Purim

Purim. It is a joyous Jewish festival commemorating the salvation of the Jewish people in the ancient Achaemenid Empire from a plot by Haman to annihilate them, as recounted in the Book of Esther. The celebration is marked by public readings of the Megillah, festive meals, charitable giving, and wearing of costumes. The holiday is observed annually on the 14th day of the Hebrew month of Adar, and in Jerusalem and other historically walled cities, on the 15th of Adar, known as Shushan Purim.

Origins and historical background

The story is set in the capital of the Persian Empire, Susa, during the reign of King Ahasuerus, often identified with Xerxes I. The narrative details how Esther, a Jewish woman who becomes queen, and her cousin Mordecai, thwart the genocidal plan of the royal vizier Haman. The decree for destruction, issued by the manipulation of Haman, is reversed through the intervention of Esther, leading to the king granting the Jews the right to self-defense. The events are recorded in the Tanakh as the Book of Esther, also known as the Megillah. While the historicity is debated by scholars like Heinrich Graetz, the story's themes of hidden providence and reversal of fortune are central to Judaism. The festival's name derives from the Akkadian word "pur," meaning "lot," referring to the lots Haman cast to choose the date for the planned destruction.

Observances and customs

Primary observances include the public reading of the Book of Esther from a handwritten Megillah scroll, during which attendees use grager noisemakers to drown out the name of Haman. The day is preceded by the Fast of Esther, commemorating Esther's fast before approaching the king. Central commandments include sending gifts of food, known as mishloach manot, to friends, and giving charity, or matanot la'evyonim, to the poor. A festive meal, the seudat Purim, is held, often featuring foods like hamantaschen pastries. Customs include wearing costumes and masks, a practice influenced by Carnival traditions and later codified by rabbis such as the Maharal of Prague. In some communities, like in Tel Aviv, lively parades called Adloyada are held.

Religious significance

Within Judaism, it is unique as a rabbinically ordained festival whose observance is considered a binding commandment. The Book of Esther is notable for being the only book in the Tanakh that does not explicitly mention God, emphasizing the theme of hidden divine intervention. Major Jewish legal codes, like the Mishneh Torah by Maimonides and the Shulchan Aruch by Joseph Karo, detail its laws. The holiday underscores the survival of the Jewish people against existential threats, a theme later echoed during events like the Crusades and the Holocaust. The concept of "v'nahafoch hu" (the reversal of fate) is a key theological takeaway, celebrated with revelry that, according to the Talmud, permits a level of merriment where one may drink until they cannot distinguish between "cursed be Haman" and "blessed be Mordecai."

In modern culture

Celebrations in modern Israel are widespread and exuberant, with major street parties in cities like Tel Aviv and Haifa. The Adloyada parade in Holon is a prominent national event. In the United States, Jewish communities in New York City and Los Angeles host large carnivals and readings. The holiday has inspired numerous artistic works, from the classic Itzhak Perlman recording of festive music to contemporary novels. Its themes of disguise and deliverance are often referenced in popular culture, including in episodes of television series like The Simpsons. In the Soviet Union, public celebrations became a form of Jewish cultural resistance, a practice continued today in places like Moscow.

Related holidays and festivals

The most direct relative is Shushan Purim, observed on the 15th of Adar in cities considered walled since the time of Joshua, such as Jerusalem. Purim Katan (Little Purim) is observed during leap years in the Hebrew calendar, which adds a second month of Adar. Several communities historically established local "Purims" to commemorate their own deliverance from danger, such as the Purim of Saragossa in Spain or the Purim of Cairo. In its thematic focus on national salvation, it is often compared to Hanukkah, another post-biblical festival. The atmosphere of carnivalesque celebration shares similarities with Christian pre-Lenten festivals like Mardi Gras in New Orleans and Carnival in Rio de Janeiro.

Category:Jewish holidays Category:Hebrew calendar holidays Category:March observances