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Purim Shpiel

Megillah Gragger Hamentashen Mishloach Manot Se’udah Matanot le’evyonim Purim Shpiel

Another popular Purim custom is to perform funny plays called Purim shpiels which tell the story of Purim. In some of these plays, performed in Jewish schools and community centers, students sometimes even imitate their teachers and rabbis in ways that won’t hurt their feelings.

Ahashverosh

He was king of Persia, a very rich and powerful man. Only he wasn’t happy with his wife, Queen Vashti. One day, when the king was drunk, he had her banished. Now King Ahashverosh was a very lonely man.

Haman

At about the same time that Ahashverosh was feeling lonely (having banished his wife Vashti), Haman, one of King Ahashverosh’s advisor’s became a very important person in Persia. Ahashverosh agreed to do everything Haman told him, and Haman asked for a lot. He even wanted people to bow down to him.

Mordechai

With Ahashverosh's permission, Haman had decreed that all people should bow to him. But Mordechai refused to bow down to Haman. When Haman found out that Mordechai was Jewish, he decided to get Ahashverosh to kill all the Jews. The King agreed.

Esther

A few months before Haman decided that all the Jews should be killed, Ahashverosh held a contest to find someone to replace Vashti as queen. The most beautiful girl he found was Esther, Mordechai’s niece. At first, she did not tell the king that she was Jewish.

Guards

One day, Mordechai overheard two guards plotting to kill Ahashverosh. He told Esther, who told the king, and the two guards were executed.

Horse

Many months after Mordechai had exposed the guards' plot and saved Ahashverosh's life, Ahashverosh decided to reward Mordechai. He asked Haman what to do to a person whom the king wants to honor. Haman thought Ahashverosh meant him, and said that the person should be led through the city, wearing the king’s robes and riding the king’s horse. Ahashverosh said: “Do it to Mordechai.”

Rest of the Play

As the king's wife, Esther was now ready to tell the king who she really was (a Jew and the niece of Mordechai) and what Haman wanted to do to her uncle and to all her people. When Ahashverosh heard about it, he had Haman executed. Thanks to Esther and Mordechai, the Jews were saved.