The Waterbury Democrat., 1936-02-26
HEBREWS AWAIT
 FEAST OFLOTS
Purim to Be Observed Here Beginning at Sun-
 down, March [

The loyalty of c JeWish woman to her people will be COnneFuogated by Jews all over the world when they observe Purim, the Feast Of Lots, which this year begins ct sundown Saturday, March 2. During this one day festival the Book of Esther Is read in the synagogue and the Jew- ish people rejoice as they remember that centuries ago on this day their fathers were delivered from perse- cutioi1.
 The story of Purizn had It's origin In ancient Persia four centuries be- fore the Common Era. Tradition says that King Allaseurus Of Persia deposed his wife Vashti because she was discbedient and married Esther, . beautiful Jewish girl, who was the cousin of MOrdecai, an influential man. in the Kingdom. The king had appointed his fa- vorite general, Haman, to the po- sition of prime minister. A bitter enemy of the Jewish people, Harnaa particularly dislilked Mordecai and because he had a quarrel with him as an idvidiual, he hated and plotted to Kill all the Jews.
 He went to King Ahasuerus with distorted tales about the Jews. He portrayed them as . deadly menace; he insisted that they must be eradi- cated from the kingdom; and in the end he obtained the kings ac- QuieScence to his plan.
 fIaman cast lots to select the day for the Jewish massacre, hence the name of the festival. He issued an edict under tkO kings seal ito destroy utterly all Jews, both young and old, and to take the spoil of
 them for Q prey"
 Aghast, Mordecai hurried to Queen Esther and innplored her to intercede on behalf of her people. Esther had not revealed her religion. For a moment she fesitated to seek 6 private audience wit hth king,
 for anyone who approached him
 without being vailed, was put to death unless he held out to them his golden sceptre, as the symbol of his forgiveness. L
 However, Bordecai, sensing the imperative need fhis people, spoke to the queen in phrases which have
 been immortalized in the Bible.
 Think not within thyself that thou shalt escape, in the kings house, any more than all the Jews. For if thou holdest thy peace at this time, relief and deliyerance will arise to the Jews from another place, but thou and thy fathers house will
 perish: and who knoweth whether thou art not come to royal estate for just such Q time as this?" Esther was persuaded, and went to the king who held out the golden sceptre to her. She invited him to q banquet and at the feast she told him of Haman's duplicity, of his plan to kill oil Jews which would include herself and begged the king to save her people from destruction.
 TIorrified and angered the king or. dered fIaman to be hanged on the same gibbet that he had prepared for Mordecai. Under the laws of the Medes and Perslans . royal order could not be revoked, but. Ahasuerus
 issued Q second edict which gave the Jews the right to arm thefli- selves and ito stand for their lives against all that would assault them" Tn commennoration the Jewish people give thanks and join in gay celebrations on this festival. Gifts are given to the poor, purim plays in memory of Queen Esther are pre-. sented, carnivals are held, and all Israel rejoices.