Posted on 03/11/2009 5:42:58 AM PDT by SJackson
A few months ago, the normally hostile Iranian regime took the rather unusual step of adding a Jewish holy site to its National Heritage List. On December 9, 2008, Iranian news outlets reported that the tomb of Mordechai and Esther, the heroes of the Purim saga, would now be under official government protection and responsibility.
The purported tomb of Mordechai and Esther in Iran. Photo: Courtesy The move cast a brief spotlight on the site, which is well-known to Iranian Jews but largely unfamiliar to those outside the country. And with Purim being celebrated this week, it is worth taking a moment to ponder this relic of our ancient past.
The mausoleum housing the shrine of Mordechai and Esther consists of a simple brick structure crowned with a dome which was built five to seven centuries ago over the underground grave sites. It is located in the northwestern city of Hamadan, about 335 kilometers west of Teheran. According to tradition, Hamadan is believed to be the site of the city of Shushan, which played such a central role in the events described in the Book of Esther.
Various travelers down through the ages took note of the site, with the first having been Benjamin of Tudela, the famed 12th century Jewish explorer.
Iranian Jews revered the shrine, and many would travel to Hamadan to observe Purim there by reading the Megila alongside the tomb. Others held family celebrations, such as bar mitzvas or circumcisions, at the site.
The entrance to the building is said to have been built intentionally low to compel visitors to bow their heads upon entering, thereby engendering a requisite attitude of respect. Inside the main hall, which is adorned with Hebrew inscriptions, lie two large, decorated wooden boxes, or trunks, below which are said to be the final resting places of Mordechai and Esther.
A small synagogue adjoins the tomb, and the site is also considered holy by Muslims and Christians, who come to pray there.
Next to the mausoleum lies a large hollow in the ground, which Iranian Jews believe to be the entrance to a tunnel that stretches all the way to Jerusalem.
INTERESTINGLY, THERE is a competing tradition which identifies the traditional burial place of Queen Esther and Mordechai as being on the outskirts of the village of Baram, in the Upper Galilee, near Safed.
As early as 1215, Rabbi Menahem Hahevroni wrote that while visiting the Galilee, he came across the tomb of Queen Esther, "who, during her lifetime, had instructed her son Darius to bring her there [for burial]."
Later pilgrims mentioned the site, and noted that special celebrations were held there on Shushan Purim.
Currently, the tomb is believed to be located in the ruins of a building found in the Baram National Park.
After the area was liberated in the War of Independence, a group of Safed Jews went up to the tomb on Purim in 1949 and read the Megila there to revive the long-standing custom of previous generations.
Hence, we have two conflicting traditions as to where the protagonists of the Purim story are buried, with one placing them in Persia and the other much closer to home.
And while we cannot say with any certainty which of the two traditions is more authentic or correct, of one thing we can all be sure: The deeds of these two great Jewish heroes will never fade from our collective memory.
As the Megila (9:28) itself tells us: "And these days of Purim shall not pass from among the Jews, and their memory shall not lapse from among their descendants."
“The deeds of these two great Jewish heroes....”
Cmon! Tell us more! Don’t make us wiki for it!
Now if we can find Haman’s gallows we have the story complete with the resident bad guy...
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus
Read the book of Esther. It’s only ten (pretty short) chapters long.
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Esther%201-10;&version=31;
Awesome-thanks! The full read is better but here’s is the story in 4 paragraphs:
Persian King Xerxes asks the Queen to come on out wearing the crown to show the guests at a party. She refuses so Xerxes starts looking for a new queen. Esther, an orphan raised by her cousin Mordecai, was one of many Xerxes looked at but she hid the fact she was Jewish. Xerxes liked her, made her Queen, and she tipped him off, thanks to Mordecai, on an assassination plot which really made him trust her.
Later on Mordecai refused to bow down in front of the new top royal guy Haman. Haman is so mad he doesn’t just want to just kill Mordecai, but wants to kill all his people (the Jews) and gets permission from the king to do so. Later, when Xerxes asks Haman about the best way to honor someone, (Hanan thinks the king is talking about him), Hanan tells him all kinds of great ways. The King says, Ok then, do these things for...Mordecai. Now Haman is even more mad.
Esther tells the king that she and her people are being threatened with death. The king ask by who and she says Haman. The king goes looking for him. Haman freaks and asks Esther to spare him. When the king returns he finds Haman sitting next to Esther he gets enraged and he has Haman killed on the same gallows Haman had prepared for Mordecai.
Esther tells the king she and Mordecai are related and Mordecai is given all of Hanans estates. The kings orders that the Jews will be allowed to defend themselves and they do just that-killing all their enemies thruout all the provinces when the time of Hanans planned attack had arrived.
A couple of years ago there was a very good movie called “One Night With the King” it tells the story of Queen Esther.
What's your source that is better than the Book of Esther?
bttt
None other than. . .
Est 2:5 Now in Shushan the palace there was a certain Jew, whose name was Mordecai, the son of Jair, the son of Shimei, the son of Kish, a Benjamite;
(Are you going to argue that every Israelite is a Jew?)
(Are you going to argue that every Israelite is a Jew?)
(Or argue that a Benjamite is of the seed of the Jews?)
It’s all about Purim. Intrigue within the Persian court, that had taken over Babylon, where the Hebrews were captives. Pretty interesting story, IMHO.
Where is the tomb of Mordechai and Esther?
Where did they leave it last?
Is that not clear?
Is that not clear?
-----------------------------------------------
It's clear you would regard him as a Jew.
... there was a certain Jew, whose name was Mordecai, the son of Jair, the son of Shimei, the son of Kish, a Benjamite;
I contend that he is not of the seed of the Jews but is a Benjamite.
I can go only by the English translations. But your claim would make all the other translators wrong.
I don't have any stake in this and don't even know what reason you might have for your cliam and don't care. I am simply pointing out the grammar.
I will argue that, yes. "Jew" is a shortening of "Judah", to be sure, but stands for the Great House of Judah, not the tribe of that name- And the Tribe of Benjamin was a part of the House of Judah.
I will argue that, yes. "Jew" is a shortening of "Judah", to be sure, but stands for the Great House of Judah, not the tribe of that name- And the Tribe of Benjamin was a part of the House of Judah.
Ya?
Isa 5:8 Woe unto them that join house to house, that lay field to field, till there be no place, that they may be placed alone in the midst of the earth!
This reply makes no sense.
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