In the Synagogue

Yom Kippur morning and decked out in our Persil whites we accompanied Guide Gail to a local synagogue in Tiberius. We were so thankful for this opportunity and showed devout attention to all explanations.

Visiting the Synagogue in Tiberius. Women upstairs and men downstairs.

Joseph, the local synagogue attendant, was so highly elated that we should show so much interest. So impressed indeed, that he agreed to show us their Holy Scroll. As I entered the building I had looked around for the scrolls of their Torah. Books there were a-plenty, but no obvious scrolls. I suspected that the richly embellished wall hanging hid what I was looking for. It did. Joseph drew back the curtain, unlocked the wooden doors, slid aside another layer of door to expose beautiful, shining silver containers. He opened one and these for us to see their Holy Scroll - clear black writing on brilliant white paper.

We were privileged to be able to see a little further into the Jewish faith.

Located on another wall was a list of Jewish festival days - Shavuot, Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur etc. and Purim. I innocently asked the significance of Purim which prompted a response, in which Gail, Pastor Peter and the Synagogue official all participated.

What manner of guide is this who is so sincere and knowledgeable about our blessed religion?

What manner of Christian Pastor is this whose knowledge of our religious text far exceeds that of most others who come to visit us?

And what manner of pilgrim group is this who are content to stand and listen to all ten chapters of the Old Testament book of Esther delivered by all three of us?

Their version lacked the continuity and Biblical phraseology found in most versions of the Bible, but it told the story. It is an interesting, gripping story , but I do wonder why it is part of our Holy Scripture. It runs as follows -

Esther

The powerful King Xerxes ruled his Persian Empire, which stretched from India to Ethiopia, from his citadel of Susa. He was one for throwing parties to show off his wealth and liberality. At one such party, after having imbibed a little too liberally he ordered his eunuchs to bring his wife, Queen Vashti, to the banquet. She was an acclaimed beauty and the King wanted to show her off in front of his guests.

But the queen refused to come.

The mighty king was furious. This could not be tolerated or soon all the wives in the Empire would be disobeying their husbands. He immediately sent an edict throughout all of his 127 provinces that every man should be ruler over his own household.

Now what to do with Queen Vashti? His advisers suggested that he divorce her and begin a search for a beautiful, young virgin who would become his new queen. King Xerxes finally chose a young girl, Esther, whom he installed in the palace.

Esther was an orphaned Jewish girl who was being raised by her cousin, Mordecai. The King had not been informed that Esther was Jewish. After Esther had been taken to the palace Mordecai missed her dreadfully for she had been like a daughter to him, and every day he walked up and down near the palace to be near her. One day he overheard how two of the King's officers were planning to assassinate him. Mordecai reported what he had heard to Queen Esther who passed the information on to the king, but giving credit to Mordecai.

The officers were apprehended, duly punished,  and Mordecai's name was recorded in the Book of Friends of the King.

The episode caused a reorganisation of the King's administration and a man named Haman was elected to  a position next in power to the King. Unfortunately power went to Haman's head and he decreed that everyone should bow down and pay homage to him. Mordecai refused to do this. Haman was enraged and when he realised that Mordecai was a Jew he was determined to destroy not only this man who refused to honour him,  but all the Jews in the Empire.

Haman and his henchmen cast the pur (that is they cast lots) to determine on which day the purge would take place. The thirteenth day of the month of Adar was selected. Haman then issued orders under the seal of the King's signet ring and couriers were sent to all the provinces of the Empire.

Mordecai, the Jew, was very alarmed when he learnt what was about to happen. He approached Queen Esther suggesting that she should beg the King for help. Naturally she agreed to do what she could to help her Jewish people. She sought an audience with the King realising full well the danger in which she was placing herself. Because of his great love for her, the King agreed to listen to her request.

Esther asked that the King and Haman come to a private banquet which she was organising. Her request at this first banquet was that the King and Haman come to a second banquet when she would make known her real request.

Haman was beside himself with pride. He boasted to all how he alone had been invited to dine with the Queen and King. His followers were also happy and all bowed down to pay him respect. But not Mordecai, the Jew. This enraged Haman and he had a gallows erected on which to hang this pesky Jew.

In the meantime King Xerxes had been browsing through his Book of Friends of the King, came across Mordecai's name and wondered how he had been honoured for what he had done. His servants informed him that Mordecai had received nothing. The King determined to redress this oversight, asked Haman what should be done to someone who had performed a deed that saved the King's life. Thinking that the King was speaking about him, Haman gave a long list of honours that this man should receive. Haman was then told to go and give these honours to Mordecai, the Jew, who was always walking up and down in front of the palace.

Oh, the disbelief, but Haman did as he was told. He was a worried man. His friends agreed that he was in trouble.

Worse was to follow for Haman.

That night at the second banquet, the King asked Esther for her request and she begged that her people be spared from annihilation. The King was furious and wanted to know who was planning this heinous deed. Esther pointed to Haman. The King was enraged and had him hanged on the gallows which he had built for Mordecai. He immediately revoked the edict ordering the massacre of the Jews, confiscated Haman's property and gave it to Esther. Mordecai was now elevated to a high position.

There followed great celebrations in the Jewish communities throughout the land. Mordecai decreed that this day of rejoicing and feasting be celebrated annually. People were to remember that this was a time when the Jews got relief from their enemies.

So was born the festival of Purim.

Thank you, I'm so pleased I asked. Mind you, I think that a few details found at the end of the Biblical version had been left unsaid. Check out for yourself!

The synagogue at Capernaum where Jesus would have taught (see Mark 1:21). The white reconstructed building shows signs of its previous beauty.

Again in the synagogue at Capernaum. What once was a beautiful house of worship!