Resources: Holiday Guide: Purim

Purim

Purim is a holiday like no other in the Jewish calendar with its unabashed joy, old-fashioned fun and sense of absurdity.

History of Purim

The Purim story, the Scroll of Esther (the Megillah), reads like a historical novel. The most important aspect of Purim is what it has represented for Jews, both in the past and present. Whether or not the events described are absolutely accurate, there is an eternal truth to the story of Esther that defies time and place. Purim celebrates the deliverance of the Jewish People from a tyrant bent on their physical destruction. Deliverance comes about as a result of human courage and initiative, not Divine intervention.

The story of Purim began with the king of the Medes and Persians whose domain extended from Ethiopia to India and encompassed 127 provinces. Ahasuerus (the king) summons his wife, Vashti, to a banquet. She refuses to attend and, after consulting his advisors, Ahasuerus banishes her from the royal city, Shushan.

Eventually, loneliness overtakes Ahasuerus and he holds a beauty contest in the land, designed to produce a "queenly" candidate. He selects a beautiful Jewish girl named Esther (Hadassah), who hides her identity as a Jew. Esther's cousin Mordecai, with whom she lived, overheard a plot to kill the king. He tells Esther, Esther warns the king, the plot is foiled. The deed is recorded in a book of chronicles.

Meanwhile, the wicked vizier to the king, Haman, is promoted to a place of high standing in the kingdom. When Mordecai refuses to bow before Haman and accord him the deference that he thinks is his due, he becomes incensed and seeks revenge by plotting the destruction of the entire Jewish population of Persia.

Haman convinces the simple minded and gullible king that the Jewish people pose a threat. He is given the authority to proceed with his plan to exterminate the Jews on the fourteenth day of Adar, based on lots (purim) cast.

When Mordecai learned of the evil plot, he convinced Esther that she must expose Haman and thwart his terrible scheme. After fasting for three days, Esther goes to the king, invites him and Haman to a feast which she will prepare for them.

That night, unable to sleep, King Ashauerus reads the book that chronicles Mordecai's act of loyalty to him. Discovering that Mordecai has never been rewarded, he asks Haman how such a loyal person should be recompensed. Haman, assuming that the king is referring to him, suggests that the person be led through the streets of Shushan dressed in royal clothing, riding on the king's horse. To his horror, Haman is the one designated to lead the procession to honor Mordecai.

At Esther's feast, with food and wine in abundance, she invites the king and Haman to come back again the next evening. This time, Esther exposes Haman for the villain he is and reveals her true identity. The furious king (who was smitten with Esther) orders Haman's hanging on the same gallows meant for Mordecai.

The Jewish people were granted the right to defend themselves and they defeated their enemies, those who were commanded by Haman. A holiday for feasting and gladness is established by Mordecai and Esther, to be celebrated each year on the fourteenth day of Adar.

The Megillah

Beginning in the Middle Ages, the Scroll of Esther (the Megillat Ester) was often ornamented with beautiful illustrations. Cases of graceful and unusual design, delicately carved in silver and gold, were made to house the Megillah.

The earliest dated Purim scroll is one of 1637. It resides in the Jewish Museum of London. Handsomely designed Megillot also appeared in Holland, Italy, Germany, Poland and Russia.

Illustrations in Purim scrolls include scenes from the story, such as Haman on the gallows and Mordecai being led through Shushan on the king's horse. Many scrolls were meant for the use of children and are illustrated fairy-tale style. The borders of Megillot were usually decorated with flowers, birds, animals and graceful designs.

Purim Terms

Purim falls on the 14th day of the month of Adar; in a leap year on the 14th day of Second Adar. The following day is known as Shushan Purim since the Jews of Shushan, the Persian capital, had to defend themselves on the 14th of Adar and were only able to celebrate the following day. To give honor to the City of Jerusalem and to other ancient walled cities in the Land of Israel, Purim was celebrated similarly as in Shushan. To this day, Purim is celebrated in Jerusalem on the 15th day of Adar.

Adar: the 12th month in the Jewish calendar which falls around March.
Adar Sheni: In a leap year, which occurs seven times in a cycle of 19 years, a 13th month known as Adar Sheni is added. During leap year, Purim is observed in Adar Sheni.
Book of Esther: One of the books of the Bible which narrates events leading to the establishment of Purim.
Esther: The heroine of the Purim story whose Hebrew name was Hadassah.
Grogger: A noisemaker used on Purim during the reading of the Megillah whenever the name Haman is mentioned.
Haman: King Ahasuerus' Prime Minister and the villain of the Purim story.
Hamantashen: A three-cornered Purim pastry filled with poppy seeds, prunes, apricots or other jellies.
Megillat Ester: Scroll of Esther (Megillah) read on Purim during evening and morning services.
Mordecai: Esther's cousin and the hero of Purim.
Purim (Lots) : The Feast of Lots or Feast of Esther. The name of the festival is derived from the fact that Haman cast lots to determine the day most favorable to his plan for destroying the Jewish people.
S'euda: A family feast held on Purim, at which time Hamantashen and other holiday foods are served.
Shalach Manot or Mishloach Manot: Purim is the time for sending choice portions to one another and gifts to the poor (Esther 9:22) and is a well-established Purim tradition.
Shushan: The capital of ancient Persia where the main events of the Book of Esther occurred.

Did You Know...?

God's name is not mentioned even once in the entire Megillah.
The day on which Purim is celebrated (14th of Adar) can never occur on the Sabbath.
Queen Esther Street is found in the heart of Tel Aviv.
In a speech made by Adolph Hitler on January 30, 1944, he said that if the Nazis were defeated, the Jewish People could celebrate "a second Purim."
The Hadassah organization was founded on Purim in 1912. Hadassah is Hebrew for Esther.
Burning Haman in effigy used to be a common practice. Some Sephardic Jews write Haman's name on the bottom of their shoes and blot it out.
Triangular meat-filled dough pastries called kreplach are also eaten on Purim.
Dressing up in costume is still a common and delightful practice enjoyed by young and old.
Israelis celebrate Purim with a big parade called "Adloyada." Children come in costume to watch colorful floats, clowns carrying huge balloons and acrobat performing daring stunts.
The Book of Esther is only one of five books of the Bible known as Megillot. The others, each read on a different day are: Book of Ruth (Shavuot), Song of Songs (Passover), Ecclesiastes (Sukkot), Lamentations (Tisha B'av).

Resource Books

The Jewish Holidays: A Guide & Commentary by Michael Strassfeld
The Book of the Jewish Year by Stephen M. Wylen
The First Jewish Catalog by Richard Siegel et al., editors
All About Jewish Holidays and Customs by Morris Epstein
Jewish Days and Holidays by Greer Fay Cashman
The Jewish Party Book by Mae Shafter Rockland

Books for Children

Purim by Miriam Nerlove
Sammy Spider's First Purim by Sylvia A. Rouss
On Purim by Cathy Fishman
Purim Play by Roni Schotter
The Mitzvah Girl by Beverly MacH Geller