This lesson extends the lesson called “The Exile and Return” (The Complete Guide to Godly Play, Volume 2, Lesson 12). The book of Esther is the basis for the Jewish festival of Purim. It commemorates the salvation of the Jewish people in the ancient Persian empire from Haman’s plot “to destroy, kill, and
annihilate all the Jews, young and old, infants and women, in a single day,” as recorded in the book of Esther. Purim means “lots” in ancient Persian. The holiday was thus named since Haman had thrown lots to determine when he would carry out his diabolical scheme.