Sung by Members of Ester Cadoch Israel's Family. Tetuán, 1956.

Purim is one of the most joyful holidays of the Jewish religious calendar. The story of the beautiful Queen Esther and how she saved the Persian Jews from extermination in 473 B.C.is one of high drama. At a banquet, Mordecai, Esther's foster father and a secret Jew, refuses to bow to Haman, King Ahasuerus' (Xerxes) minister. Haman, in revenge,obtains the king's permission to massacre all the Jews. However, the king learns that Mordecai had saved his life from plotters in the palace. When Esther pleads with the king to save her, a Jew, and her people, he rescinds the order. Even so, Haman's supporters attack the Jews but are defeated in battle.

This drama is reenacted every year in plays, particularly among Askenazy Jews. But in old Tetuán, the people made an effigy of Haman, hung and then burned him; in the synagogue the children beat with hammers little wooden figures of Haman each time his name was mentioned. In recent times, Purim was the season for drinking and gambling at baccarat. Even peddlars and pushcart venders operated games of chance in the streets, attracting everyone, even the children.

Tonight is Purim, Drink the sour wine;
Wine, chickens and rice,
That Alvero sent to us.

Long live you, and me, too.
Long live all the Jews;
Long live Queen Esther,
Who gave us so much pleasure.

Tonight is Purim,
Drink the sour wine;
Wine, chickens and rice,
That Alvero sent to us.

Long live you, and me,too.
Long live all the Jews;
Long live Queen Esther
Who gave us so much pleasure.

Mordecai, the good Jew,
Who was in the King's court,
Was hated by Haman
Because he didn't bow to him.

Long live you, and me, too.
Long live all the Jews;
Long live Queen Esther
Who gave us so much pleasure.

Be quiet, crazy Zeresh ,
It's not your time to talk;
She made the rope for you
To be used on Purim.

Long live you, and me , too.
Long live all the Jews;
Long live Queen Esther
Who gave us so much pleasure.

Sung by Members of Ester Cadoch Israel's Family. Tetuán, 1956.


Esta noche de Purím,
bebe el vino vinagre;
vino, gallinas y arróz,
que lo manda Alvero.

Vivas tu, viva yo,
Vivan todos los judios;
Viva. la reina Estér,
que tanto placer nos dió.

Esta noche de Purím,
bebe el vino vinagre;
vino, gallinas y arróz,
se lo manda Alvero.

Vivas tu, viva yo,
Vivan todos los judíos;
Viva la reina Estér
que tanto placer nos dió

Mordecai, el buen judío,
que está en las cortes del rey;
aman no lo pudo ver
porque no se encorvó a él.

Vivas tu, viva yo,
Vivan todos los judíos;
Viva la reina Estér
que tanto placer nos dió.

Calla tu, Zeres la loca,
que a tí hablar no te toca;
que por tí se hizo la horca
y la estreno en Purím.

Vivas tu, Viva yo,
Vivan todos los judíos;
Viva la reina Estér
que tanto placer nos dió.