Children in Purim costumes

Purim in Hebrew with faces on the letters

Megillat EsterA

translated into ASL by David Bar-Tzur

Created 19 February 1999, links updated monthly with the help of LinkAlarm.

Introduction to the ASL translations of the Jewish services

Unrolled megillah

Blessings before the Megillah readingB

LORD OUR GOD, KING WORLD~GENERAL, WE PRAISE. WHY? PEOPLE GROUP"each", YOU PICK-us US JEWISH PEOPLE HELP-us BECOME HOLY. HOW? COMMAND, OPEN-MEGILLAH1 TELL-STORY PURIM2.

LORD OUR GOD, KING WORLD~GENERAL, WE PRAISE. WHY? LONG-AGO YOU SHOW-TO-us US JEWISH PEOPLE, MIRACLE3. THAT TIME-PERIOD LONG-AGO, WE CELEBRATE NOW.

LORD OUR GOD, KING WORLD~GENERAL, WE PRAISE. WHY? (1-OF-3) YOU HELP-us LIFE, (2-OF-3) HELP-us BE-STRONG, (3-OF-3) ALLOW US ARRIVE NOW+ TIME-PERIOD.

Name signs

Achashverosh
A-KING.
Esther
E-QUEEN.
Haman
(2h)[H dot], POs > signer, FOs ><, are held under nose and separate while closing to (2h)[A dot] and rising slightly, as if Haman had a curly moustache like the villains in silent movies.
Mordechai
M-JEW, looks like SWEET. The megillah keeps calling him "Mordechai the Jew", so this seems reasonable.
Shushan
STONE B-GROUP'surrounding wall'. Shushan, being the capital and an important city had a surrounding wall.
Vashti
V-A-S-H-T-I, she doesn't show up for very long, might as well fingerspell it.

Unrolled megillah

megillah with opening wordsChapter 1Cmegillah with opening words

USED-TO-BE KING CALLED A-C-H-A-S-H-V-E-R-O-S-H, (SIGN A-KING). HIMSELF@lf CONTROL (<) E-T-H-I-O-P-I-A RANGE-FROM-lf-TO-rt4 (>) INDIA. GOVERNMENT DIFFERENT"each", TOTAL ONE-HUNDRED-TWENTY-SEVEN, alt.5:-CL"random"5. A-KING SIT-THRONE6 WHERE? CITY CALLED S-H-U-S-H-A-N STONE~B-GROUP7.

THREE YEAR TIME-GO-BY, HE-lf DECIDE CELEBRATE BANQUET. HE-lf alt.INVITE-rt WHO? (1-OF-5) GOVERNMENT ADMINISTRATOR, (2-OF-5) ADVISOR, (3-OF-5) ARMY BOSS P-E-R-S-I-A PLUS M-E-D-I-A, (4-OF-5) PEOPLE THEIR-ctr NAME~SHINY8, (5-OF-5) GOVERNOR CONTROL alt.5:-CL"random", #ALL-ON-LIST9. FOR-FOR? SHOW-OFF HE-lf RICHpc. HIS-lf COUNTRY INDEX-LIST10 HAVE++. RESPECT-lf BOW-DOWN-TO-lf MUST. 120 D-A-Y PARTY"over time". CRAZY-FOR11.

FINISH, KING alt.INVITE (2h)#ALL12 PEOPLE LIVE SHUSHAN. (<) ADVANCED13, (>) LOWLY14, DOESN'T-MATTER. (2h)#ALL-TO-lf15. PLACE RIGHT-NEXT-TO CASTLE. HAVE STONE WHITE COLUMN"each". FABRIC (<) WHITE, (>) PURPLE, (2h)4-CL'draped on columns'. COUCH (<) GOLD, (>) SILVER alt.SET-UP"each". STONE CHERISH VARIOUS CHIPS'in circle on floor'16 FLOOR SHINY17. EVERY ONE HAVE CUP GOLD. WINE, POUR-FREELY18. KING THROW-CAUTION-TO-WIND19, GO-AHEAD20 alt.DRINK. MUST, DON'T-MEAN-TO-SAY21. SERVANT THEY-ctr ALLOW THEM-rt ENJOY alt.THEIR-OWN-WAY22.

SEPARATE, QUEEN V-A-S-H-T-I SHE-rt CELEBRATE SIMILAR. ANY WOMAN LIVE PALACE23, SHE-rt alt.INVITE BANQUET. 1-WEEK"pc" PARTY"overtime", HIT* KING HE-lf TIPSY24, (role play King, drunken)25 EYES-ON-ME26 SEVEN-OF-YOU-ctr SUPERVISE MY WIFE++, TELL-rt QUEEN PUT-ON-CROWN27 GO-AHEAD SHOW"all" EVERY ONE HERSELF-rt BEAUTIFUL* (2h)WOW28. (role play ends) THEY-ctr GROUP-GO-TO-rt INFORM QUEEN, KING COMMAND COME-ON SHOW"all" YOURSELF BEAUTIFUL. (role play end) HAPPEN? QUEEN REFUSE. GULP.

GROUP-GO-FROM-rt-TO-lf INFORM-lf SHE-rt REFUSE, KING BLOW-TOP29. (role play King) PEOPLE GENIUS30 LAW, ME SUMMON. MEAN? JUDGE GOOD-AT, TOP* SEVEN, ASSEMBLE, ADVISE. (end role play) KING ASK SEVEN-OF-THEM-ctr, (role play King) ME COMMAND MY WIFE PUT-ON-CROWN GO-AHEAD SHOW"all" HERSELF-rt BEAUTIFUL* (2h)WOW. SUDDEN-WRONG31 QUEEN STUBBORN REBEL. LAW ALLOW ME PUNISH HOW? (end role play) ONE JUDGE 1-CL'step forward.

JUDGE SAY, (role play judge) UNDERSTAND V-A-S-H-T-I DISREGARD32 YOU ONLY, NOT. SOON TALK-SPREAD. WOMAN GOSSIP, KNOW-THAT33 A-KING COMMAND QUEEN, B-U-T QUEEN REFUSE. FROM-THEN-ON WIFE SHE-rt LOOK-DOWN-ON-lf HUSBAND, OBEY NOTHING. THEREFORE QUEEN DISREGARD HUSBAND GENERAL. WORSE, GOVERNMENT ADMINISTRATOR LIVE (<) P-E-R-S-I-A, (>) M-E-D-I-A, THEIR-ctr WIFE++ alt.HEAR QUEEN REBEL, FROM-NOW-ON REFUSE OBEY HUSBAND WILL. IF KING WILLING, BETTER ANNOUNCE (<) E-T-H-I-O-P-I-A RANGE-FROM-lf-TO-rt (>) INDIA. V-A-S-H-T-I, HER HUSBAND KING DECIDE EXILE34 FOREVER SAY-PERIOD. MEAN WIFE HUMBLE BOW-DOWN-TO-lf HUSBAND WILL. HERSELF-rt (<) ADVANCED, (>) LOWLY, DOESN'T-MATTER. (end role play) (<) KING, (>) ADMINISTRATOR, THINK-HOMOGENEOUS35 (2h)FINE*.

KING WRITE LETTER SEND"each" EVERY GOVERNMENT HE-lf CONTROL. WRITE LANGUAGE NOTATION36 alt.THEIRS. MAKE SURE HUSBAND CONTROL WIFE SAY-PERIOD.

Queen EstherChapter 2Queen Esther

MUCH-LATER37 KING CALM-DOWN. HE-lf THINK-ABOUT, (role play King) QUEEN REBEL, ME EXILE*. NOW GONE FOREVER, #DO-DO? (end role play) ADVISER rt-TELL-lf, (role play adviser) WHY~NOT COMMAND YOUR GOVERNOR EACH SET-UP SUPERVISOR. SUPERVISOR SEARCH, GIRL BEAUTIFUL GROUP-TOGETHER38, GROUP-COME-TO-us39 HERE CITY. KNOW+ H-E-G-A-I, HIMSELF-rt SUPERVISE YOUR WOMAN GROUP, HE-rt TAKE-CARE-OF GROUP NEW CAN. (1) CLOTHES, (2) NECKLACE, (3) MAKE-UP, alt.GIFT-TO"each", FINISH YOU VISIT LOOK-AROUND SCRATCH-CHIN40, WHICH REPLACE OLD QUEEN. (end role play) KING ACCEPT FINISH.

KNOW-THAT JEW CALLED M-O-R-D-E-C-H-A-I (SIGN M-JEW41) INDEX-lf LIVE SAME CITY. HIS-lf UNCLE HAVE DAUGHTER CALLED E-S-T-H-E-R (SIGN E-QUEEN) INDEX-rt. HER-rt PARENTS DIE FINISH, M-JEW ADOPT RAISE42 HER-rt. HER-rt (<) BODY SHAPELY43, (>) FACE BEAUTIFUL* AWFUL. KING COMMAND SEARCH. MANY GIRL ASSEMBLE-TO-ctr SHUSHAN MUST. H-E-G-A-I SELF-INDEX44 SUPERVISE. E-QUEEN ARRIVE, HE-ctr LOOK-OVER JAW-DROP45, SHE-rt BEST*. CLOTHES, alt.GIFT-TO-rt'pc'. PLUS SHE-rt PROMOTED46 TOP WOMAN GROUP, SAVE++ FOR KING. M-JEW HE-lf WARN E-QUEEN (role play Mordechai) INFORM"all" PEOPLE YOURSELF JEWISH, NO-NO47. (end role play) EVERYDAY M-JEW WORRY, 1-CL'pace to & fro' NEAR PLACE WHERE WOMAN GROUP LIVE THEREABOUTS@rt. CURIOUS WHAT'S-UP E-QUEEN, M-JEW alt.ASK-TO-rt.

UNDERSTAND RULES REQUIRE EACH GIRL PREPARE"over time + sta" ONE-YEAR BEFORE READY MEET-lf KING PROSTRATE-SELF48 BOW-DOWN-lf49. SIX-MONTHS O-I-L RUB-INTO-HAND50 #ALL-BODY51. FINISH, SIX MONTHS MORE CREAM RUB-INTO-HAND, #ALL-BODY. READY, EACH GIRL (<) CLOTHES, (>) JEWELRY, alt.PICK. EVENING ARRIVEwg, SHE-rt MEET-lf TWO-OF-THEM@lf TOGETHER++ OVERNIGHT. TOMORROW MORNING WAIT'over time' GIRL CONCERNED, (role play girl) HOPE KING LIKE ME, SUMMON-me #BACK-TO-lf WILL. (end role play)

TIME-WENT-ON52, E-QUEEN HER-rt TURN53. SHE-rt PLAN NOTHING. EVERYONE MEET++-rt LOOK-UP-TO-rt CRAZY-FOR. UP-TO-NOW A-KING HE-lf CONTROL COUNTRY SEVEN YEAR, E-QUEEN ARRIVE-lf, HE-lf JAW-DROP*, CHERISH*, PUT-CROWN-ON-rt . (role play King) FROM-NOW-ON MY QUEEN WHO? YOU. (end role play) PREVIOUS QUEEN, OFF-his-MIND54. (<) ADMINISTRATOR, (>) ADVISOR, KING COMMAND (role play King) alt.INVITE (2h)#ALL BANQUET CELEBRATE E-QUEEN BECOME QUEEN. COUNTRY GENERAL HOLIDAY55 SHOULD. ME alt.GIFT-TO"each + pc" HEAPS-OF56 WILL. (end role play) UNDERSTAND E-QUEEN rt-MEET-lf KING, rt-INFORM-lf HERSELF-rt JEWISH, NOT-YET, SHE-rt KEEP-CONFIDENTIAL57. WHY? M-JEW WARN-rt, SHE-rt KEEP-IN-MIND58.

HAPPEN MAN, TWO-OF-THEM@rt PROTECT THRONE ROOM CONSPIRE59 KILL KING. M-JEW OVERHEAR-rt60, INFORM-ctr E-QUEEN. ctr-INFORM-lf KING. HE-lf INVESTIGATE, FIND PROOF, TWO-OF-THEM@rt HANGED. M-JEW THUMBS-UP. KING COMMAND-rt (role play King) THAT STORY WRITE-DOWN MY HISTORY BOOK.

JokerChapter 3Joker

A-LITTLE-LATER'cs' ADVISOR CALLED H-A-M-A-N (SIGN H-MOUSTACHE61), A-KING PROMOTE TOP*. (CONGREGATION MOCK-rt)62 KING ANNOUNCE (role play King) HE-lf BOSS SUPREME. SUPPOSE TOP ADMINISTRATOR SEE HAMAN (CONGREGATION MOCK) #DO-DO? PROSTRATE-SELF BOW-DOWN-TO-lf MUST. (end role play) PEOPLE WORK FOR KING NOTICE-rt M-JEW REFUSE, SHOCKED. (role play courtier) "HEY" M-JEW, KING COMMAND BOW-DOWN-lf MUST. REBEL, WHAT'S-UP? (role play Mordechai) "PSHAW"63, (end role play) GO-AWAY64. (role play courtier) CRAZY-FOR, JEW HAVE-NERVE65. BETTER TATTLE-TO-lf HAMAN (CONGREGATION MOCK). LATER HAMAN (CONGREGATION MOCK) WITNESS-rt M-JEW PROSTRATE-SELF BOW-DOWN-TO-ctr NOTHING, BLOW-STACK66. HE-ctr CONSIDER67, (role play Haman) IF ME TRY REVENGE-ON-rt ONLY-ONE, NOT LOOK RIGHT. BETTER COVER-UP68. M-JEW HIMSELF-rt JEWISH, FINE*. ME REQUEST KING KILL (2h)#ALL JEWISH PEOPLE, MEAN INCLUDE M-JEW TOO.

KNOW-THAT FIRST JEWISH MONTH CALLED N-I-S-A-N, A-KING CONTROL UP-TO-NOW SEVEN YEAR, HAMAN (CONGREGATION MOCK) CAST-DIE69. FOR-FOR? DECIDE WHICH MONTH KILL JEWISH PEOPLE. HIT* TWELVE T-H MONTH A-D-A-R. HAMAN (CONGREGATION MOCK) ctr-TELL-lf A-KING (role play Haman) KNOW-THAT HAVE SPECIAL GROUP SPREADwg YOUR COUNTRY THEY-lf REFUSE MAINSTREAM~DISSOLVE70. alt.THEIR-lf LAW DIFFERENT*. ITSELF FOLLOW YOUR RULE+ NOT. THE-NERVE!71 IF YOU WILLING ANNOUNCE GOVERNMENT WANT DESTROY THEM-lf, ME READY PAY TEN THOUSAND SILVER72 COIN. (end role play)

KING HIS-lf SEAL73 TAKE-OFF-RING~GIVE-ring-TO-ctr74. HAMAN (CONGREGATION MOCK) HIMSELF-ctr REALLY-WANT75 TORTURE JEWISH PEOPLE. lf-TELL-ctr (role play King) MONEY, NOT-THAT. #DO-DO? UP-TO-YOU. (end role play) VERY-FIRST76 MONTH, 13 T-H DAY, KING SUMMON"each" SCRIBE77. HAMAN (CONGREGATION MOCK) COMMAND (2h)#ALL. KING ASK PEOPLE TRANSLATE"each" (<) LANGUAGE alt.THEIR78, (>) NOTATION alt.THEIR. A-KING SIGN-NAME"each", HIS-lf RING SEAL"each". ANNOUNCE SHUSHAN FINISH, MESSENGER, SEND"each" FASTEST POSSIBLE. LETTER INFORM"all" QUOTE, 12 T-H MONTH CALLED A-D-A-R, 13 T-H DAY, PREPARE'over time' MUST. IMPORTANT READY KILL JEWISH PEOPLE, DESTROY (2h)#ALL. (1-0F-4)79 YOUNG, (2-OF-4) OLD, (3-OF-4) WOMAN, (4-OF-4) CHILDREN), #ALL-4-ON-LIST80. LEAVE-ALONE81 NOTHING, B-U-T JEWISH THINGS, SEIZE CAN. (<) KING, (>) HAMAN (CONGREGATION MOCK), TWO-OF-THEM THINK-NOTHING82. GO-AHEAD (<) alt.EAT, (>) alt.DRINK, ENJOY'pc', B-U-T PEOPLE LIVE SHUSHAN, CONFUSED CONCERNED.

Solomon's sealChapter 4Solomon's seal

M-JEW HEAR STORY, HE-lf UPSET*. HIS-lf CLOTHES TEAR-CLOTHES83, REPLACE. WEAR CLOTHES ROUGH. ASHES SMEAR-FACE84, MOURN. HE-lf WALK'solemnly'-TO-rt85. BUILDING alt.B-CL'vertical surface passes by'86, alt.CRY-OUT87 BITTER. ARRIVE MAIN GOVERNMENT BUILDING, SOLDIER PREVENT-lf. WHY? MOURN INSIDE BUILDING, FORBIDDEN. EACH PLACE JEWISH PEOPLE READ KING LETTER, THEY-ctr MOURN. FAST88, WEEP, (2h)CRY-OUT'shake'. MANY WEAR CLOTHES ROUGH, ASHES SMEAR-FACE. SERVANT VARIOUS INFORM-rt E-QUEEN, SHE-rt DEPRESSED* STRONG.

SHE-rt COMMAND SERVANT, (role play Esther) CLOTHES NEW, BRING-TO-lf M-JEW, TELL-lf REPLACE CLOTHES ROUGH. SERVANT GO-TO-lf OFFER CLOTHES, M-JEW REFUSE. SERVANT GO-#BACK-TO-rt INFORM-rt. ESTHER SAY, (role play Esther) GO-TO-lf M-JEW, ASK, WHY YOU MOURN WHYwg? (end role play) SERVANT V:-CL'went down stairs'89 ASK-lf. M-JEW EXPLAIN, (role play Mordechai) ME PROSTRATE-SELF BOW-DOWN-TO-rt HAMAN, REFUSE. (CONGREGATION MOCK), HE-rt INFLUENCE KING DESTROY JEWISH PEOPLE. LETTER, HE-rt SEND-OUT"each". COPY, HAVE. (end role play) lf-GIVE-letter-TO-rt. SHOW-rt E-QUEEN INDEX-rt. TELL-rt (role play Mordechai) GO-TO KING BEG'over time', SAVE OUR PEOPLE. (end role play)

SERVANT V:-CL'return upstairs' #BACK-TO-rt TELL-STORY E-QUEEN. SHE-rt ANSWER-lf (role play Esther) TELL M-JEW, EVERY ONE (<) SLAVE, (>) FREE, DOESN'T-MATTER, KNOW*. WHAT-WRONG90 OBVIOUS. YOU KNOW-THAT IF PERSON DECIDE THROW-CAUTION-TO-WIND ENTER PRIVATE ROOM VISIT KING, KING PUNISH "HOW"? KILL-. HOLD-ON91. UNDERSTAND KING USE HIS-rt GOLD SCEPTRE92, POINT-SCEPTRE93, PERSON TOUCH-SCEPTRE94, SAFE INDEX-lf. 30 DAY UP-TO-NOW KING SUMMON-me ME NOT-YET. (end role play)

MESSAGE ARRIVE-lf M-JEW REPLY-rt (role play Mordechai) YOU THINK YOURSELF LIVE KING PALACE MEAN LAW AGAINST JEWISH PEOPLE NOT INCLUDE YOU QM? WRONG YOU. IF YOU KEEP-CONFIDENTIAL, SOMEONE ADVANCED above-HELP-us95 JEWISH PEOPLE SAFE, BUT YOU DIE, YOUR FAMILY PASS-DOWN DISSOLVE. HAVE REASON YOU BECOME QUEEN. MAYBE YOU HELP-us SAFE CAN.

MESSAGE ARRIVE, E-QUEEN, SHE-rt REPLY (role play Esther) YOU ANNOUNCE JEWISH PEOPLE LIVE SHUSHAN, FAST FOR ME. (<) alt.EAT, (>) alt.DRINK, NOTHING 3-DAY*. MYSELF PLUS MY FEMALE SERVANT GROUP FAST we-SAME-AS-you. 3-DAY* FINISH, ME VISIT KING. LAW PUSH-ASIDE96. ME DIE MUST, WILLING ME. (end role play) M-JEW OBEY-rt.

Grogger (noisemaker for Purim)Chapter 5Grogger (noisemaker for Purim)

E-QUEEN FAST FINISH, CLOTHES, REPLACE QUEEN ROBE97. SHE-rt GO-TO-lf KING, STAND OUTSIDE HIS-lf PRIVATE CASTLE. KING SIT-THRONE, NOTICE-rt. (role play king) ESTHER VISIT, FINEwg. (end role play) GOLD SCEPTRE, POINT-SCEPTRE. E-QUEEN TOUCH-SCEPTRE.

(role play King) WHAT-WRONG? INFORM-me, YOU DESIRE WHAT? ME WILLING SHARE EVERYTHING ME HAVE, DIVIDE FIFTY-FIFTY98. (role play Esther) ME HAVE BANQUET READY. DO-YOU-MIND HAMAN (CONGREGATION MOCK) TWO-OF-YOU COME? (role play King) INFORM-ctr HAMAN (CONGREGATION MOCK) GO RIGHT-AWAY. ME REALLY-WANT E-QUEEN SATISFIED.

E-QUEEN PREPARE BANQUET FOR KING PLUS HAMAN (CONGREGATION MOCK). TWO-OF-THEM-ctr alt.DRINK WINE, KING AGAIN lf-ASK-rt E-QUEEN. (role play King) ANYTHING YOU REQUEST, ME ACCEPT. ANYTHING YOU DESIRE, ME WILLING SHARE ONE-HALF, ONE-HALF. GO-AHEAD REQUEST. (role play Esther) (<) DESIRE WHAT? (>) REQUEST WHAT? IF YOU LIKE ME, (<) ENJOY GIFT-TO-me WHATEVER ME DESIRE, (>) ACCEPT WHATEVER ME REQUEST, (2h)FINE. TOMORROW HAMAN (CONGREGATION MOCK) TWO-OF-YOU COME AGAIN MY BANQUET. TWO-OF-YOU ARRIVE FINISH, ME INFORM-you WILL. (end role play) HAMAN (CONGREGATION MOCK) LEAVE-TO-lf, HE-lf HAPPY'hu', FEEL THUMBS-UP ALL-DAY.

LATER HE-lf NOTICE-ctr M-JEW SIT WHERE? GOVERNMENT BUILDING. M-JEW REFUSE GET-UP HONOR-lf. THE-NERVE! HE-lf BOILING-MAD99 SUPPRESS. ARRIVE HOME, HE-lf SUMMON (<) WIFE, (>) FRIEND THEY-rt ASSEMBLE-TO-lf100. HE-lf EXPRESS*'pow' TELL-STORY'exasperated'101. (role play Haman@lf) KNOW-THAT ME RICH'la++', CHILDREN MANY HAVE. KING DECIDE ME PROMOTED TOP*. HONOR-me MORE-THAN ANY (<) ADMINISTRATOR, (>) ADVISOR. PLUS E-QUEEN INVITE-us KING TWO-OF-US #GO BANQUET. UNDERSTAND THREE-OF-US THAT'S-ALL102. HOLD-ON, TODAY BANQUET FINISH, E-QUEEN INVITE-us KING TWO-OF-US #GO BANQUET AGAIN* TOMORROW, BUT ME LOW-ESTEEM103. WHY? TODAY M-JEW REFUSE GET-UP HONOR-me ME. (role play wife@rt) WHY NOT ORDER WOOD POLE104 100 F-T TALL SET-UP TOMORROW. REQUEST KING PUNISH M-JEW HOW? HANGED. OFF-MIND, TWO-OF-YOU RELIEVED, #GO BANQUET CAN. (role play Haman) OF-COURSE. me-SECOND-THAT105. ME ORDER WOOD POLE SET-UP #WILL.

Shaloach manot (Gifts of food for Purim)Chapter 6Shaloach manot (Gifts of food for Purim)

THAT NIGHT KING SLEEP CAN'T. TOSS-AND-TURN106, #DO-DO?. HE-lf lf-COMMAND-rt SERVANT (role play King) BOOK WRITE-DOWN MY HISTORY, BRING-TO-me YOU READ TELL-STORY TO ME. (end role play) SERVANT OBEY-lf. (role play servant) BOOK SAY QUOTE MAN TWO-OF-THEM@ctr PROTECT THRONE ROOM, TWO-OF-THEM@ctr CONSPIRE PLAN KILL-lf KING. M-JEW OVERHEAR-ctr INFORM-rt E-QUEEN. FINISH, SHE-rt rt-INFORM-lf KING. (end role play) KING LOOK-BACK107 REMEMBER.

(role play King) #DO-DO HONOR M-JEW? (role play servant) NOT-YET HONOR NOTHING. (role play King) RIGHT-NOW WHO OUTSIDE MY ROOM? (end role play) UNDERSTAND HAMAN (CONGREGATION MOCK) ARRIVE THEREABOUTS@rt. HE-rt INTEND REQUEST KING ORDER BUILD WOOD POLE PUNISH M-JEW, HOW? HANGED. SERVANT ANNOUNCE (role play servant) HAMAN (CONGREGATION MOCK) ARRIVE WAIT MEET YOU. (role play King) TELL-him COME-TO-me. (end role play) HAMAN (CONGREGATION MOCK) ARRIVE WAIT.

HAMAN ENTER, (CONGREGATION MOCK) KING ASK-rt, (role play King) SUPPOSE KING WISH HONOR SOMEONE, #DO-DO? (end role play) HAMAN (CONGREGATION MOCK) MULL-OVER108 TALK-TO-SELF109 (gaze upwards as if thinking to oneself) MYSELF BEST IN WORLD. OBVIOUS KING WISH HONOR-me (2h)ME. (role play Haman speaking to King) IF YOU KNOW SOMEONE WISH HONOR, COMMAND TOP* EXECUTIVE110 HELP-rt DRESS-UP YOUR ROBE, PUT-ROBE-ON-rt, TAILS THROW-TRAIN111. KNOW+ YOUR HORSE, ITSELF-ctr HAVE CROWN112. EXECUTIVE HELP-rt GET-ON-HORSE113. LEAD-TO-lf, PULL-BY-REINS ANNOUNCE"each", ME LEAD FOR-FOR? KING WISH HONOR-rt, HIM.

KING ANSWER-rt, (role play King) (2h)FINE. EVERYTHING YOU RECENTLY SAY, DO FOR M-JEW, SELF-INDEX WORK MAIN GOVERNMENT BUILDING. DO #ALL-ON-LIST, FORGET NOTHING. (role play Haman) GULP. (end role play) HAMAN (CONGREGATION MOCK) HELP-rt M-JEW INDEX-rt DRESS-UP KING ROBE, PUT-ROBE-ON-SHOULDERS, TAILS HE-lf THROW-TRAIN. HELP-rt GET-ON-HORSE. LEAD-TO-lf, REINS PULL-ON, ANNOUNCE"each", (role play Haman with no enthusiasm) ME LEAD FOR-FOR? KING WISH HONOR-rt, HIM.

FINISH, M-JEW GO-#BACK PALACE, HAMAN (CONGREGATION MOCK) PULL-UP-HOOD114, MOURN, WALK'fast'-TO-rt. ARRIVE HOME, TELL-STORY-TO-rt, COMPLAIN-TO-rt. (<) WIFE, (>) FRIEND, THEY-rt REPLY-TO-lf (role play friends) #IF M-JEW SELF-INDEX JEWISH, CONQUER IMPOSSIBLE. YOUR LIFE TAKE-DOWNTURN115 #WILL. (end role play) HIT*, MEN THEMSELVES-ctr SUPERVISE WOMAN GROUP FOR KING ARRIVE, TELL-lf HAMAN (CONGREGATION MOCK) (role play harem workers) HURRY. E-QUEEN READY. NOW TIME #GO116 BANQUET.

(<) HAMAN INDEX-lf (CONGREGATION MOCK), (>) KING INDEX-rt, ARRIVE E-QUEEN HER-ctr HOUSE, THREE-OF-THEM SIT-IN-SEMICIRCLE117 (<) alt.EAT, (>) alt.DRINK-ALCOHOL. KING rt-ASK-ctr ESTHER, (role play King) INFORM-me WHATEVER YOU REQUEST, ME ACCEPT. YOU DESIRE INDEX-LIST, ME WILLING SHARE EVERYTHING HAVE FIFTY-FIFTY. GO-AHEAD REQUEST. (role play Esther) (<) DESIRE WHAT? (>) REQUEST WHAT? IF YOU LIKE ME, (<) ENJOY GIFT-TO-me WHATEVER ME DESIRE, (>) ACCEPT WHATEVER ME REQUEST, PLEASE SAVE MY LIFE, PLUS MY PEOPLE. KNOW-THAT HAVE MAN SELF-INDEX READY (<) KILL, (>) DESTROY, MYSELF PLUS MY PEOPLE. SUPPOSE WE (<) MEN, (>) WOMAN, BECOME SLAVE, WILLING ACCEPT ME. WHY? KING HAVE RIGHT EARN BENEFIT. (role play King@rt) THE-NERVE!118 WHO MAN WHO? (role play Esther) OUR ENEMY MALICIOUS119 THAT-ONE-lf120, HAMAN, (CONGREGATION MOCK.) (role play King) JAW-DROP, LOOK-UP-AND-DOWN'bitter', BLOW-his-TOP121, GO-OUT-TO-rt FLOWER~THEREABOUTS@rt.

QUEEN HER-ctr BED, HAMAN (CONGREGATION MOCK-lf.) FALL-ON-BED122 BEG-ctr MERCY-ON-me. KING COME-#BACK-TO-ctr MISUNDERSTAND, (role play King) YOU TRY RAPE E-QUEEN? OFFENDED123. (end role play) HAMAN COVER-FACE-WITH-BOWED-HEAD. (CONGREGATION MOCK-lf.)

H-A-R-B-O-N-A, SELF-INDEX SUPERVISE KING HIS-rt WOMAN GROUP TELL-TO-rt, (role play Harbona) KNOW-THAT HAMAN (CONGREGATION MOCK) FINISH SET-UP WOOD POLE 100 F-T TALL. FOR-FOR? M-JEW SERVE KING GOOD, SUDDEN-WRONG HE-lf REALLY-WANT M-JEW HANGED. (end role play) INSTEAD HAMAN HANGED. (CONGREGATION MOCK-lf.) HE-lf HANGED FINISH, KING RELIEVED.

Solomon's sealChapter 7Solomon's seal

SAME DAY HAPPEN? A-KING rt-TELL-TO-ctr E-QUEEN, (role play King) HAMAN INDEX-lf OPPOSE JEWISH PEOPLE. (CONGREGATION MOCK) REVENGE-ON-lf "WHAT"? HIS-lf HOUSE NOW BECOME YOURS. (end role play) HIT* M-JEW ARRIVE, E-QUEEN INFORM-rt (Role play Esther) MY UNCLE WHO? M-JEW INDEX-lf. (role play King) REALLY?124 OH-I-SEE. BEFORE HAMAN (CONGREGATION MOCK) HAVE MY SEAL. NOW BECOME M-JEW HIS. (end role play) E-QUEEN ctr-TELL-lf M-JEW, (role play Esther) FROM-NOW-ON HOUSE HAMAN USED-TO-BE HAVE (CONGREGATION MOCK), YOU CONTROL.

AGAIN* E-QUEEN FALL-ON KNEES-TO-rt, (<) CRY'overtime'-TO-rt, (>) BEG'overtime'-TO-rt, (role play Esther) KNOW-THAT HAMAN (CONGREGATION MOCK) HIS PLAN STILL ALLOW KILL JEWISH PEOPLE (2h)#ALL. PLEASE PREVENT. (end role play) GOLD SCEPTRE, KING STRETCH-OUT-SCEPTRE, E-QUEEN STAND-UP, TOUCH-SCEPTRE. (role play Esther) (<) IF YOU LIKE (2h)ME, (>) REQUEST SEEM APPROPRIATE, (<) KING YOURSELF WILLING, (>) ENJOY GIFT-TO-me WHATEVER ME DESIRE, FINE++. HOLD-ON125.

(Esther continues) HAMAN (CONGREGATION MOCK) FINISH COMMAND COUNTRY RANGE-FROM-lf-TO-rt PREPARE'over time' 12 T-H MONTH CALLED A-D-A-R, 13 T-H DAY, MUST READY KILL, DESTROY, JEWISH PEOPLE (2h)#ALL. #DO-DO? YOU ANNOUNCE PLAN. MY PEOPLE (<) YOUNG, (>) OLD, (<) WOMAN, (>) CHILDREN, (2h)#ALL DIE, AWFUL*. JEWISH PEOPLE, ME CONNECTed-TO*, IDEA~LIKE (<) BROTHER+, (>) SISTER+. (end role play)

KING ANSWER-TO-lf (role play King) HAMAN (CONGREGATION MOCK) THREATEN JEWISH PEOPLE, ME PUNISH "HOW"? HANGED. HIS-ctr HOUSE, ME GIFT-TO E-QUEEN. NOW UP-TO-YOU TWO-OF-YOU THINK-UP COMMAND HELP JEWISH SAVED. WRITE-DOWN, PUT-IN-ENVELOPE, AFFIX-SEAL. WHY? PEOPLE NOTICE SEAL, BOW-DOWN OBEY WILL. (end role play) THIRD MONTH CALLED S-I-V-A-N, 23 T-H DAY, KING SUMMON"each" SCRIBE alt.1-CL'go to rt'126. M-JEW DECIDE HOW COMMAND, THEY-rt LISTEN-TO-lf WRITE-LIST. LETTER SENT-OUT"each" WHO? (<) JEW, PLUS (>) EXECUTIVES, (<) INDIA, RANGE-FROM-lf-TO-rt (>) E-T-H-I-O-P-I-A, 127 COUNTRY alt.5:-CL'lf to rt'127. USE (<) NOTATION alt.THEIRS, (>) LANGUAGE alt.THEIRS. ALSO HEBREW.

LETTER WITH SEAL EXPLAIN, A-KING ANNOUNCE 12 T-H MONTH CALLED A-D-A-R, 13 T-H DAY, IF ANY* MY COUNTRY alt.5:-CL'lf to rt' TRY ATTACK-lf JEWISH PEOPLE INDEX-lf, alt.TAKE-UP@lf128, (<) THEIR-lf WOMAN, (>) THEIR-lf CHILDREN,

THEY-lf ASSEMBLE, DEFEND-AGAINST-rt (<) KILL-rt, (>) DESTROY-rt (2h)#ALL@rt CAN. PLUS KEEP THEIR-rt THINGS. THEREFORE NOW* JEWISH PEOPLE NEED PLAN"overtime" READY REVENGE-AGAINST-rt. KING SPECIAL HORSE, MESSENGER HURRY RIDE-HORSE-TO-lf INFORM"each". PLUS INFORM LOCAL CAPITAL SHUSHAN.

M-JEW INDEX-lf, KING alt.GIFT-TO-lf. (<) ROBE-WITH-TRAIN, (>) GOLD CROWN. EVERYTHING (<) WHITE, (>) PURPLE, FANCY-CLOTHES129. SHUSHAN CELEBRATE. JEWISH PEOPLE FEEL (<) HAPPY, (>) WARM, (<) INSPIRED, (>) HONORED. ENEMY FAIL, (2h)FINE*, (<) HAVE-VACATION, (>) FEAST, (<) CELEBRATE. MANY PEOPLE LOOK-UP-TO-lf, (role play people speaking to left) CRAZY-FOR, JEWISH POWERFUL. WHY~NOT CHANGE RELIGION, BECOME us-SAME-AS-lf. (end role play)

Tzedakah (charity) boxChapter 8Tzedakah (charity) box

A-D-A-R 13 HAPPEN, TIME* FOLLOW KING HIS-rt COMMAND. PEOPLE, THEMSELVES@rt OPPOSE-lf JEWISH, INTEND BEAT-lf, GOTCHA@rt130, JEWISH BEAT-rt. JEWISH PEOPLE EACH CITY ASSEMBLE-INTO-GROUP@lf131 GO-AHEAD WAR AGAINST THEM-rt. WHY? THEY-rt AT-FIRST132 INTEND DESTROY THEM-lf. HAPPEN EACH CITY A-KING RULE, JEWISH PEOPLE COOPERATE FIGHT AGAINST THEM-rt. THEY-rt SCARED LIKE COWARD133.

KING HIS-rt EXECUTIVES READ M-JEW HIS-lf LETTER, AMAZEDwg. (2h)#ALL HELP'hurriedly'-lf. PEOPLE LIVE KING HIS-rt PALACE, MANY LOOK-UP-TO-lf. HIS-lf AUTHORITY MORE-AND-MORE134, HIS-lf NAME~SHINY SPREAD. JEWISH PEOPLE SLASH-rt-WITH-SWORD. MANY@rt alt.DIE@rt, THEIR-rt COMMUNITY TOPSY-TURVY135. CAPITAL CITY CALLED SHUSHAN, JEWS KILL 500 PEOPLE, DESTROY. ALSO KILL P-A-R-S-H-A-N-D-A-T-H-A, NEXT-DOWN-ON-LIST136, D-A-L-P-H-O-N, NEXT-DOWN-ON-LIST, A-S-P-A-T-H-A, NEXT-DOWN-ON-LIST, P-O-R-A-T-H-A, NEXT-DOWN-ON-LIST, A-D-A-L-I-A, NEXT-DOWN-ON-LIST, A-R-I-D-A-T-H-A, NEXT-DOWN-ON-LIST, P-A-R-M-A-S-H-T-A, NEXT-DOWN-ON-LIST, A-R-I-S-A-I, NEXT-DOWN-ON-LIST, A-R-I-D-A-I, NEXT-DOWN-ON-LIST, V-A-I-Z-A-T-H-A. ALTOGETHER SON 10. FATHER WHO? HAMAN (CONGREGATION MOCK). SELF-INDEX AGAINST JEWISH PEOPLE.

UNDERSTAND, JEWISH SOLDIER TAKE-HOLD-OF137 STEAL NOTHING. KING rt-INFORM-lf E-QUEEN, (role play King) KNOW-THAT HERE SHUSHAN, (<) KILL, (>) DESTROY, 500 PEOPLE PLUS HAMAN HIS-rt SON TOTAL 10 (CONGREGATION MOCK). OUTSIDE HAPPEN? BIG-QUESTION138. WHATEVER YOU REQUEST, WILLING GIFT-TO-you. WHATEVER MORE YOU DESIRE, WILLING HELP.

E-QUEEN ANSWER-rt, (role play Esther) DON'T-MIND139 ALLOW JEWISH PEOPLE HERE SHUSHAN CONTINUE FIGHT TOMORROW. PLUS 10 SON HAMAN HIS-lf (CONGREGATION MOCK) HANGED. (end role play) KING ORDER LIKE E-QUEEN REQUEST. OUTSIDE SHUSHAN, JEWISH PEOPLE ASSEMBLE-INTO-GROUP DEFEND-FROM-rt. 75,000 PEOPLE THEMSELVES-rt HATE-lf JEWS, THEY-lf TAKE-VENGANCE-ON-rt"each". TAKE-HOLD-OF STEAL DON'T-MEAN-TO-SAY. A-D-A-R 14 T-H, JEWS OUTSIDE SHUSHAN, (>) REST, FEAST, CELEBRATE, BUT JEWISH PEOPLE LIVE SHUSHAN, ASSEMBLE-INTO-GROUP@lf KILL-rt 300 MORE MEN. UNDERSTAND, TAKE-HOLD-OF STEAL NOTHING. A-D-A-R 15 T-H JEWS LIVE SHUSHAN, WAR FINISH, REST, FEAST, CELEBRATE CAN. REASON PEOPLE LIVE FAR-AWAY CELEBRATE 14 T-H, FOOD EXCHANGE"each", 15 T-H NOT. M-JEW MAKE-LIST EVERYTHING.

A-KING HIS-rt COUNTRY RANGE-FROM-lf-TO-rt, M-JEW WRITE LETTER SEND"each" #ALL-FROM-lf-TO-rt140. LETTER "WHAT"? FROM-NOW-ON EVERY-YEAR A-D-A-R (<) 14 T-H, (>) 15 T-H, JEWISH PEOPLE CELEBRATE MUST. WHY? LOOK-BACK REMEMBER TIME-PERIOD JEWISH TAKE-VENGANCE-ON ENEMY. SAD, GET-OFF-MIND141. MOURNING, PUSH-ASIDE-TO-rt. CELEBRATE. HOW? (<) FEAST, (>) ENJOY. FOOD, EXCHANGE-WITH"each", PLUS PEOPLE POOR, HELP"each". JEWISH PEOPLE DECIDE GO-AHEAD FOLLOW M-JEW HIS-lf LETTER. WHY? HAMAN OPPOSE JEWS. (CONGREGATION MOCK) HE-ctr PLAN CRUSH142, DESTROY. WHEN? HE-ctr DECIDE USE DICE143, CALLED P-U-R.

KING REALIZE WHAT'S-UP, HE-rt PUNISH HAMAN (CONGREGATION MOCK). HE-ctr PLUS HIS-ctr SON 10, alt.HANGED. THEREFORE (<) 14 T-H, (>) 15 T-H CALLED P-U-R-I-M PURIM CONNECTED-WITH DICE CALLED P-U-R. A-KING HIS-rt VARIOUS GOVERNMENT TOTAL 127, alt.5:-CL"each", M-JEW WRITE LETTER SEND"each". LETTER "WHAT"? (role play Mordechai) ME WISH YOU"all" SAFE, HAVE PEACE. A-D-A-R (<) 14 T-H, (>) 15 T-H, EVERY FAMILY, EVERY PLACE, LOOK-BACK REMEMBER, HONOR PASS-DOWN. (<) APPROPRIATE TIME, (>) APPROPRIATE WAY, WITH YOUR"all" CHILDREN PLUS ANY ONE WILLING.

E-QUEEN, HER-ctr MOTHER A-B-I-H-A-I-L, APPROVE M-JEW HIS-lf SECOND LETTER ABOUT PURIM. JEWISH PEOPLE REMEMBER MUST. DISSOLVE NEVER. M-JEW HIS-lf LETTER PLUS WAR alt.WITNESS, alt.EXPERIENCE, CONVINCE JEWISH PEOPLE CELEBRATE STRICT EVERY-YEAR. PLUS RULE (<) FAST, (>) MOURN, EVERYTHING LISTED.

cymbals crashing themselves togetherChapter 9cymbals crashing themselves together

A-KING FORCE PEOPLE WORK (1) COUNTRY, (2) COAST, (3) ISLAND. EVERYTHING KING DO PLUS HOW HE-rt HONOR-lf M-JEW, (<) M-E-D-E-A, (>) P-E-R-S-I-A alt.THEIR KING WRITE-DOWN HISTORY. UNDERSTAND M-JEW DIRECT UNDER A-KING. HIMSELF-lf WONDERFUL, POPULAR. WHY? HE-lf HELP"overtime" JEWISH PEOPLE.

Unrolled megillah

Blessing after the Megillah reading

LORD OUR GOD, KING WORLD~GENERAL, WE PRAISE. WHY? YOU FIGHT OUR WAR, JUDGE OUR RIGHT, TAKE-REVENGE FOR US, PUNISH OUR OPPRESSOR144, HELP-us US CONQUER OUR ENEMY. WE PRAISE YOU, LORD. WHY? YOU PUNISH OPPRESSOR FOR JEWISH PEOPLE S-A-K-E. GOD, YOU SAVE US.

On Purim night recite:

PEOPLE DESPISE145 GOD, HE-God DESTROY THEM. (2h)LONG-AGO JEWISH PEOPLE THEY-lf GROUP-WANDER146 DESERT, A-M-A-L-E-K HE-rt CHASE, WANT KILL, BUT GOD PREVENT. UNDERSTAND THAT BAD CHARACTER PASS-DOWN GIVE-TO-ctr HAMAN. HE-ctr PROMOTED, WANT DESTROY US, BUT GOD PREVENT. HIMSELF-ctr RICH, ARROGANT147, STUCK-UP148, SUDDEN-WRONG GOD GOTCHA. GULP149. HAMAN HATE JEWISH PEOPLE. WHY? REMEMBER E-S-A-U HATE HIS-rt BROTHER JACOB150? THAT* SINCE'lalala'. KING S-A-U-L CONQUER-rt KING A-G-A-G, BUT HAVE-MERCY-ON-rt. DON'T-WANT KILL. HIS-rt CHILDREN BORN, PASS-DOWN151 BORN, PASS-DOWN HIT* HAMAN BORN.

PEOPLE WICKED152 WANT DESTROY UPRIGHT153, BUT PURE154 CATCH NOT PURE, STUCK. MORDECHAI SOFT-HEARTED155 ABOUT ESTHER, MEAN CANCEL MISTAKE S-A-U-L NOT INTEND. HAMAN HE-ctr SIN WORSE-AND-WORSE156. HE-ctr REALLY-WANT BETRAY157, BUT COVER-UP158. HE-ctr PLAN"over time" DO-MISCHIEF159. ALL160 POWERFUL161 HIS-God's HOLY PEOPLE, HAMAN TRY TAKE-HOLD-OF. HE-ctr BLOW-MONEY162 TRY MAKE (2h)#ALL JEWS GONE, PLUS THEIR-lf NAME GONE. HAMAN MAD ABOUT MORDECHAI, PLAN REVENGE. HE-ctr COMMAND WAR IN SHUSHAN. MORDECHAI #DO-DO? HE-lf (1-OF-5) CLOTHES TAKE-OFF163, (2-OF-5) WEAR CLOTHES ROUGH, (3-OF-5) MOURN"over time", (4-OF-5) ANNOUNCE FAST, (5-OF-5) SIT A-S-H.

WHO WILLING PAY-OFF164 OUR DEBT? WHO INFLUENCE GOD FORGIVE OUR FOREFATHERS165 THEIR-lf INNOCENT WRONG PLUS THEIR-lf WICKED OFF-POINT-TO-LEFT-AND RIGHT? HIT* P-A-L-M TREE BLOSSOM166. KNOW-THAT ESTHER SHE-lf alt.REMIND167 PEOPLE GET-UP. HER-lf SERVANT ENCOURAGE HAMAN DRINK WINE FULL SNAKE POISON. OBSESSED MONEY, HAMAN SHOOT-UP168. DO WICKED, HAMAN SHOOT-DOWN169. HAMAN HE-ctr BUILD WOOD POLE FOR MORDECHAI, SUDDEN-WRONG HIMSELF-ctr HANGED. (2h)#ALL PEOPLE IN WORLD JAW-DROP WHY? HAMAN HIS-ctr DICE BECOME HOLIDAY FOR JEWS. (<) UPRIGHT SAVED, (>) WICKED GONE. HAMAN REPLACE MORDECHAI. JEWS DECIDE SET-UP PURIM CELEBRATE. HAPPY+ EVERY-YEAR. MORDECHAI AND ESTHER PRAY, YOU-God PAY-ATTENTION. HAMAN PLUS HIS-ctr SON TEN HANGED.

On both Purim night and Purim morning, recite:

JEWISH PEOPLE, THEMSELVES-lf JACOB HIS FLOWER. THEY-lf SEE MORDECHAI WEAR ROBE PURPLE, DEAF-APPLAUSE170 MAKE-NOISE171. ALL-ALONG"lalala"172 YOU-God SAVE US. EVERY GENERATION YOU-God GIFT-TO-us US HOPE. WE DISAPPOINTED OUR HOPE NEVER. WE TRUST YOU-God, SORRY NEVER. CURSE173 HAMAN HIMSELF WANT DESTROY ME; BLESS174 MORDECHAI, HIMSELF JEW. CURSE Z-E-R-E-S-H HIS-ctr WIFE WHY? SCARE ME. BLESS ESTHER SELF-INDEX PROTECT ME. DON'T FORGER PRAISE H-A-R-B-O-N-A, ALSO.

Footnotes

  1. All glosses marked with a footnote are described below. For an explanation of other glossing symbols used, see Explanation of glossing used. OPEN-MEGILLAH - (2h)[5:], POs down, FOs ><, separate while wiggling fingers as if rolling out scroll with fingers.
  2. PURIM - (2h)[P] held at eyes and then hands separate while closing to (2h)[U].

Unrolled megillah
Image credits
  1. All images, unless otherwise specified, are from http://www.his.com/~chabad/purim/ (Chabad of Maryland: Purim), which is no longer extant.

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