What Is Purim?
Purim is a festive Jewish holiday recounting the deliverance of the Jewish people from extermination plot by Haman the Agagite. It is an annual celebration held every 14th of Adar, or Adar II in leap years, which is a month in the Hebrew calendar. In walled cities that existed during the time of Joshua, like Shushan and Jerusalem, it is celebrated on the 15th and is called Shushan Purim.
The Story Of Purim
The story behind Purim can be found in the Biblical Book Of Esther. Esther is a Jewish orphan girl who was raised by her cousin Mordecai. She grows into a beautiful woman that is crowned queen by the King Ahasuerus.
The king loved Esther most among all of his wives, but was unaware that she was Jewish. Esther and Mordecai further gained favour under the king's eyes when Mordecai successfully revealed a plot to assassinate the king. Because of this, Haman, the king's advisor, harboured a great hate for Mordecai, which finally came to a head when Mordecai, on one occasion, refused to bow down to Haman. Haman later on learned that Mordecai was a Jew, which is why he resolved to kill not only Mordecai, but also Esther and all of the Jewish people under the Persian rule.
Being the king's advisor, Haman gets the king to approve of his plan. Esther learns of this, so she fasts for three days with all of the Jews in the land in her preparation to approach the king to ask him to spare her and her people. In a spectacular turn of events, Ahasuerus recalls the time Mordecai saved him from death through the court records and instead, welcomes Esther, honors Mordecai and saves the Jews. Haman and his ten sons are then hanged on the gallows that were intended for Mordecai.
How Purim Is Celebrated
Purim is treated more as a national holiday, like Hannukkah. Work is even allowed in most places but it is encouraged that the occasion be prioritized and celebrated in a joyous manner. Jewish mitzvot dictate that Jews observe these four activities during Purim:
- K'riat megillah - listening to the readings of the Book Of Esther in the evening and again in the following morning
- Mishloach manot- giving food gifts to friends
- Matanot la'evyonim - giving charity to the poor
- Se`udah – partaking in a festive meal
THE GRAND KIDS,MOUSY & COWBOY.
THE BEAUTIFUL BUTTERFLY
SUN & MOON,we got the third price in our friends party.
SOMETIMES IT IS GOOD TO BE BEHIND A MASK….
3 comments:
That was super fascinating! I really could have used your expertise when I cooked for my Israeli blog...LOL!
Thanks for sharing some very interesting info and history about Purim :-)
Where will you two be going this year? I thought you had a trip plan on your site, but I can't find it.
Great costumes and a beautiful heritage to be a part of. See ya.
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