Purim is a strange holiday for Jews, and nothing is stranger than its central piece: Megillat Esther (the Book of Esther). We dress up as someone else – just as Esther hid her identity (the name ...

The young Jewess Esther, adopted daughter of her uncle Mordecai, is among the girls selected; they are told to beautify themselves in the royal harem and prepare to spend the night with the king.