Quiz: How Well Do You Know the Purim Story?

The name of Esther's cousin who raised her is Mordecai. He took care of Esther after her parents passed away and played a crucial role in advising and supporting her throughout the Purim story.

The Persian king who ruled during the events of the Purim story is Ahasuerus, also known as Xerxes. He was married to Queen Esther and became an influential figure in the salvation of the Jewish people from Haman's plan.

The hero of the Purim story is Queen Esther. She risked her life to approach King Ahasuerus and pleaded for the salvation of her people. Her bravery and actions saved the Jewish community from Haman's evil plan.

The main villain in the Purim story is Haman. He plotted to annihilate all the Jews in the Persian Empire. His plans were foiled by Queen Esther and her cousin Mordecai.

Queen Esther was married to King Ahasuerus, also known as King Xerxes. Their marriage played a crucial role in the Purim story as Esther used her position as queen to save her people.

The punishment for anyone who approached King Ahasuerus without his permission was death. It was a strict rule in the Persian Empire, but Queen Esther courageously risked her life by approaching the king uninvited to save her people.

The book is at the center of the Jewish festival of Purim and is read aloud twice from a handwritten scroll, usually in the synagogue, during the holiday: once in the evening and again the following morning.

The Hebrew name for the Book of Esther is Megillat Esther, meaning 'the Scroll of Esther.' It is one of the books in the Ketuvim (Writings) section of the Hebrew Bible. The Megillat Esther is read aloud during the Purim holiday to remember the events of the story.

Before approaching the king, Queen Esther asked the Jewish people to fast for three days. Fasting is a spiritual practice of self-restraint and reflection. It was a way for the community to show solidarity and seek divine intervention in their time of crisis.

When Haman demanded that everyone bow down to him, Mordecai refused to do so. He believed in bowing only to God, which led to tensions between him and Haman. This refusal played a significant role in the events that unfolded in the Purim story.

The traditional triangular pastry eaten on Purim is called Hamantashen. These cookies are typically filled with sweet fillings like fruit preserves or chocolate. The shape of the cookie represents the three-cornered hat worn by Haman, the antagonist of the Purim story.

After Haman's downfall, Mordecai, Esther's cousin, eventually replaced him in his high position. Mordecai's actions in alerting the king about a conspiracy against him played a significant role in his rise to power. This turn of events further emphasizes the theme of divine justice in the Purim story.

The Jewish holiday of Purim is typically celebrated in the spring. It falls on the 14th and 15th days of the Hebrew month of Adar. The timing of Purim varies in the Gregorian calendar but usually occurs in February or March.

The traditional noise-maker used during Purim is called a Grager. It is a handheld instrument made of wood or metal. When spun rapidly, the grager creates a loud noise whenever the name of Haman is mentioned during the reading of the Megillah. The noise represents drowning out the memory of Haman.

The initial reason for Haman's hatred towards the Jewish people was their refusal to pay taxes. This refusal angered Haman, leading him to plot their extermination. The story highlights the danger of scapegoating and discrimination based on religious differences.