Esther

was turned over for them from sorrow to happiness, from mourning to celebration — to make them days of feasting and happiness, and for sending 23 one another good things to eat, and giving gifts to the poor. And so the Jews accepted upon themselves what they had already begun to perform, just as Mordekhai had written. 24 For Haman, son of Hamedata the Agagite, enemy of all the Jews, had plotted against the Jews to destroy them, and had drawn the pur - the lot, that is — to 25 consume and to destroy them. And when Esther came before the king, he declared, by the scroll, that the evil plot Haman had hatched against the Jews must come down upon his own head - and he and his sons must be hung up 26 onthe post. And so these days were named Purim, after the pur. So, following the words of the letter, and what they had seen, and what had befallen them, 27 they established and accepted, for themselves and for their children, and for all who would ever come to join their ranks, never to be neglected - that they keep these two 038 35 they are prescribed and in their right times, every single 28 year. And indeed, these days are remembered and marked in every single generation, family by family, province upon province, town upon town; nor will these days of Purim ever be neglected by the Jews, nor their memory ever cease to be among their children. 29 And Esther, daughter of Avihayil, the queen, together with Mordekhai the Jew, wrote with all their authority, for this second letter of Purim to be 30 confirmed. And they sent out scrolls to all the Jews, across one hundred and twenty-seven provinces, all of Ahasuerus’ realm — words of peace and 31 truth. The scrolls were to confirm these days of Purim in their times, just as Mordekhai the Jew and Esther the queen had fixed them; and, indeed, as they had all fixed their fast days and entreaties, for themselves and for their 32. children. And so, Esther’s word confirmed this practice of Purim; and it was written down in the scroll. 101 As for King Ahasuerus, he levied a tribute from the people of all the land 2 and of the islands of the sea. And the full account of his authority and might, and all the greatness of Mordekhai, whom the king exalted - are they not already written in the Scroll of the Chronicles of the Kings of Medea 3 and Persia? * For Mordekhai the Jew was second-in-command to King Ahasuerus, and revered too among the Jews — beloved ofall the multitudes of his brothers, working for the good of his people, and speaking words of peace for all his children. * Continue with the Service for Purim on page 956.