Who makes a dessert out of a hat?

Well, on Purim, we do something very much like that.

If this seems like a bit of a mystery,

Let’s go take a look at our history.

 

Ahasuerus was a king in Persia long ago.

He got angry at Queen Vashti, and declared that she must go.

He held a contest to choose a brand-new queen,

She had to be the fairest maid that he had ever seen.

A Jewish beauty, Esther, was the one who won his heart.

She was pretty, yes, but also brave and very smart.

She was an orphan; Uncle Mordecai had raised her.

He had taught her well, and all who knew her praised her.

Now Haman was the king’s advisor, a really evil guy;

He wanted all to bow to him. “No way!” said Mordecai.

Haman was quite angry and somewhat paranoid,

He ordered Mordecai and all the Jews destroyed.

He drew lots to settle on the dreaded, fateful day,

And grabbing his three-cornered hat, went on his wicked way.

“A certain people do not keep your laws,” he told the king.

“They surely must be punished. I’ll take care of everything.”

Sadly, the king was not the brightest guy,

And so he did not know it was all a vicious lie.

 

Mordecai told Esther, “Now it’s up to you.

“You’re one of us, you know, they will get you, too!

“You must plead with Ahasuerus, tell him about the plot

“So go and see the king and give it everything you’ve got.”

She was scared; there was a rule she had to break,

But Esther found her courage, knowing how much was at stake.

She was not supposed to see the king unless he asked her first.

But Esther went in anyway, preparing for the worst.

The king made an exception, for he was so in love,

And Esther felt the presence of her God above.

She told Ahasuerus everything, all that Haman planned,

The destruction of her people, all throughout the land.

Haman met the fate that he had wanted for the Jews,

And Esther’s people celebrated this outstanding news.

 

We take strength from Esther’s victory over wickedness and lies.

And when we remember Haman, we cut him down to size.

With our groggers and our voices we blot out his very name,

And he’s remembered only for his deceit and for his shame.

The hamantashen we enjoy remind us of his hat.

It’s fun to think just what that horrid man would think of that.

Some call them oznay haman, and say they’re like his ears.

Whichever way you look at it, he gets eternal jeers.

Whether lemon, prune, poppy, apricot or cherry,

They’re the perfect treat for a night of making merry.

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