Jews throughout the world will begin celebrating...

Jews throughout the world will begin celebrating one of their most festive holidays, Purim, at sundown Wednesday.

The festival is derived from the Book of Esther in the Bible: Esther captured the heart of the Persian King Ahasuerus by her extraordinary beauty and graciousness. Esther learned through her uncle, Mordecai, that Haman (an evil prime minister) had selected lots (Purim) for the day the Jews were to be destroyed. Esther revealed herself to the king as a Jew, begging him to save her people. Because of her heroic pleas, the Jews were saved and Haman was hanged as a tyrant.

It is customary that the Megillah (biblical scroll) containing the Book of Esther be read in the synagogue on this holiday and that children use noisemakers to drown out Haman’s name whenever mentioned.