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May 2, 2024 · Purim, a joyous Jewish festival commemorating the survival of the Jews who, in the 5th century BCE, were marked for death by their Persian rulers. The story is related in the biblical Book of Esther. Learn more about the traditions and history of Purim.
- What Is The Purim Story in A nutshell?
- Why Is It called Purim?
- What Are Purim Observances?
- What Are Purim Traditions and Customs?
- When to Celebrate?
- What Is The Meaning of Purim?
- What Are Other Cool Purim Facts?
- How to Say Happy Purim?
- What Are Other Useful Purim Links?
The Persian Empire of the 4th century BCE extended over 127 lands, and all the Jews were its subjects. When King Ahasuerus had his wife, Queen Vashti, executed for failing to follow his orders, he arranged a beauty pageant to find a new queen. A Jewish girl, Esther, found favor in his eyes and became the new queen, though she refused to divulge her...
Purim means “lots” in ancient Persian. The holiday was thus named since Haman had thrown lots to determine when he would carry out his diabolical scheme. You can pronounce this name many ways. In Eastern tradition, it is called poo-REEM. Among Westerners, it is often called PUH-rim. Some Central-European communities even call it PEE-rim. (WARNING: ...
Reading of the Megillah (book of Esther), which recounts the story of the Purim miracle. This is done once on the eve of Purim and then again on the following day.Giving money gifts to at least two poor people.Sending gifts of two kinds of food to at least one person.A festive Purim feast, which often includes wine or other intoxicating beverages.There is a spirit of liveliness and fun on Purim that is unparalleled on the Jewish calendar. If there were ever a day to “let loose” and just be Jewish, this is it! Read why here. It is also customary for children (and adults, if they desire) to dress up in costumes. Read why here. A traditional Purim food is hamantaschen (or oznay Haman), three-c...
One of the unique aspects of Purim is the diverse timing for its celebration. ● Common Custom:Jews all over the world celebrate Purim on Adar 14, the day when our ancestors rested from the war against their enemies. ● Walled Cities: Since the Jews of Shushan rested one day later, their Purim was deferred to the 15th. This was extended to include an...
Purim means "lots." Like a lottery, which is not rational or predictable, Purim expresses that which is above nature and human understanding, In addition to the miracle of Jewish survival despite the efforts of our enemies, Purim celebrates G‑d’s intimate involvement in every aspect of this world. Even though there were no overt miracles recorded i...
All too often, Jewish communities have narrowly escaped catastrophe. More often than not, the plot involves an evil tyrant who follows the ways of Haman. And just like the Purim story, G‑d is there to save His people from certain doom. Some communities make their own “Purim” holiday on the anniversary of the date of their respective salvation. Some...
When Jews meet each other on the joyous holiday of Purim, they greet each other with wishes of “happy Purim.” In Hebrew, you say “chag Purim sameach” (write it חג פורים שמח and pronounce it KHAG poo-REEM sah-MAY-akh). In Yiddish, the traditional blessing is for “ah freilichen Purim” (write it א פרייליכן פורים and pronounce it ah FRAY-likh-en POO-ri...
Purim ( / ˈpʊərɪm /; פּוּרִים Pūrīm ⓘ, lit.' lots '; see Name below) is a Jewish holiday that commemorates the saving of the Jewish people from annihilation at the hands of an official of the Achaemenid Empire named Haman, as it is recounted in the Book of Esther (usually dated to the 5th century BCE).
Mar 25, 2024 · Purim is a joyful Jewish holiday commemorating the salvation of the Jewish people from a near massacre in ancient Persia, as recounted in the Book of Esther. Unlike...
A very popular festival with both Persian and the Babylonian Jewry, it eventually spread to Palestine. Theodore Gaster presents several theories for the origin of Purim in his volume Festivals of the Jewish Year. In one theory, Purim is asserted to date back to the Babylonian New Year Festival.
- Rabbi Ronald H. Isaacs
The holiday of Purim is one of the Jewish tradition’s most beloved communal celebrations. By the second century CE, Purim played such a significant role in the Jewish calendar that an entire tractate of the Mishnah (the earliest compiled rabbinic legal work), called Megillah, was based on the discussion of Purim’s proper observance.
The word Purim means “lots” and refers to the mechanism by which Haman chose the date for the Jews’ destruction. The holiday is traditionally celebrated with wild abandon — costumes, drinking, feasting, revelry — and by reading the megillah and giving gifts to friends and the poor. History of Purim
