Purim – Villains and Heroes

This Monday evening (March 2, 2026) marks the beginning of the celebration of Purim.  Everyone needs an occasional breather from the tensions and stress of life; even religions do.  Purim is a day of laughter, fun, pranks, and costumes all in relation to the biblical Book of Esther.

 In our day, Purim is, by many, a kids festival.  It’s a time for synagogue carnivals and craziness aimed at the very young at heart (ages 3-12).  After Bar Mitzvah age (13), there is a noticeable drop off in Purim attendance. . . and interest.  A handful of older adults still gather to hear the Book of Esther read but, for the most part, Purim becomes a holiday one remembers from their youth.  What a shame! The real lesson of this holiday rises above the frivolity often attached to Purim.  

Why the Book of Esther made it into the Hebrew Bible is a question that continues to be debated.  Fact: 1) God’s name is not mentioned in the book even once.  2) There is no mention of any religious observance, nor is there even a prayer of thanksgiving offered after Mordechai and Esther’s efforts to save the Jews. 

The Book of Esther is about a Jewish social climber (Mordechai), the lovely daughter (Esther) of his deceased uncle, and a hedonistic beauty contest to select a new queen for the King of Persia.  Mordechai would like nothing better than an honored seat at the gate of the king’s palace.  To achieve this, he enters Esther in the beauty contest but tells her not to mention that she is a Jew (which, presumably, would disqualify her).  Esther enters, wins, becomes queen, and Mordechai lands his cherished seat at the palace gate.  Not exactly Jewish role models!

At this point, the reader meets Haman, the king’s advisor. When Haman sees that Mordechai, a Jew, does not bow to him at the palace gate, he becomes furious and seeks revenge. Convincing the naïve king that the Jews threaten his rule, Haman is authorized to carry out their destruction, setting up an important lesson in the story.

Mordechai learns of Haman’s evil intention to annihilate the Jews and immediately informs Esther.  He tells her she must now reveal her true self to the king, even at the risk of her own life, and beg him to save the Jews.  She does.  The Jews of Persia are saved.  Haman and his family are put to death.  The Jews celebrate and the book comes to an end.

A hero is someone who takes the right action when it matters most. No matter what a person’s past might hold, their character shows itself in those crucial moments when making the correct choice—whether acting or staying still—can change everything. Mordechai and Esther may not have been considered the moral leaders of their time, but during a moment of crisis, they put everything on the line to do what was right. In that moment, they were true heroes.

You don’t have to be rich, famous, popular, or powerful to make a difference.  You just have to be willing to stand up when the moment arises.  Some years ago, you may remember the man in New York City who saw a person fall off the subway platform as a train approached.  Without thinking twice, he leaped on top of the person protecting him from the oncoming train. Both survived.  

In the unpredictable world we live in, the Book of Esther is just another reminder that there are heroes among us waiting for a moment of need to reveal themselves.  We are them!   We can make a difference!  Let’s begin, though,  by having some fun!!  Happy Purim!!

Rabbi Howard Siegel