According to the Old Testament, the only non-historical source, Queen Esther saved the Jews of Persia from genocide, by revealing to King Xerxes the plot hatched by his vizir Haman. A tomb in Hamadan, Iran is believed to be Esther’s tomb. Every year, Jews celebrate this salvation throughout the world with a joyous festival.

In Israel, it is not uncommon to see Hassid Jews to be totally drunk on alcohol for this event, a state not befitting these strict observers of the Torah. For non-observant Jews, Purim is more a carnival than a religious festival. The rift between Hassid and lay Jews is also...