Happy Purim!

Purim, which begins tonight, is the celebration of the triumph of Queen Esther over the plot of Haman to kill all the Jews. Jewish children love to dress up and to hear the “purim shpiel,” the megillah’s story of how Esther, a Jew, married King Ahasuerus. They shake their groggers (noisemakers) whenever the storyteller mentions Haman, the evil adviser to the king who wore a tri-cornered hat. Haman hated the Jews because Esther’s uncle Mordecai refused to bow to him, saying he would bow only to God.

There are some fine books for children about Purim, including The Whole Megillah and It Happened in Shushan: A Purim Story.

And there are some movies including the Veggie Tales’ Esther, the Girl Who Became Queen and One Night With the King.

And don’t forget to try some Hamantaschen, the delicious triangular cookies filled with jam or poppyseeds.