"Mordecai instructed them to observe them as days of feasting and gladness, and sending delicacies to one another, and gifts to the poor." - Esther 9:22


Purim, a most joyous and fun Jewish holiday, remembers when Jews living in Persia were saved from annihilation. Purim is celebrated on the 14th of Adar, usually in March. The 13th is the day Haman chose for the massacre. On the 14th, Jews celebrated. Purim is always one month before Passover.

The Story of Purim

The story is recounted in the Book of Esther. Esther, a beautiful young Jewish woman was raised by her cousin Mordecai, as his daughter after losing her family. King of Persia took Esther to become part of his harem. The king loved Esther and made her queen without knowing she was Jewish as Mordecai told her to keep this secret.

Haman, an overconfident and self-centered adviser to the king, detested Mordecai because he refused to bow to Haman. To pay him back, Haman plotted to destroy all Jews." There is a certain people scattered abroad and dispersed among the peoples in all the provinces of your realm," in Esther 3:8 Haman reported to the King. Their laws are different from those of every other people's, and they do not observe the king's laws. Therefore it is not befitting the king to tolerate them." King Ahasuerus followed Haman's advice and told him to do as he pleased.

Mordecai persuaded Esther to go to her husband to save the Jewish people. This was dangerous as anyone coming into the king's presence without being summoned could be put to death, and Esther had not been summoned. Esther prepared herself by fasting for three days, dressed well and unannounced, went to the king. He welcomed her. She told him of Haman's plot saved her people. Haman was hanged on the gallows he had prepared for Mordecai.

The Book of Esther has no mention of God. Mordecai told Esther that the Jews would be saved by someone else if she didn't. An important message we learn from this story is that God works in unapparent ways that appear to be chance.

Rituals

Purim translates into English as lots. This refers to the lottery Haman used to choose the date for the extermination. Purim is preceded by a minor fast to remember Esther's three day fast to prepare herself for her unannounced meeting with the king.

The most important Purim mandate is to hear the reading of the Book of Esther, commonly known as the Megillah, scroll. As a point of interest, there are five Jewish scriptures called Megillahs (Esther, Ruth, Ecclesiastes, Song of Songs, and Lamentations). During the reading of the Megillah, we boo, jeer, stomp and rattle noise makers whenever Haman's name is mentioned to "blot out the name of Haman."

The Talmud commands us to eat, drink and be merry, to drink until you cannot tell the difference between "cursed be Haman" and "blessed be Mordecai." We must be careful not become so drunk that we might break commandments or become ill. Furthermore everyone who might suffer from alcohol is exempt from this obligation.

We are also directed to give to charity and send gifts of food or drink. Among Ashkenazi Jews, a favorite Purim dessert is hamentaschen, translated as Haman's pockets, as these triangular fruit-filled pastries represent Haman's three-cornered hat.

We hold carnival-like celebrations on Purim, dress in costumes, perform plays and spoofs and have beauty contests. There are no Sabbath-like work restrictions other holidays mandate.