Esther denouncing Haman, who, according to the Purim story, attempted to have all Jews within the Persian Empire massacred. Hutchinson's History of the Nations/Universal History Archive/Universal ...

The Jewish holiday of Purim, starting Saturday evening, centers on the biblical Book of Esther. Set during the ancient Persian Empire, the story recounts how King Ahasuerus marries the beautiful ...

Sections 1 and 2 run 1,350 words. Feel free to skip Section 3 if the rest is too long. Section 3 runs 2,300 words. Feel free to skip sections 1 and 2 if Section 3 is what grabs you. If you are ...

Jews are noted for humor, but was the biblical book of Esther written as a comedy? True, it provides the basis for Judaism's most lighthearted festival, Purim. But could an ancient holocaust plan to ...

In anticipation of writing this year’s Purim column, I realized that I am hopelessly ambivalent about Purim 5785. Last year was difficult enough. But considering the unimaginable pain that collective ...

Martha Seif Simpson still remembers the kaleidoscope of penny candy at Dotty’s Variety. The pink bubble gum, the wisps of red licorice, those ubiquitous Necco Wafers — rows and rows of sweets awaiting ...

Sign up for Forwarding the News, our essential morning briefing with trusted, nonpartisan news and analysis, curated by Senior Writer Benyamin Cohen. In the Purim ...

With Purim just a grogger’s turn away on March 19, it's time to reroll the scroll of Esther and take another look at the whole megillah. It's a story with characters so lifelike, I should quote them.

For children, the Book of Esther is a fairy tale — of kings, queens, beauty contests and the foiled plans of a dastardly villain. The story can be read as proto-feminist, with Esther saving her people ...

Purim begins at sundown on Wednesday. The holiday recalls the ancient story of how Queen Esther bravely saved the Jewish people. It is a tradition for groups of Jewish people to read from the Book of ...

This weekend marks the Jewish celebration of Purim. And with Purim the biblical book of Esther comes to mind. This Cinderella-like story tells how a beautiful Jewish orphan girl named Esther is chosen ...