The Purim Story Told Through Memes

The story of Purim unfolds in the Persian empire, where King Achashverosh rules over 127 provinces. To showcase his wealth and power, the King hosts an extravagant 180-day feast for his officials, followed by a seven-day banquet for all the people in Shushan, the capital city.

At the same time, Queen Vashti hosts a separate banquet for the women in the royal palace. On the seventh day, when the king’s heart is “merry with wine,” the king commands that his queen join his banquet so he can flaunt her to his guests. Vashti refuses the king’s summons, and the king is advised that he has no choice but to remove her from her royal position – lest all women start disobeying their husbands.

Now, in need of a wife, the king’s officers call upon all the young women across his kingdom to come forward so that the king can select a new queen.

In this kingdom lives a Jewish man by the name of Mordechai. Mordechai has an adopted daughter, Esther, and she is chosen to be the new queen. But Esther is keeping her Jewish identity a secret from her new husband.

From that moment on, Mordechai spends his days hanging around the palace gates. While there, he overhears two of the guards plotting to kill the king. Wasting no time, Mordechai gets word to Esther, who reports it to the king in Mordechai’s name. The plot is foiled, and the King writes down Mordechai’s act of loyalty in his Book of Chronicles.

*Enter Haman*

Promoted by the king, Haman rises to the highest position under Achashverosh, and he expects everyone to bow to him. And everyone does, except Mordechai. Jews do not bow or kneel to anyone.

When Haman finds out that Mordechai is Jewish, he decides that punishing just one man isn’t enough. No, he wants to wipe out the entire Jewish people.

Haman approaches King Achashverosh with a plan. He tells the king that there is a certain group of people scattered throughout the empire who ‘don’t follow his laws.’ With a small bribe, Hamas offers to handle it.

The king hands Haman his signet ring, sealing a decree that on the 13th of Adar, every Jew: man, woman, and child, will be killed. Letters go out to all the provinces.

Upon hearing the news of the Jewish people’s fate, Mordechai tears his clothes and puts on sackcloth and ashes. He sends a message to Esther: Now is the time. She must go to the king and plead for her people. But there’s a problem. No one, not even the queen, can approach the king uninvited.

So Mordechai sends Esther a powerful message:

“Do not believe for a second that you are safe in the palace. The opposite is true – you may perish while the Jewish people as a whole will always survive. You have an opportunity to act, a chance to take responsibility for your people. After all, perhaps it is for this reason alone that you became queen?”

And so, understanding her mission, Esther requests that the Jewish people fast for three days, as she prepares to go to the king.

On the third day, she stands in the king’s court and the king is super pleased to see her. So pleased, that he offers her up to half the kingdom.

Instead of immediately revealing her request, Esther invites the king and Haman to a private feast. During this first banquet, when the king again asks what she desires, Esther simply invites them both to yet another feast the following day. The king is in suspense…

Meanwhile, Haman is soaking up all the royal attention.

On his way home from the first banquet, he passes Mordechai, who still refuses to bow. Fuming with rage, Haman consults with his wife Zeresh and his friends, who suggest building a gallows 50 cubits high (about 75 feet!) to hang Mordechai on. Haman loves this idea and immediately orders the gallows built.

That very night, the king can’t sleep. Instead of counting sheep, he asks for the royal chronicles to be read to him. Lo and behold, the exact page to be read to him is the one discussing Mordechai saving the king’s life from those plotting guards, and Achashverosh realizes he never properly thanked him.

Just then, Haman enters the palace to ask for permission to hang Mordechai. But before he has the chance to speak, the king asks, “What should be done for someone the king wishes to honor?” Haman, assuming the king could only be referring to him, suggests an elaborate parade: this special person should wear royal robes, ride the king’s horse, and be led through the city by one of the king’s nobles.

“Excellent idea!” says the king. “Now go do all that for Mordechai”

At the second banquet, Esther finally reveals her request, explaining that she and her people are being targeted. When the shocked king asks who would dare do such a thing, Esther dramatically points to Haman.

Achashverosh, furious, storms out to the garden to process this betrayal. Meanwhile, Haman, desperate, throws himself onto Esther’s couch to plead for his life. When the king returns and sees Haman in what appears to be an attack on the queen, his fury reaches its peak. A royal attendant points out the newly built gallows at Haman’s home, and the king orders his execution.

Haman and his ten sons are to be hung on the gallows, while Mordechai receives Haman’s position, house, and the king’s signet ring.

But the story isn’t over yet. The decree to kill the Jews, sealed with the king’s ring, cannot be revoked.

So Esther and Mordechai create a new decree allowing the Jews to defend themselves on the 13th of Adar.

The right to defend ourselves. Sound familiar?

The Jewish people win the war (tale as old as time) and Mordechai writes down this important story and sends it to all the Jews across the kingdom.

Purim becomes a Jewish holiday, the shift from grief to joy, from darkness to light, from near destruction to salvation. A day to celebrate the miracles that God does for His people, even when it may seem like He is hidden from a tale.

In fact, the name Esther actually means hidden. While God’s name is not explicitly mentioned in the story, the “hand” of God is clear to see.

We celebrate by reading the Megillah, giving gifts to friends, donating to those in need, and gathering for a festive meal.

And, of course, there’s plenty of dressing up, making noise at Haman’s name, and embracing a bit of chaos. It’s fitting for a holiday built on hidden identities, unexpected twists, and dramatic reversals of fortune.