This is a colourful illustration from Megillat Esther (the Book of Esther) combined with verses and decorations. At the top of the page the word “Jerusalem” is written with the Hebrew abbreviation for the words “Here is the Holy City” above and the words “will be built and repaired quickly in our days, Amen” below.
The main illustrations are of scenes from the Book of Esther which relate to the story of Purim. The top illustration depicts King Ahasuerus stretching out his sceptre to Queen Esther, who is entering his chamber despite not having been summoned. The middle illustration is a picture of Haman leading Mordechai, who is sitting on a horse, dressed in the king’s clothing as the king ordered as a way of honouring and thanking Mordechai for saving his life. The bottom illustration shows the hanging of Haman’s sons on the gallows that Haman had built in order to hang Mordechai. The illustrations are interspersed with quotations from the Megillah.
At the bottom of the page is an illustration of Rachel’s Tomb which is located in Bethlehem. The style of the houses and villages depicted in the background is European, as are the people’s features and clothing. There is a Corinthian-style pillar on each side of the page.
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Purim - Purim is celebrated on the 14 Adar as the day the Jewish people were saved from destruction during the fourth century BCE. The heroine of the Purim story, Queen Esther, worked together with her uncle, Mordechai, to reverse the decree of genocide issued against the Jewish people by Haman, the vizier of Persia. It is the tradition on Purim to dress up in costumes, distribute small food packages known as mishloach manot, give charity, and listen to the reading of the Megilla – the Book of Esther.
Rachel's Tomb – The Bible tells us that the matriarch Rachel died in Bethlehem giving birth to Benjamin. In the north of the Bethlehem, a traditional-style building has been recognised as Rachel’s Tomb for more than 1,700 years. The building is considered holy by Jewish, Christian, and Muslim believers, and pilgrims from all three religions have prayed at the tomb since ancient times. Many of the Jews come to pray to the matriarch who died in childbirth for a safe childbirth, particularly on 11 Heshvan, the anniversary of Rachel’s death. In 1841, Sir Moses Montefiore renovated the site, added an antechamber for Muslim prayers, and obtained the keys for the use of the Jewish community. The shape of the building became a symbol of the return of the Jewish people to the Land of Israel and was included in many Jewish and Zionist art pieces, books, and even stamps. After the Oslo Accords were signed, Bethlehem became part of the Palestinian Authority. The building was fortified and separated from the city with a series of concrete barriers that also enable Jews access to the tomb.
