Rava said: A person is obligated to drink on Purim until he is so intoxicated that he does not know the difference between “cursed is Haman” and “blessed is Mordechai.” (Megillah 7b ...

Nearly every character in the book is a caricature, from the bumbling King Achashverosh, to the wicked Haman; from the wise Mordechai to the beautiful Esther — all are portrayed in broad strokes.

Haman, the king’s advisor, plots to annihilate the Jewish people (Esther 3:5-6). Mordecai, Esther’s cousin, urges her to reveal her heritage (Esther 7:3-6). A single night of the king’s ...

He alerts the palace, and King Ahasuerus has those people put away and has Mordecai's good deed noted in his royal court records. The king appoints a man named Haman to be his second-in-command ...

Queen Esther and her cousin Mordecai were instrumental in rescuing ... often with noisemakers used to drown out Haman’s name; exchanging food gifts; giving to the needy; dressing in costumes ...

At the climactic moment, the emperor abruptly turns against Haman. In a rage, he orders him hanged and elevates Mordecai to be vizier in his place. As arbitrarily as he had condemned them ...