The Book of Esther tells the story of a young Jewish woman named Esther who becomes the queen of Persia after catching the eye of King Xerxes. Mordecai, her older cousin who raised her like a daughter, warns her not to reveal her Jewish identity to the king or anyone else.
Meanwhile, Haman, a high-ranking official in Xerxes’ court, becomes jealous of Mordecai and plots to have all the Jews in Persia killed. Haman convinces Xerxes to issue a decree allowing for the extermination of all Jews in his kingdom.
Mordecai urges Esther to reveal her Jewish heritage and plead with the king to rescind the decree. Esther risks her own life by approaching the king uninvited, but Xerxes is impressed by her courage and grants her request.
With the help of Mordecai, Esther exposes Haman’s treachery and saves her people from annihilation. The holiday of Purim is celebrated by Jews in commemoration of this event.
The Book of Esther is a powerful story of faith, bravery, and the triumph of good over evil.