You get extra posts today!  I’m feeling inspired!

The festival of Purim (pronounced Poo-rim) started on Thursday.  Purim is Aramaic for “lots.”  When a person casts lots, they are trying to divine the future.  A bad man named Haman (boo) cast lots against the Jews and decided to destroy them on the thirteenth day of their Hebrew month -Adar.  But in the story of Esther, the Jews rose up and conquered Haman and his followers.  Queen Esther is a heroine of the story.  Can you imagine for a moment what it would be like to be Queen for a day?!

Make a list of things you’d do if you had command of your own kingdom.  I know it sounds silly.  But have a little fun.  All you need is a pen/pencil and some paper.

Today is the Purim carnival at our temple.  There will be games, food and people dressed up in costumes.  We dress up as characters in the Esther story.  I have quite a costume for Queen Esther, as you can imagine.  I’m helping the event coordinator, so I’ll have to get there early.  Maybe someday, I can bring you to our Purim carnival.  In the meantime, enjoy the music inspired by this wonderful story.