Purim: History and Importance of the Festival of Lots

Purim, likewise called the Festival of Lots, is a Jewish holiday that celebrates the saving of the Jewish individuals from Haman, an Achaemenid Persian Empire official who was intending to kill all the Jews, as related in the Book of Esther. The jolly Jewish holiday of Purim is celebrated every year on the 14th of the Hebrew month of Adar (late winter/early spring). Purim 2021 starts on Thursday night, February 25, and proceeds through Friday, February 26, (reaching out through Sunday in Jerusalem).

The celebration of Purim recognizes the Divinely orchestrated salvation of the Jewish individuals in the old Persian Empire from Haman’s plot “to destroy, kill and annihilate all the Jews, young and old, infants and women, in a single day.” It is praised with Megillah readings, gifts of food, charity, feasting, and merriment.

Purim is a well-known Jewish holiday that remembers the deliverance of the Jewish individuals from a plot to annihilate every one of them as recorded in the Book of Esther.

It’s not a public holiday in Israel, however, employers may allow optionally paid leave. Numerous offices, shops, and public institutions will work on a diminished premise. Schools will be shut, however public transportation will work obviously, and newspapers will be published.

Why is it called Purim?

Purim signifies “lots” in antiquated Persian. The holiday was in this manner named since Haman had thrown lots to decide when he would do his diabolical scheme, as recorded in the Megillah (Book of Esther).

You can articulate this name in numerous ways. In Eastern tradition, it is called poo-REEM. Among Westerners, it is frequently called PUH-rim. Some Central-European communities even call it PEE-rim.

Purim History

While the origins of Purim show up clear from the Book of Esther, historians have searched in vain for such an extra-biblical corroboration of the events of the story. In any case, it is a story that implies to happen during when numerous Jews were living in Persia.

A youthful Jewish woman, Esther, ascends to be Queen of Persia under the tutelage of her guardian Mordecai. All, however, isn’t right. The Jews have adversaries, and a specific Haman, the stupendous vizier, plots the Jews’ destruction.

Even though Esther has hidden her Jewish identity from all, Mordecai influences her to risk her life by uncovering her actual identity to the ruler. She does this and reviles the evil Haman’s plot. Toward the finish of the story, the Jews can reverse the situation on their foes, who are then punished instead of the expected victims.

This story is one of the most beloved in the Jewish community, in light of the expectation that it gives a minority living in an oftentimes hostile majority culture.

After the destruction of Judah, the Jews were taken into captivity by the Babylonian empire. At the point when the Persians assumed responsibility for Babylonia in around 475 CE, Haman, a royal vizier to King Ahasuerus, had plotted to wipe all the Jews, however, his plans were thwarted by Queen Esther and Mordechai.

The Jews at that point went from being the focus of a declaration against them to become the ones permitted to destroy their adversaries by the royal announcement.

Purim is praised by the Hebrew calendar on the 14th day of the Hebrew month of Adar. This remembers the day following the triumph of the Jews over the Persians in the fight which was on the 13th day of Adar. It usually falls in late February or March in the Western calendar. In certain parts of Israel, Purim is celebrated on the 15th of the month.

How is Purim celebrated?

Purim is the most rambunctious holiday on the Jewish calendar and happens on the 14th day of the month of Adar. Recognition of the holiday starts with dressing up in costume: a few groups decide to dress as characters from the Purim story, and others dress in non-Purim-related outfits.

It is a mitzvah (commandment) to listen to the story of Purim recited from Megillat Esther (“The Scroll of Esther”) and to hear every word. It is standard to make a loud noise with a noisemaker called a ra’ashan in Hebrew, or grager in Yiddish, each time Haman’s name is referenced, to satisfy the obligation of annihilating Haman’s name.

Part of the holiday likewise incorporates giving gifts or charity to poor people, called matanot l’evyonim. A fun tradition on the holiday is to play out a Purim spiel, a satirical show either humorously performing the Purim story or simply an interesting skit on any theme.

Purim is characterized by public readings of the Book of Esther, giving mutual gifts of food and drink, offering charity to poor people, and a festive meal. Different traditions incorporate drinking wine and the wearing of masks and costumes.

A famous treat during Purim is Hamantash, a filled-pocket pastry with a distinctive three-cornered shape. The shape is accomplished by collapsing in the sides of a circular piece of dough, with a filling set in the middle. Well-known fillings are fruit jam, cheese, or poppy seeds. They are said to be named after Haman as he wore a three-cornered hat.

What kinds of foods are eaten on Purim?

Mishloach manot (“sending of portions”) are gifts of food, goodies, and treats that Jewish communities send to loved ones on Purim. It is traditional to have a jovial feast, or Seudat Purim, on the night of the holiday.

Drinking alcohol is part of the Purim holiday celebration — truth be told, the necessity in the Talmud goes to such an extreme as to train that one ought to become so drunk that they can’t differentiate between the phrases Arur Haman (“cursed is Haman”) and Baruch Mordechai (“blessed is Mordecai”).

Traditional foods incorporate Oznei Haman or Hamentaschen (“ears of Haman”), a triangular cookie typically filled with various flavors of jam or a poppy seed filling known as “mohn”, which is supposed to represent either Haman’s ears or his three-cornered hat. Another triangular-shaped food that is standard to eat is kreplach, little dumplings normally filled with meat, mashed potatoes, or different fillings.

Other traditional foods are dishes made with beans, a reminder of what Esther ate in the king’s palace to try not to eat non-kosher foods. Because of this Esther/legume tradition, Purim is often celebrated with a vegetarian meal.