Many children’s versions of Megillat Esther present the story with imaginative elements and colorful midrashic expansions that are appealing to young readers. However, this often produces an unintended educational effect: students grow up remembering the Megillah as a fantasy tale rather than as a real historical event in Jewish history.
Thus, even at older ages, many recall drawing legendary scenes in their notebooks—such as Vashti with a tail, Esther colored green like Shrek, or Haman’s daughter throwing trash at Mordechai—but they cannot reconstruct in their minds the basic sequence of the biblical narrative or place it within its historical context. Purim becomes associated more with a fairy tale than with Jewish history in the Persian Empire.
This booklet was created out of that concern and adopts a different approach: it presents the Megillah as a real historical episode, taking place when the Persian Empire was at its greatest expansion and connected to the life of the Jews in the Persian diaspora.
Although this narrative is written in language accessible to children, it faithfully follows the biblical text (peshat) and includes only those midrashim that help clarify it, without creating parallel stories.
At MESA we believe that Jewish education should begin with authentic knowledge of the sources. Interpretations and traditions can be added later with greater depth; without that foundation, the Megillah risks remaining only a “Purim story,” which students may come to undervalue as they grow older.
This booklet aims to ensure that from an early age students understand clearly that the story of Purim truly occurred, that it forms part of the ongoing history of the Jewish people through the generations, and that its message remains relevant today.
THE WORLD BEFORE MORDECHAI AND ESTHER
Long ago, in the year 586 BCE, the Bet HaMiqdash—the great Temple of Yerushalayim—was destroyed by the king of Babylonia, Nebuchadnezzar. Tens of thousands of Jews were taken into the Babylonian Empire. This event is known as Galut Bavel, the Babylonian Exile.
Nearly fifty years later, a major change occurred: the king of Persia, Koresh (Cyrus), conquered Babylonia, and the Jews came under Persian rule. In the first year of his reign over Babylonia (538 BCE), Koresh—recognizing divine inspiration—permitted and encouraged the Jews to return to Israel and rebuild the Bet HaMiqdash in Yerushalayim.
About 50,000 Jews returned to their land, led by Zerubavel, and in 516 BCE the Second Bet HaMiqdash was inaugurated, seventy years after the destruction of the first, as the prophet Yirmiyahu had foretold.
However, the great majority of the Jewish people remained in the Persian Empire. There they were allowed to practice their religion freely and enjoyed broad economic opportunities.
Under Emperor Darius, successor of Koresh, the empire continued expanding and an extensive network of imperial trade routes was organized and protected by the army, facilitating commerce between distant regions. Jews dispersed throughout the empire and developed a wide commercial network based on their shared religion and language, mutual trust, and credit.
Under Darius the Persian Empire reached its greatest extent. It included the Middle East—with the province of Yehudah (Yerushalayim)—and stretched into Africa, incorporating Egypt and Ethiopia. It was the largest empire in history.
Only one region remained outside its control: Greece. Darius attempted to conquer it but did not succeed. That mission passed to his son Achashverosh, who began to reign in 486 BCE. In his first two years he consolidated the empire, and in the third year, with his realm more stable, he began preparations for the great war against Greece. After several years of preparation and a military campaign that included more than five million soldiers, he returned defeated to Shushan in the sixth year of his reign.
It is in the third year of Achashverosh—when the kingdom was stable and prosperous and preparations for war were underway—that Chapter 1 of Megillat Esther takes place.
Chapter 2 occurs during the sixth and seventh years of Achashverosh, when the king has already returned depressed from his humiliating defeat in Greece.
Chapter 3 and the rest of the story of Purim take place in the twelfth year of Achashverosh, when the king loses interest in governing and delegates the administration of the empire to his new vizier, Haman, to whom he gives his signet ring and invests with broad imperial authority.
CHAPTER ONE
THE END OF THE QUEEN
King Achashverosh invited all the leaders of his empire to the palace in Shushan—generals, governors, and officers from Persia and Media. They stayed for 180 days. Each day the king made banquets for them and showed them the great wealth and power of his kingdom, so they would know Persia was strong and ready for war.
When the six months ended, the king made a beautiful party for seven days. This time he invited all the people of Shushan. The celebration was held in the palace gardens with fine fabrics, beautiful decorations, and royal cups. Wine was served freely.
At the same time, Queen Vashti held a separate feast for the women of the palace.
On the last day, the king drank too much wine and ordered Vashti to come to the men’s feast so everyone could see her beauty. Vashti refused to exhibit herself before a crowd of men.
In the Persian Empire, disobeying a royal order was considered an offense against the kingdom. Even the queen was not allowed to disobey the king’s order, and the king could not cancel his own law. Advisors told the king that Vashti had to be punished and removed.
An advisor named Memukhan suggested sending a decree to all provinces saying: Vashti would no longer be queen, another queen would be chosen, and husbands must be honored in every home by their wives. The king agreed, and the decree was sent to all 127 provinces in every language.
CHAPTER TWO
IN SEARCH OF A NEW QUEEN
In the seventh year of his reign, the king’s advisors suggested gathering all the single, beautiful women of the empire so the king could choose a new queen. The king agreed. Women were brought to Shushan and placed under Hegai, the keeper of the royal women.
In Shushan lived a Jew named Mordechai from the tribe of Benjamin. His family had been exiled from Jerusalem long before. Mordechai raised his orphan cousin Hadassah, called in Persian Esther. She was beautiful and kind.
Esther was taken to the palace. Hegai favored her and gave her special care and seven young women to serve her. Mordechai told Esther not to reveal that she was Jewish. She obeyed. Each day Mordechai walked near the palace to learn how Esther was doing.
Each of the selected young women had to prepare for one full year before meeting the king—six months with oils and six months with perfumes. After meeting the king, she would return to the women’s house and would only see the king again if she was called.
When Esther’s turn came, she took only what Hegai advised. The king loved her more than all the others. He placed the crown on her head and made her queen instead of Vashti.
The king held a great party called “Esther’s Banquet,” and in celebration he sent gifts to all the provinces. Esther still did not reveal her identity to anyone, as Mordechai had instructed her.
At that time Mordechai overheard two officials, Bigtan and Teresh, planning to kill the king. Mordechai told Esther, and she told the king in Mordechai’s name. The plot was stopped, and the men were executed. The event was written in the royal records, but Mordechai received no reward.
CHAPTER THREE
A NEW PRIME MINISTER
Later the king appointed Haman as prime minister. He became the most powerful man after the king. The king ordered everyone to kneel down to Haman. All obeyed except Mordechai.
The Sages explain that Haman wore an idol symbol, so kneeling down to him would be like idol worship, the most serious offense in Judaism.
When Haman realized that Mordechai was not kneeling to him, he was furious. He decided not only to punish Mordechai but also to destroy all the Jews in the empire.
To choose a day, Haman cast lots called “pur” (plural: “purim”). The lot fell on the 13th of Adar.
Haman had to get the king to sign an edict to eliminate all the Jews. But he did not want the king to know exactly what he was doing. So he told the king that “there is a scattered people with different laws who do not follow the laws of the king.” He offered silver if the king allowed their destruction. The king did not ask questions and gave Haman his signet ring.
Haman wrote a decree: on the 13th of Adar, anyone in the empire could attack the Jews and take their money and property. Messengers carried it to all provinces.
CHAPTER FOUR
MORDECHAI’S MESSAGE
Mordechai heard about the decree. He tore his clothes, wore sackcloth and ashes, and cried loudly in pain and grief. He went to the palace gate so Esther would notice him.
Esther heard that Mordechai was grieving. She sent regular clothes, but he refused. So she understood something serious was happening and sent Hatach to ask him why.
Mordechai explained Haman’s plan to Esther and gave her a copy of the decree. He told Esther to reach out to the king, explain what Haman was planning, and beg for her people.
Esther replied that anyone who came near the king’s throne without being invited could be executed unless the king extended his golden scepter.
Mordechai replied: If you do not do it, help will come from elsewhere—meaning from HaShem—but you may lose the opportunity to save your people. Perhaps this is why you became queen: to defend the Jews.
Esther decided to act. She asked all the Jews in Shushan to fast—and pray—for three days for her. She and her servants would also fast. Then she would go to the king. “If I fail, I will accept my fate.”
CHAPTER FIVE
THE FIRST BANQUET
After three days of praying and fasting, Esther dressed in royal clothing and entered the inner court uninvited. The king saw her near his throne and extended the golden scepter to spare her life.
The king asked her, “What do you want, Queen Esther?” Esther asked the king to come with Haman to a banquet she would prepare.
At the banquet the king asked again what she wanted. Esther asked that both of them come to a second banquet the next day.
Haman left joyful, honored to be invited with the king. But as he exited the palace, he saw Mordechai not kneeling down to him and was enraged.
At home Haman bragged about his wealth and honor, but said it meant nothing while Mordechai lived. His wife Zeresh and friends advised building a tall stake and hanging Mordechai on it. Haman agreed, and the stake was erected.
CHAPTER SIX
HONOR FOR MORDECHAI
That night the king could not sleep. He had his servants read the royal records to him. They read how Mordechai had saved the king, but received no reward. The king was surprised, because he wanted people to know that when they save the king, they will be rewarded.
At that precise moment, Haman arrived to request Mordechai’s execution. Before he spoke, the king asked Haman what should be done for a person the king wishes to honor. Haman thought the king wanted to honor him. He suggested royal robes, the king’s horse, and a public parade proclaiming the person’s honor.
The king ordered Haman to do this for Mordechai. Haman dressed Mordechai in royal clothing and led him through the city proclaiming his honor.
Afterward Mordechai returned quietly to the gate. Haman went home ashamed and grieving. His wife and friends warned that if Mordechai was Jewish, Haman would fall. But it was too late; the royal officers came to his house to bring him to Esther’s second banquet.
CHAPTER SEVEN
THE FALL OF HAMAN
At the banquet the king again asked for Esther’s request. Now Esther said she wanted the king to save her life and spare her people.
The king, who did not know about Haman’s decree, asked the queen who was threatening her and her people. Esther pointed to Haman. The king was furious and left the banquet in anger. Haman approached Esther and begged for her mercy. When the king returned, he saw Haman near Esther and became even more enraged.
A servant reported that Haman had built a stake to hang Mordechai, who had saved the king’s life. The king, with Mordechai’s heroism fresh in his mind, ordered Haman to be executed immediately on that same stake. Haman was eliminated, and the king’s anger ended.
CHAPTER EIGHT
A NEW DECREE
The king gave Esther Haman’s estate. Esther revealed that Mordechai was her relative. The king appreciated Mordechai’s loyalty, gave him the royal ring, and made him his prime minister.
But Haman’s decree still stood. Esther begged the king to stop it, but Persian law could not be canceled. The king told Mordechai to write a new law allowing the Jews to defend themselves.
The new decree, allowing the Jews to defend themselves and eliminate their enemies on the 13th of Adar, was sent to all provinces.
Mordechai left the palace in royal garments. The Jews of Shushan rejoiced, and across the empire the Jews celebrated and gained honor and respect.
CHAPTER NINE
THE CHOSEN DAY
On the 13th of Adar, the Jews gathered, defended themselves, and defeated their enemies. The new edict gave them permission to keep the money and property of those who attacked them, but they did not do so. They took no property, showing that they only wanted to be left in peace. Across the vast Persian Empire, the Jews fought on the 13th of Adar and eliminated 70,000 of their enemies. They rested and celebrated their victory on the 14th of Adar.
But in Shushan they fought on both the 13th and the 14th of Adar, and they rested and celebrated on the 15th. Therefore, Purim is celebrated on the 14th in most places and on the 15th in walled and fortified cities like Shushan—or Jerusalem.
Mordechai established Purim as days of joy, festive meals, and gifts of food to friends and to the poor, so that everyone could celebrate together and no one would be left out. The days were called Purim to remember that the date had been chosen by Haman through a luck-casting pebble—in Persian called “pur”—as a favorable day to eliminate the Jews. The name Purim reminds us that the Jewish people are not affected by “luck” or any other magic power, but by the “hidden hand of God,” who protects us behind the scenes. The day of danger became a day of salvation. Esther and Mordechai confirmed that Purim would be celebrated forever and everywhere in the world, because all the Jews in the world were in danger of destruction, including the 50,000 Jews who lived in Jerusalem in those days.
CHAPTER TEN
MORDECHAI’S GREATNESS
King Achashverosh continued ruling his empire for a few more years. The deeds of the King and the deeds of Mordechai were written in Persian records.
Mordechai became prime minister, second to the king. From the palace he always worked for the welfare of his people and was respected for generations.
