and His people.
The Book of Esther is chock full of irony, mysteries, secrets, and intriguethat provide powerful life lessons.
Unlike the other Holy Days of the Lord, the command to celebrate this festivalisn’t found in chapter 23 of Leviticus. What's more, the command tocelebrate this special holiday doesn’t come from God, but from Mordechai, thehero of Esther.
He commanded the celebration of the salvation of the Jewish People in ancientPersia from Haman's plot to annihilate all the Jews in a single day.
"Mordecai recorded these events, and he sent letters to all the Jews throughoutthe provinces of King Xerxes, near and far, to have them celebrate annually thefourteenth and fifteenth days of the month of Adar as the time when the Jewsgot relief from their enemies, and as the month when their sorrow was turnedinto joy and their mourning into a day of celebration." (Esther 9:20-22)
Jewish boy delighting in his Purim basket.
Purim is characterized by feasting, celebrating, dancing, wearing costumes and
great rejoicing.
It's traditional for Jewish people to send gift baskets called Mishloach Manot(sending of portions) to one another and to the poor.
These special baskets contain ready to eat foods that are fit for use at thefestive Purim meal. Among other foods, this might include special triangularcookies filled with poppy seeds or other fillings, called Hamentaschen (Yiddish)or Oznei Haman (Haman’s ears) in Hebrew.
Hamentaschen are traditionally eaten during Purim. While poppy seedfilling is the most traditional filling, others include prune, nut, date, apricot,fruit preserves, cherry, chocolate, dulce de leche, caramel, and cheese. Theshape are said to be like Haman’s hat or his ears.This common practice is based on Mordechai's command:
"He wrote them to observe the days as days of feasting and joy and givingpresents of food to one another and gifts to the poor." (Esther 9:22)
While many individuals do send food gifts to friends, neighbors, businessassociates and family, etc., the giving of gifts to the poor is oftenaccomplished by donating money or food to charities which distribute food onPurim day.
The poor are not exempt from participating in this practice.
At Purim, baskets called Mishloach Manot are given to friends, family,neighbors, and the poor. Although they traditionally contain food that can beused for the Purim meal, they also often have a variety of special snacksand treats.
A Game of Chance
"For Haman son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, the enemy of all the Jews, hadplotted against the Jews to destroy them and had cast the pur (that is, thelot) for their ruin and destruction.  Therefore these days were called Purim,from the word pur." (Esther 9:24-26)
The word Purim, as Scripture tells us, means lots, as in the method of choosingor making a decision seemingly by 'chance'.
In Persia, the pur (a lot) was used to seek guidance from pagan gods.
The nameof the holiday, therefore, is derived from Haman drawing lots to determine thedate when to schedule the extermination of the Jews!
The lot fell to the 13th day of the month Adar.
Although the day that Haman cast the pur seems to be a matter of chance, evena glance at the Hebrew calendar reveals God at work.
On the 13th day of the month Nissan, which is the first month of the Hebrewcalendar, the edict was issued that the Jews should be annihilated on 13th dayof the 12th month (Esther 3:7, 12-13).
Why is this significant? Because that was the day before Passover!
A Jewish family sits together to enjoy the Passover meal and recount thestory of deliverance from Egypt.
Imagine that every Jewish household in Persia was searching their houses forchametz (leaven) in preparation for the beginning of Passover the next day,when the would have a Passover seder (traditional meal and recounting ofthe story) to commemorate their deliverance from Egypt.
As they were preparing to retell the story of the Passover to themselves and to theirchildren the greatness of God's power in bringing them out of Egypt, theylikely received the shocking news.
In exactly eleven months' time, their enemies would attempt to murder each oneof them in cold blood for one reason and one reason alone ÔÇô they were Jews.
God had made sure that uppermost in His people's minds and hearts was theremembrance of His supernatural, mighty, and delivering power.
Haman had sent out a message promising destruction, but God's message to theJewish people seems clear: "He who delivered you from Egypt's pharaoh longago is well able to deliver you from Haman today!"
The Purim story written in Hebrew on a scroll that is set in an olive wood case.
Events may occur in our lives that seem random, but the book of Esther reveals
that God is in control, no matter how powerful our enemy or how bleak the situation.
Whatever our situation or circumstance, we can rest in the assurance that ourtimes are truly in God's hands (Psalm 31: 15).
The whole story of Esther seems to be one of happenstance, such as the following:
Queen Vashti 'just happens' to pick this time to refuse to come to theking's royal feast. In response, the king decides to find a new queen.
Mahane Yehuda Market, Jerusalem: Everyone can get in on the fun at Purim,including bakers, counter assistants, and cashiers.
Mysteries in the Book of Esther
"He reveals deep and hidden things; he knows what lies in darkness, and lightdwells with him." (Daniel 2:22)
Purim is a festival to dress up, wear a mask and have fun.
Little boys dress as Mordechai, the King, and even the bad guy, Haman. (Boo!)
Nowadays, however, the costumes have expanded to include every conceivabledisguise, since the theme of concealed, hidden and mistaken identities runsthroughout the Book of Esther and the festival of Purim.
Religious Israeli boys dressed in costumes for Purim.
Even God is hidden in the Purim story.
In a search of the entire scroll of Esther from beginning to end, the name ofGod isn't mentioned once.
For that reason, the book of Esther almost didn't make it into the canon of the Bible.
The closest reference to God is when Mordechai tells Esther that redemption forthe Jews will come from "another place" (makom aher) if she doesn’t act.
This term seems connected to HaMakom (literally The Place), which inJudaism refers to God "The Omnipresent."
Even when God seems hidden, He is still there, and He has promised to neverleave us nor forsake us.
Even when we can't see or understand what is going on in our lives, withtribulations before us, behind us, and surrounding us, God is still there.
He is faithfully working behind the scenes to work out all the details, divineappointments, and circumstances to secure our victory. He may even ask forour participation in the drama!
Queen Esther, by Edwin Long
In the Book of Esther, the heroine of the story, Esther, had a secret identity.
In obedience to the instruction given to her by Mordechai, her cousin andguardian, Esther concealed her Jewish heritage from King Ahasuerus, who notonly ruled over most of the known world, but was her husband (Esther 2:10).
She did not reveal her true identity as a Jewess until the exact right momentwhen it was necessary to defeat the plot of Haman.
The very name Esther (ÎÉÎíάο) comes from the root S-T-R which means hiddenor concealed. 
An Israeli girl dressed up as Queen Esther
In an ironic twist of mistaken identity, when King Ahasuerus asked Haman whatshould be done for someone who the king wishes to honor, Haman, in his ownsense of pride and self-importance, assumed that the king wanted to honor him.
"Now Haman thought to himself, 'Who is there that the king would ratherhonor than me?'" (Esther 6:6)
He, therefore, advised an elaborate public demonstration of favor. The man theking sought to reward, however, was Mordechai, Haman’s arch enemy, andHaman was elected to carry out the reward.
"'Go at once,' the king commanded Haman. 'Get the robe and the horse and dojust as you have suggested for Mordecai the Jew, who sits at the king's gate.Do not neglect anything you have recommended.'" (Esther 6:10)
The Triumph of Mordechai, by Pieter Lastman
In God's Kingdom, things are backwards or upside down, from the ways of the
world. After all, it's a Kingdom where the first are last and the last arefirst, where tax collectors and prostitutes enter before Kings and Pharisees,where the weak are strong and the poor are rich.
At the beginning of Esther, we see a poor orphaned Jewish girl named Hadassah,living in exile in the Land of Persia. But God saw potential in her. He sawEsther, a courageous and Godly Persian queen.
God also sees our true identity and our potential. He knows who we truly areand has a destiny for our lives.
The question is whether or not we will have the courage, perseverance anddetermination to take hold of it. Do we have faith to believe what the Word ofGod says about who we are in Messiah Yeshua (Jesus)?
Young Israeli girls dressed up in costumes for Purim in the Musraraneighborhood in Jerusalem.
Royal Positions and Hidden Identities
"For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jewswill arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish.And who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time asthis?” (Esther 4:14)
The Word of God says that our very life is "hidden with the Messiah in God."(Colossians 3:3)
In Messiah, our true identities are sons and daughters of the King of Kings andLord of Lords ÔÇô members of a royal priesthood.
Just like Esther was willing to lay aside her own plans and dreams to fulfillher destiny, to fulfill our destinies, we must lay our hopes and ambitionson the altar and say, "not My will but Yours be done."
Like Esther had a secret identity, the Church may also have a hidden
identityÔÇônot separate from the Jewish peopleÔÇôbut fellow citizens and anintegral part of the commonwealth of Israel.
"Remember that at that time you were separate from Messiah, excluded fromcitizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, withouthope and without God in the world." (Ephesians 2:12)
Just like Mordechai called upon Esther to approach the king to petition him for
the lives of her people, so too the Ruach Hakodesh (Holy Spirit)is crying outto the Church to pray and intercede for the salvation of Israel and the JewishPeople from the people and countries who threaten her survival.
Prayer at the Western (Wailing) Wall
Today, just like during the time of Haman, the current leaders of Iran (Persia)
are pointing their missiles and developing nuclear weapons to destroy theJewish people in Israel.
This is not a time to remain silent. You can be like Queen Esther.
Have you not come to this royal position for such a time as this?
Chag Purim Sameach (Happy Purim) from our ministry staff!
Shalom John,Received on Friday 14 March 2 14
Esther and Mordecai Writing the Second Letter of Purim, by Arent de Gelder
This Saturday night and Sunday, we celebrate one of the most joyous and fun-filled holidays on the Jewish calendar–Purim (Feast of Lots).
This festive day commemorates God's victory and deliverance of the Jewish People from their enemies in ancient Persia.
"This [victory] happened on the thirteenth day of the month of Adar, and on the fourteenth they rested and made it a day of feasting and joy." (Esther 9:17)
Hamantaschen, the traditional filled pastry of Purim, are a reference toHaman, the villain of the Book of Esther. The cookie’s triangular shape isthought to resemble Haman’s three-cornered hat. The groggers(noisemakers) are for drowning out any reference to his name.
Before the Purim feast this weekend, we fast.
Ta'anit Esther (the fast of Esther) is held in honor of Queen Esther's three-day fast before pleading with the king to spare the lives of her people. She told her uncle, Mordecai:
"Go, gather together all the Jews who are in Shushan, and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my attendants will fast as you do. When this is done, I will go to the king." (Esther 4:16)
This fast traditionally falls on Adar 13, the day before Purim, which was the day Haman set aside for the destruction of the Jewish People.
However, because Adar 13 falls on Shabbat (Saturday) this year, we fast tomorrow instead.
Tomorrow's fast begins an hour before sunrise and ends at nightfall. Because this fast is not one of the four public fasts called by the Prophets, its observance is more lenient. Women who are pregnant or nursing, as well as the
weak, are not required to fully observe it.
A Purim parade in Israel
The Fast of Joy
While most fasts have an element of mourning, this fast (tzom) is one of joy. It affirms that Israel's strength is not found in its military might, but in the Lord. Our victory comes by keeping our eyes on the Lord through prayer and by God's Divine mercy.
"'Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,' says the LORD Almighty." (Zechariah 4:6)
Although the Jewish People did take up arms and fight their enemies, that victory was only possible because courageous people prayed before taking action.
Rabbi Shraga Simmons writes that Ta'anit Esther is not a fast involving sadness (as is the commemoration of the destruction of the Temple on Tisha B'Av or on Yom Kippur when we repent for our sins of the prior year) but one of "elevation and inspiration."
He compares it with the Torah injunction that soldiers should fast on the day prior to battle, thus recognizing that victory does not come through our own strength but from God. (Aish)
Israeli Orthodox Jewish men read the Scroll of Esther (Megillat Esther).
Purim: A Day of Merrymaking
"Celebrate annually  observe the days as days of feasting and joy and giving presents of food to one another and gifts to the poor." (Esther 9:2022)
The Book of Esther describes Purim as a time of "light, gladness, joy and honor for the Jewish people." (Esther 8:16)
One indispensable way of spreading joy on Purim is the giving of Purim baskets filled with delicious goodies to family and friends, as well as gifts to the poor.
Purim is such a festive celebration that it is marked by wearing costumes, feasting at elaborate meals, and the reading of the Scroll of Esther (Megillat Esther).
As we listen to the story of Purim read in the synagogue, we grind our groggers (noisemakers) to block out the hated name of Haman whenever it is mentioned during the reading. With equal enthusiasm, when Mordecai’s name is spoken, cheering ensues.
This is a reminder that throughout history, there have been Hamans that have tried to wipe out the Jewish nation as a people, but in every generation, God has protected us from complete destruction.
The importance of unity and friendship is emphasized on Purim bysending gifts of food to friends called mishloach manot. As well, it isconsidered a special mitzvah (good deed) to give to the needy (MatanotLa'Evyonim) on Purim. It is traditional to give to (at minimum) two poorindividuals on Purim day.
Another custom practiced by some to blot out the name of Haman is to drink until we are not able to discern between "cursed is Haman" and "blessed is Mordecai."
This is one time of the year in which being drunk might be acceptable in Judaism.
Perhaps the rabbis encouraged such behavior because this is to be a joyous holiday, one in which we recall how God protected His People from total annihilation at the hands of an evil adversary.
A more compelling reason, though, may be that God installed a Jewish queen on a Persian throne as a result of excessive drinking.
Of course, the Brit Chadashah (New Covenant) encourages Believers not to drink excessively:
"And do not get drunk with wine, for that is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord." (Ephesians 5:18ÔÇô19)
The Book of Esther, however, begins with a drinking spree sanctioned by the Persian king.
The Megillat Esther (Scroll of Esther)
The Story of Purim
"By the king's command each guest was allowed to drink with no restrictions, for the king instructed all the wine stewards to serve each man what he wished." (Esther 1:8)
In the Book of Esther, King Ahasuerus of Persia, who probably can be identified as Xerxes I who reigned during the fifth century BC, holds a drinking fest that lasts 180 days.
After months of excess, celebrating with his army, government officials, and the people of Shushan, he orders his queen, Vashti, to appear before the guests so that he can show off her beauty.
Vashti refuses, so Ahasuerus has her banished (executed, according to Jewish tradition) at the urging of Persia's seven nobles, who are concerned that women would follow her example.
"Then when the king's edict is proclaimed throughout all his vast realm, all the women will respect their husbands, from the least to the greatest." (Esther 1:20)
A child wears a Purim costume as he listens to the reading of Estherin a synagogue in Ofra, Israel.
To replace the queen, the king orders a kind of beauty contest featuring the most beautiful young women of his kingdom.
One of those was the Jewish orphan Esther, who is being raised by her uncle Mordecai, a Benjamite "who had been carried into exile from Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, among those taken captive with Jehoiachina king of Judah." (Esther 2:6)
Each of the women completes 12 months of beauty treatments and eats special food before they are taken in to the king.
Esther, who had not revealed her identity as a Jew, is most favored by him.
"So he set a royal crown on her head and made her queen instead of Vashti. And the king gave a great banquet, Esther's banquet, for all his nobles and officials. He proclaimed a holiday throughout the provinces and distributed gifts with royal liberality." (Esther 2:17ÔÇô18)
A little girl dressed as Queen Esther for Purim placeshamantaschen in a basket.
While Esther is serving as queen, Mordecai uncovers a plot to kill Ahasuerus, saving the king's life.
Yet, this loyalty does not earn him favor with the king's chief minister, Haman, who is appointed after this event.
Mordecai, who sits daily at the palace gate, refuses to bow to Haman.
In retaliation, Haman plots his death, as well as the deaths of all of the Jews living in the empire.
With the king's permission, he casts lots (purim) to determine the best date on which to carry out the massacre. It falls on Adar 13.
Two Jewish men wear tefillin (phylacteries) formorning prayer on Purim.
Hearing of the plot, Mordecai instructs Esther, through the king's eunuch, to approach the king in order to plead with him on behalf of her people.
In her reply to him, she reminds Mordecai that to enter the inner court without being summoned by the king would likely result in her death.
Mordecai reasons with her, "Do not imagine that you in the king’s palace can escape any more than all the Jews. For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place and you and your father’s house will perish. And who knows whether you have not attained royalty for such a time as this?" (Esther 4:13├ö├ç├┤14)
Esther realizes the wisdom in her uncle's words and calls for a three-day fast, saying, "I will go in to the king, which is not according to the law; and if I perish, I perish, (Esther 4:16)"-which is to say, "God's will be done."
Esther before Ahasuerus, by Giovanni Andrea Sirani
With much united prayer, therefore, Esther approaches the king and reveals Haman's plans to destroy her people.
Realizing that even Esther would be killed, Ahasuerus hangs Haman on the same pole Haman designed for Mordecai.
The king also allows the Jews to defend themselves against the evil edict, resulting in the deaths of 75,000 enemies on Adar 13, in addition to 800 deaths in the king's citadel of Shushan on the 13th and 14th. (Esther 9:6, 15ÔÇô16)
An Israeli father and son dressed in costumes for Purim are on their wayto deliver a mishloach manot, the traditional Purim gift of treats.
Where Was God?
Much has been made of the fact that God's name is not mentioned in the Book of Esther.
Many say that this was intentional-to teach us that what may seem to be random events, such as the ten plagues in Egypt, in fact are not.
Even when God seems "hidden," He is still in control. Nothing happens by chance.
The rabbis even link this apparent hiddenness of God to Esther's name, as in "I will surely hide [as-tir] My face on that day." (Deuteronomy 31:18)
This idea of hiddenness in Esther, including her hidden identity as a Jew, explains why costumes and masks are worn by children and adults alike on Purim. The message of such masks is that though God may be hidden, He is there.
Part of the traditional Purim festivities is the Purim spiel, a comic,informal dramatization of the events that transpire in the Book of Esther.
Purim and Modern-Day Hamans
Purim reminds us that a "Haman" seeking to destroy Israel arises in every generation.
To find our Haman today, we need look no further than modern-day Persia-Iran-where leaders openly call for Israel's destruction. As well, tens of thousands of Hezbollah and Hamas "freedom fighters" surround Israel ready to carry out Israel's ruin.
Whether Haman is supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei of Iran or Germany's Hitler, who orchestrated the Holocaust, the Bible plainly states that those who curse Israel are doomed to destruction and those who bless Israel will forever be blessed. (Genesis 12:3)
The true message of Purim is that God does not break His promises to the Jewish People. They will survive and prosper in the homeland that He is bringing them back to in these tumultuous end times.
Even in what might seem to be random events today, God's presence is constant and His hand is evident.
"He will bring you to the land that belonged to your ancestors, and you will take possession of it. He will make you more prosperous and numerous than your ancestors." (Deuteronomy 30:5)
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu andhis wife Sara bring a little joy to sick childrenin honor of Purim.
Like Esther, there are times God is calling us to act on His behalf for the Jewish People.
We may not supernaturally hear a voice from Heaven commanding us to do this or that; instead, He might speak to us through a trusted family member, spiritual leader or friend.
Most often, however, we will come to understand His will through reading the Word of God.
For instance, in Mark 16:15, Yeshua (Jesus) told His Talmudim (Disciples), “Go into all the world and preach the Good News to all creation."
And in Isaiah 58:10, we read: "You must actively help the hungry and feed the oppressed."
Prayerfully consider helping our efforts in this Purim season as we continue the work of (1) developing the Messianic Prophecy Bible, (2) sharing the Good News of Yeshua HaMashiach (Jesus the Messiah) with the Jewish People, and (3) helping the poor.
Be like Queen Esther and know that FOR SUCH A TIME AS THIS John, you can make a difference for Israel and the Jewish people.