The Original Cinderella

Do you know what begins tonight?! Purim!

Okay, so I realise some of you may not know what Purim is, which is sad because I think you’re missing out.

Purim is first and foremost a Jewish holiday. People describe it as being a cross between Halloween and Mardi Gras, which is somewhat accurate. We dress up in costumes, wear masks, eat these funny-named triangular cookies called Hamantaschen (yum!), and even get ourselves a little tipsy. (Okay, so some of the Rabbis say we should get so intoxicated we can’t tell the difference between good Mordechai or evil Haman, but it depends on your tradition, I guess.)

I’m always torn between Pesach, Chanukkah, and Purim not knowing which one is my true favourite holiday. In the past, I’ve talked about how much I love Chanukkah, how that holiday is my favourite, but honestly, I can’t decide between the three.

And if I’m honest, maybe Purim is my true favourite after all. But why?

Well, there’s the obvious. For me, as the theatre aficionado that I am, it could be the costumes, the theatrics, the almost garish celebrations. We even have another tradition of retelling the story of Purim, also known as our Purim spiel, which is a comedic dramatisation of the events creating the holiday of Purim. (Usually at my shul we take this very seriously, but thankfully this year we’re not doing a spiel, and I’m secretly glad.)

But wait a minute… good Mordechai, evil Haman, Purim spiel, costumes, masks, drunkenness – what does this all mean?

I’m glad you asked because I think in spite of the traditions, it’s the story of Purim I love best, and it’s the story which makes this holiday my favourite.

Like all good Jewish holidays, Purim is centered around a story, a history, a retelling of something which once happened in our past we continue to remember into our futures, from generation to generation. As we say, “They tried to kill us, we won, let’s eat!”

Ever heard of a woman named Esther? She’s the reason we celebrate Purim.

Once upon a time, there lived a young girl in the Persian city of Shushan (Susa). She grew up an orphan under the care of her cousin, Mordechai, amongst the other Jewish exiles. Though they were strangers in a strange land, Hadassah (Esther) grew up in a peaceful home, protected and loved by her cousin.

There came a time many years later when the king, Ahasuerus (also known as Xerxes I), held an elaborate feast. It lasted for 180 days, and as the end neared, when the king was gladdened with much, much, much wine, he ordered his eunuchs to bring forth his queen, Vashti, so that he might display her beauty to his guests (i.e. parade her naked).

When the queen refused (rightfully so), under the council of the king’s advisors, she was banished.

This left the king without a queen, and so a decree went throughout the land that every young girl of marriageable age would be brought into the king’s harem to be prepared for selection as the new queen.

Hadassah was amongst those young women selected.

For twelve months, she spent her time in the king’s harem beautifying herself with the other women. Whilst there, she earned the favour of the head eunuch, who gifted her with servants and special cosmetics, but never did she reveal her true heritage – that she was a Jew – for Mordechai forbade her to do so.

When the time came for her one night with the king, she went to the king’s royal chambers, and Ahasuerus loved Hadassah. In fact, he loved her more than all the other women, and thus, he placed the royal diadem on her head making her queen instead of Vashti.

Only Hadassah’s role was not yet fulfilled, for Hashem held an even greater task for her to complete.

In the shadows of Ahasuerus’s Court, there schemed a man named Haman, who hated more than anything the Jews. He sought to destroy them, to annihilate their very existence.

Soon, he grasped his opportunity, and convinced Ahasuerus they were traitors to the crown, maybe even conspirators with their loathed enemies, the Greeks. To protect his kingdom from their evil, the king granted Haman the permission to write a royal decree that on the thirteenth day of the twelfth month the Jews were to be destroyed, massacred, and exterminated. All Jews in all provinces in all of Persia and all its territories. Young, old, children, women – all Jews were to die.

At this news, Mordechai, who worked as a palace scribe, tore his garments, put on sackcloth, covered his head with ashes, and mourned at the city gate. Upon hearing of his distress, Hadassah sent word to him, and through their correspondences she learned of Haman’s plan.

In his final message, Mordechai pleaded, begged Hadassah she would seek out the favour of the king, to ask for mercy that this decree be repealed. He warned her that even as queen, she would not be spared from Haman’s wrath, and that perhaps she was put in her position for such a time as this.

Though she had not been summoned, and it was a royal law to not appear before the king unless sent for under pain of death, Hadassah knew either way her life was forfeit.

After three days of fasting and prayer, Hadassah put on her royal robes and went to the king, but it was not death she found. Ahasuerus extended his golden scepter to her, and she was pardoned for breaking royal protocol. At this, she asked for him and Haman to attend a feast she prepared in their honour, and there she would ask her favour of the king.

The second night of the feast, Hadassah revealed who she was to her king, that she and her people, the Jews, were to be exterminated. Upon hearing this, the king demanded to know who dared to make such a decree. Hadassah declared it was Haman.

In his fury, the king left, leaving Hadassah alone with the adversary. Haman begged Hadassah for his life to be spared, but as Ahasuerus returned, he saw him prostrate on the couch with her. Enraged, he cried out asking if he even meant to ravish his queen in his own palace. At this, the guards seized him, and Haman was dragged away to be impaled on the stake he built for Mordechai especially.

That very day, Mordechai was made a prince of the king’s Court, all of Haman’s possessions and land given to him, and it was he who was instructed to reverse the royal decree by sending a second decree permitting the Jews to assemble and arm themselves; that to those whomever tried to exterminate the Jews as previously decreed, they were allowed to do unto them.

And thus, the Jews were saved.

I’m sure it reads like some Shakespearean drama, and it might even alarm some not understanding the historical context of this story, especially at the word “harem”. It is quite the story. However, if you take a step back and forget the shocking details, it’s nothing less of a real, genuine fairy tale.

A young girl of no particular means or significance is raised up to not only become queen of the largest empire at the time, but also save her entire people from extinction. And she even earned the love of the king.

Esther, Hadassah, is the original Cinderella.

If you want to read a more lengthy version of the story and don’t have a Tanakh or Megillah handy, my personal favourite retelling of Esther’s life is Hadassah: One Night with the King by Tommy Tenney, which, in my opinion, does not lose any of the historical contexts whilst emphasising the fairy tale hidden in this tale. (And there is quite a lot I left out.)

For me, this story, this real, authentic fairy tale, is a reminder just of how diligent, attentive, and considerate Hashem is of our plight.

Sure, it’s wonderful to imagine being like Hadassah, of being the one whom the king chose. I’m a 90s kid, and that means I grew up on a healthy, steady diet of Disney films. Obviously, my favourites are the Disney Princesses. While this drama is far more extraordinary than any Disney film, it’s more than just the [plausible] romance between Hadassah and Ahasuerus. It’s the romance between Hashem and his people.

When the Christian Bible was being canonized, it was debated if the book of Esther should be included at all. Why? Because Hashem is never mentioned.

I’m glad they decided to keep it in, for I think we all need this story to be reminded that even though we cannot see G-d, cannot feel G-d, cannot sometimes sense His presence, it does not mean He is not near, working out something for our good. It is this romance which I adore, the hiddenness of Hashem, His secretive ways. He’s like the ultimate secret admirer, if we but had eyes to see and ears to hear all which He does for our benefit.

Some even say this is why we wear costumes and masks, that like G-d mysteriously worked behind the scenes, ever remaining hidden, keeping Hadassah safe and hidden too in the palace of the king, we hide our true identities on Purim as we joyously celebrate our victory over death and extermination. (Of course, it could also be an influence from the Italian Jews of Medieval Europe since Carnival is kind of a major thing this time of year. Mardi Gras, anyone?)

Thus, whatever your traditions or beliefs or customs are this time of year, as the days lengthen bringing about the anticipated Spring and with it new life reborn from the harshness of Winter, may you find reason to rejoice and celebrate at the beauty and goodness of Life.