Purim (Tel Aviv) in Israel

What is Purim?  

Purim, or the Feast of Lots, is a joyful celebration that commemorates how Jews were saved from being massacred during the Persian era (539-330 BCE). The story is described in the holy Book of Esther.

The celebration honors the Jewish people's deliverance from Haman's scheme "to murder, kill, and obliterate all the Jews, young and old, infants and women, in a single day" where the Persian Empire once stood.

Since it is related in the Megillas Esther that Haman used lots to decide when he would carry out his wicked plot, the name Purim translates to "lots" in ancient Persian. It is because Haman chose the time at which he would carry out his nefarious plan by using lots.

Purim All Quick Overview:

• Time / Date: March 6-March 7
• Category: Religious
• Where It's Marked: Globally
• Why It's Marked: The celebration honors the moment when the Jewish people in ancient Persia were saved from the evil scheme that Haman had devised to wipe them out. 

History Of Purim

The book of Esther in the Bible recounts the Purim tale. The story starts with Esther, a gorgeous young Jewish woman in Persia. She also went by the name Hadassah, which is Hebrew. She was raised by her cousin Mordecai when her parents passed away. Mordecai warned Esther not to reveal her Jewish identity under any circumstances.

King Ahasuerus wanted his wife, Queen Vashti, to show off her beauty at a feast he was holding for males. The king put her to death because she disobeyed and refused. Then, King Ahasuerus staged a beauty contest to select a new queen. He chose Esther without knowing she was Jewish. 

In the years following Esther and King Ahasuerus' marriage, Mordecai saved the monarch's life by informing Esther of a scheme he had overheard to assassinate the king. When Esther told the king of the conspiracy, he was able to shoot the two guards who were intending to assault him before they could attack.

The story then revolves around Haman, an arrogant counselor to the king. Haman's resentment at Mordecai's refusal to submit to Haman resulted in a plan to wipe out the Jewish population. The king was persuaded to kill all the Jews by Haman. The king assigned Haman to decide the destiny of the Jews. All the Jews would be wiped out, according to Haman.

Esther agreed to speak to the king on the Jews’ behalf when Mordecai convinced her to do so. Esther went to the king after having a three-day fast to prepare. He embraced her. She later revealed to him Haman's scheme to subjugate her people. Haman was executed on the gallows set up for Mordecai after the Jewish people were saved.

According to Esther 9:26, the name "Purim" comes from the lots that Haman drew to decide the month of the massacre. It was referred to as the "Day of Mordecai" throughout the Hasmonean era.

By the second century C.E., the festival had existed for some time. A whole group of the Mishnah (Megillah) was devoted to the details of its observance, especially the rules of reading the Scroll of Esther, known in rabbinic literature as the Megillah (scroll).

Haman decided to wipe out the Jewish population on the 14th of Adar. The 14th day of Adar, generally in March, is the day Purim is observed. There are two months in Adar, particularly on leap years. In that case, Purim is celebrated in the second month of Adar. This way, Purim is always celebrated one month before Passover. 

How to Celebrate Purim

An age-old but occasionally disregarded holiday, Purim is a celebration of Jewish survival, has a long history of revelry and carnivals, and, like pretty much every Jewish holiday, is an opportunity to feed your friends and family delectable meals laden with carbs. Let us walk you through the Feast of the Lots!

1. Purim Rituals

For the holiday of Purim, there are four essentials. They are

1. The reading of Megillah (the book of Esther) tells the tale of the Purim miracle. Usually, the custom is carried out twice: before the night of Purim and the day after.
2. Sending at least one gift to a person includes two different food types.
3. Supporting two or more disadvantaged people with money
4. Feasting on a fun Purim meal that frequently includes wine or other alcoholic drinks.

2. Food of Purim

A Purim Seudah (feast) is customary on the day of Purim. Additionally, serving food at the Purim supper is traditional and symbolic of the Purim story. The conventional foods include:

(a) Triangular Treats

It is said that on Purim, the Jews will eat anything triangular in shape! Traditionally, they celebrate Purim with a feast that includes Kreplach, a triangular-shaped dumpling stuffed with meat, cheese, or occasionally potatoes. In the same way that Esther's identity was concealed in the dough, as is the filling in Kreplach, God's presence or will is occasionally not immediately evident to sight.

Other traditional Purim foods include Oznei Haman or Hamentaschen, which roughly means "ears of Haman." It is a triangle-shaped cookie typically filled with various jam tastes or a poppy seed filling called "mohn." It generally represents either Haman's ears or his triangular headgear!

(b) Vegetarian

According to legend, Queen Esther kept kosher by eating only vegetarian food while residing in King Achashverosh's palace. Many people choose to ditch meat in her honor for their Purim feast. Similarly, it has been claimed that Esther's diet consisted primarily of nuts, seeds, grains, and legumes. 

It may explain the tradition of eating poppy seeds throughout the holiday season. Mohn filling is most famously seen in Ashkenazi hamantaschen.

(c) Alcohol

Alcohol in the Purim feast is a must! The Talmud even specifies that one should become so inebriated that they are unable to distinguish between the expressions Arur Haman ("curse be Haman") and Baruch Mordechai ("blessed be Mordecai") as part of the Purim festival celebration!

Countries that Observe Purim

Purim is celebrated by Jewish people worldwide, primarily in Israel. 

Interesting Facts About Purim

The Jewish holiday of Purim is among the happiest and most enjoyable. The holiday honors a moment when the Jews of Persia were spared from destruction. Some facts you might find interesting about Purin are 

• There are, in fact, two other months that share the name Adar. Jewish leap years are denoted by the numbers Adar I and Adar II.
• Purim Katan, sometimes known as Small Purim, is celebrated on the 14th of Adar.
• Purim is observed on March 15 in Joshua's walled cities because, according to the narrative of Esther, Shushan's (a walled city) total deliverance from the massacre was not achieved until the following day.
• Hadassah and Esther, the latter of which has a root that corresponds to the Hebrew word for "to hide," relate Purim to the concepts of concealed identities and self-disclosure.
• In modern Israel, Purim is observed on March 15 in Jerusalem and March 14 in Tel Aviv.
• The Adloyada: A Purim Parade celebration is held in Tel Aviv to celebrate Purim in Israel.

Unique Purim Celebration Ideas

Purin is filled with customs and traditions for the Jews to follow. However, there is always a window for people to get creative with their party ideas. This Purin, do something unique from our list!

• Hold a carnival, and perform parodies and plays.
• Dress up as something biblical! Make a fake beard costume accessory, or create your own Choshen (priestly breastplate) to go with your Kohen Gadol outfit!
• Host a beauty contest honoring the story of King Ahasuerus meeting Queen Esther
• Be creative with your traditional Purin feast recipes and give them a unique modern touch!
• Make your mask! It is a creative project to display in classrooms or during a Purim party. The key is to prepare the shows in advance and provide a variety of choices!
• Help the needy ones to live up to the spirit of Purim.

Purim Quotes

"The highest form of wisdom is kindness." - The Talmud

“No manner of assimilationism provides an escape from the Hamans and Hitlers; nor can any Jew sever his ties with his people by attempting such an escape.”

"For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place and you and your father's house will perish. And who knows whether you have not attained royalty for such a time as this?" – Esther 4:14

"A righteous man falls down seven times and gets up." – Proverbs 24:16 

FAQ

1. How to wish someone a happy Purim in Hebrew?

Chag Purim Sameach!

2. Who is Haman?

In the book of Esther from the Bible, Haman is the main antagonist. According to this legend, Haman was a Persian aristocrat from the fourth century B.C.E. who served as the vizier of the Persian Empire for Persian King Ahasuerus, commonly referred to as Artaxerxes II. In the Book of Esther, after Queen Esther's uncle Mordecai refuses to bend before Haman as ordered by the monarch, Haman develops an irrational hatred of Jews. But Esther realizes his scheme, and Haman ends up being hanged on the very gallows he had planned to hang Mordecai from.

3. Why does Jerusalem celebrate Purim the day after?

Jerusalem celebrates Purim on Shushan Purim, a day later than the rest of the world. According to the Book of Esther, the Jews of Persia vanquished their adversaries on Adar 13 and rested the following day, causing Purim to be observed on Adar 14. However, since the Jews only defeated their adversaries in Shushan, the walled-off capital city, on the 14th, the triumph in the city was celebrated a day later.

4. Is Purim a National Holiday in Israel?

Purim is not a national holiday in Israel. Employers may offer optional paid leave even though it is not a recognized holiday. There will be reduced hours of operation for many businesses, offices, and government entities.