The morning call., 1892-03-11
THE FEAST OF PURIM,
And the Preliminary Fast OF Esther.
The Religious Observance.

And the Preliminary Fast of Esther.
The Religious Observance.
One of the most important religious festi-
walls on the Jewish calendar is Purim. which
this ye'r falls on Sunday next 1t will be
observed on that day and the next. Three
days before there is q festival called 1.-The
Fast of Esther" This will be observed
to-day.
Purim is from the Persian word which
means lots" because Haman, according TO
Scripture, had cast lots to fld an aus
piciOus day on which to destroy the Jews.
The feast of Purim is kept on the 14th and
18th Of Adar, and the Introductory feast,
the fast Of Esther, which precedes il three
days. is held n commemOration of Esther
and the Jews who by her desire tasted be-
fore she went into the presence of King
Ahasuerus TO plead for the Jews.
Esther was Jewess of Benjamin. descend
ant of the captivity carried to Babylon with
Jeconiah 597 or 599 b. C. She was born
abroad of family that decided to remain
instead of returning to Jerusalem. Her
original name was Hadassah, which mean s
myrtle. Her Persian name, Esther means
aud Is akin 10 star, Implying, like Venus,
coed fortune. Vashti the Queen, having
been divorced for refusing 70 show the
people and the princes her beauty, Esther
was chosen out OF the falreSt virgins col
lected from all the provinces, as her sue
cessor AhasueruS, unaware of her race,
granted leave to Haman. his favorite who
was offended with Mordecai for not doing
him reverence, TO destroy the whole people
to which Mordecai belonged. When Esther
heard Of this she made up her mind TO go
before the King even against the advice of
Murdecai, and when she sent word to him
declaring her intention, he sent her a reply
in these words:
Think not with myself that thou shalt
escape IN the Kings house more than all the
Jews"
And she babe the messenger return Nor
decai this answer
"Go, gather all the Jews that are present
In Shushan and fast We for me, and neither
eat nor drink for three days. night or day ;
l also and my maidenS will fast likewise :;
and so will go unto the King, which is not
according to the law, and If | perish,
perish
Then Esther. at the risk of her liIe unin-
yited, entered the Kings presence and OBJ
tanned virtual reversal of the decree
against the Jews, and Hannah was hanged
The Jews defended themselves most
effectually on the day appointed by
Hannah for their slaughter. ''Iu S1ushan,
at the palace alone they slew 500 and
Haman's ten sons on one day, and by
Esther's request, granted by the King, slew
800 at Shu-han; ana the Jews III the prov
nce standing for their lives, slew 10,
but on the spoil laid not their hands. ."
TLencef0rward the feast of Purim was kept
by the Jews as a day of gladnesS and Of
sendiug portions 10 one another and gifts to
the pour
When the stars begin TO peep on the 14th
of Adar candles are lighted IN joy and the
people assemble in the syDag0gae5 The
roll of Esther is read histriOncaily, and
when the aame IF Hannah is mentioned the
congregation in each exclaimS. Let his
name be plotted out" His sons names are
read III one enunciation, TO mark that they
were all hanged once. At the close of the
reading of the roll all cry out: Cursed be
Haman. blessed DO MordecAi; cursed be
Zeresh (who was Humans wife. blessed be
Esther; cursed be all dolattrs, blessed be
all Israelites, and blessed be HaI bonah. who
hanged Hannah"
At morning service there is read from
Exodus Xvii 1916. the doom of Amalek and
the people Of Agag q Samuel Vs. and
the story of Humans ancestors Esther
iii:D. During Putin there is much rel nc
Ing after the religious services have been
observed. The feast began among the
Jews of their own accord. Mordecai wrote
confirming il, and Esther joined with him
in writing all authority to confirm this
second letter of Pu.im."