A Purim Masterpiece

Last Shabbos, I was reading through my sons Olemainu and came across this wonderfully ARTSY version of the Purim story. I absolutely loved it and I know you will too! ENJOY!  

“Hear ye! Hear ye!” Yellowed the Grand Announcer of Shushan as he blue his trumpet. He red the announcement “King Achashveirosh is making a party in Shushan in 18 days to celebrate – and everyone is invited!”

Achashveirosh’s party was very lavish. There were gold and silver utensils, white, parsley green and aquamarine, sheets embroidered with fine linen and purple wool cords were spread about. Golden and silver couches were set up over marble floors.

At the party, Achashveirosh wanted to show off his beautiful queen, Vashti. He commanded that she appear, but just then Hashem made her break out in pink pimples and she was embarrassed to come.

Achashveirosh was purple with rage at her refusal to come. The artful Haman, who wanted his daughter to become queen suggested that Vashti be killed. She was. 

After Achashveirosh’s temper cooled off, he realized he needed a new queen. He sent messengers throughout the land to gather all eligible young girls. Esther, a Jewish orphan who was raised by her uncle, Mordechai Hasadik, was forcibly taken to the palettes. Mordechai warned her not to tell anyone that she was Jewish.

Alone in the palettes, Esther felt marooned. When she was brought before Achashveirosh, he chose her to be the new queen. Esther did not reveal her true colors. 

Haman, one of the king’s ministers was elevated to a high rank. Everyone had to bow down to him, but Mordechai refused. People asked Mordechai, “Orange you afraid of him?”

“He is wearing an idol around his neck. I will not bow down before him, and I’m not afraid of him. I serve only Hashem!”

He sat outside the palettes gates in order to be close to Esther. Haman turned colors every time he saw Mordechai. How dare he!?! He thought. I’ll show him!

First Haman went to the king. In clever tones, he painted a scene depicting the Jews as being a nation of different color stripes. 

He gave Achashveirosh lots of gold and silver to kill the Jews. The king’s messengers quickly spread the word in all of Achashveirosh’s 127 provinces that the Jews in all the lands would be killed on the thirteenth of Adar. 

When the Jews heard the decree, their world turned black. Mordechai put on sackcloth and gray ashes as a sign of mourning. 

Next Haman went home and asked his wife Zeresh for advice. “White don’t you hang him on a tall evergreen or other type of tree?” she suggested. Haman was tickled pink by the idea and lost no time preparing the tree. 

Mordechai begged Esther to the king and pleas on behalf of the Jew, she was the Jews only gray of hope. Esther agreed- even though by going to the king without being called by him was risking one’s own life.

In an ironic twist, Haman was forced to dress Mordechai in colorful royal clothes, ride him around on a horse and call out before him, “ This is what the king does to one that he wished to honor!” Haman was green with envy and red with shame!

At the second of 2 feasts that Esther hosted for Achashveirosh and Haman, Esther told the king how Haman was planning on killing her people. The king blue his top! He stepped out on the porch for some air!

Haman turned white. He tried to easle his way out. He turned to beg Esther for mercy and a malach (angel) pushed him down and he fell near the queen. Before he had a chance to get up, the king returned. Haman was colored form embarrassment and the king was livid! 

Achashveirosh agreed to give Esther all her art’s desire. Haman was hanged on the very tree he had prepared for Mordechai! Mordechai became the second to the king and was dressed regally in robes of aquamarine and white. A large golden crown and linens in purple cloaks

Truly – “Ain Sa’ir B’Elokim” There is no artist like our king. For the Jews the world turned from darkness to light. The rainbow of colors blended to bring brightness and joy to the Jews of Shushan and to all the Jews in the cast spectrum of Achashveirosh’s kingdom. The Purim story is a masterpiece that portrays Hashem’s watchful eye over his nation, even as His presence is hidden. Because the Jews did Teshuvah, their brush with death was replaced by graceful strokes of love from above.