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."
"This reply makes no sense.
Disregard it then.
What really makes no sense is;
"a seed of evildoers, children that are corrupters"
That makes no sense either. Speak plainly.
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Are there any remains? DNA might be telling if allowed.
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;
I'm almost certainly out of my league here, but is not a person's Jewishness determined by his mother's descent, rather than his father's? Hence though descended in the father's line from Benjamin, if his mother descends from Judah, (which line is not given) does that not make him a Jew?
I've heard that also but there is no reference as to the mother of Mordecai and the scripture stated that;
"If Mordecai be of the seed of the Jews"
not
"If Mordecai be of the "egg" of the Jews"
One Night With the King is an excellent retelling of the Esther story. Pretty much family friendly even with the angle that the King sampled Esther before their marriage. Peter OToole has a cameo and Omar Sharif an important supporting role.
I saw that on DVD (haven’t watched it) when it first came out, and didn’t get it, but saw it again, much reduced in price, and did get it. Took it to work (thought some of the customers would enjoy it) and it’s still there, I should grab it tomorrow and watch it tomorrow night. Anyway, thanks!
Seriously?
A portion of Benjamin, and a portion of Levi were always considered "Jews" because they lived in the southern kingdom (Judah).
The Babylonian captivity didn't include much of Judah.
Are you serious? - Genesis 3 speaks of the 'seed' of EVE brusing the head of the serpent.
But that does not make them of the seed of the Jews.
Deu 32:8 When the most High divided to the nations their inheritance, when he separated the sons of Adam, he set the bounds of the people according to the number of the children of Israel.
It seems that there were bounds afixed for a reason and that the tribes should remain seperate and distinct.
(Even my country, Canada, was at one time divided into twelve parts :-)
Splitter!
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