Purim

Purim is a one-day, carnival-like festival, which takes place on the 14th of Adar (usually in late February or March in the secular calendar). The story of Purim is told in the book of Esther, which is read during the holiday. It is traditionally read from a scroll, a Megillah, which means “rolled.” The story is one about human actions and does not mention God even once. Indeed, it is an ancient tale of court intrigue, deception, miscommunication, drunken feasts, murder schemes, a foolish king, a defiant queen, villains, a strong hero and a beautiful heroine. In addition, there is an entire tractate of the Talmud called Megillah devoted to discussing various issues regarding the book of Esther.

The Book of Esther

The Book of Esther, is part of the Ketuvim (the Writings) section of the TaNaKh. Megillat Esther, which is Hebrew for the Scroll of Esther, begins with a description of King Ahasuerus’s empire and leadership. His empire is vast, stretching from what would be from today’s Ethiopia to India. Yet, despite ruling over such far-reaching territories, the king was busy throwing lavish feasts which lasted for extended periods of time (one of them lasted 180 days!). During one of these feasts, and after a lot of food and wine, the king called for his wife, the proud Queen Vashti, to appear. However, Vashti did not appreciate being summoned on demand and refused. When she did not appear, the King became very angry. His advisers, fearing their own wives would take courage from Vashti and might also disobey their husbands, told the king to banish her.

Once Vashti lost her royal position, the king is advised to stage a beauty contest to choose a new wife. The king chooses Esther, a beautiful Jewish orphan whose Hebrew name is Hadassah, as the new queen. However, on the advice of her uncle Mordecai, Esther does not reveal that she is Jewish. Soon after Esther becomes queen, Mordecai overhears an assassination plot against the King. He reports the conversation to the palace, and the two perpetrators, Bigtan and Teresh, are apprehended. The incident is recorded in the king’s chronicles, and, although Mordecai saved the king’s life, his efforts are not immediately rewarded.

Haman, an arrogant, egotistical advisor to the king is appointed as the King’s new Prime Minister. Haman quickly passes an edict that all must bow before him. Soon after Mordecai refuses to bow down to him, Haman convinces the king to decree that all Jews be executed. Lots (called “pur”) are cast and a day is chosen for the annihilation of the Jews. The name of the holiday Purim comes from these purim, lottery. That day selected, of course, was the 13th of Adar.

Now Esther, the Jewish woman who has become queen, must plead with the king to save her people. She his initially afraid to approach her husband, but Mordecai convinces her that she must. In preparation for this confrontation, she and her people fast and pray. The Fast of Esther (Ta’anit Esther), during which some Jews fast during the day before Purim starts, is reminiscent of this fast.

Esther then visits the king uninvited, an act punishable by death, and invites the king and Haman to a special feast. However, at the banquet Esther does not answer any of Ahasuerus’s questions and instead requests that the king and Haman attend a second banquet.

Haman is thrilled to be honored with such an invitation. While rushing home to tell his wife Zeresh, he bumps into Mordecai. Seeing Mordecai again incenses him and, urged on by his wife and friends, he erects huge gallows on which he expects to hang Mordecai. At the same time, the king is having trouble sleeping. He finally remembers Mordecai, who had exposed an assassination plot against him and, when he is told that Mordecai was never rewarded, decides to reward him. Haman assumes the King wants to honor him and advises the king that the honoree should be adorned in the king’s robes and crown, paraded through the streets on the king’s horse, and proclaimed as the king’s honored subject. Soon after, Haman discovers that he is the king’s choice to parade Mordecai through the streets of the capital and, humiliated, he carries out the king’s orders. This is the beginning of Haman’s downfall.

When Haman attends Esther’s second banquet, Esther reveals that she is Jewish and foils Haman’s plot to kill her people. The king orders Haman killed and he is hung on the gallows meant for Mordecai. Because Haman’s decree against his Jewish subjects already bears the king’s seal, the king does not rescind it but instead allows the Jews to arm themselves and fight.

The Jews defeated their enemies in the provinces on the 13th of Adar and their enemies in Shushan and in the cities and the 13th and 14th of Adar. For this reason, a day expected to be one of grief and mourning became one of joy and celebration for the Jewish people.

Celebrating Purim

The Megillah of Esther is read in the synagogue on the eve of Purim and again on Purim day. Every Jew is commanded to hear and remember the story of Purim.

On the eve of Purim, the synagogue is the place for the entire family. Children are encouraged to come in full costume. When Haman’s name is read from the Megillah, we are expected to make a lot of noise to drown out the sound of his name. At Rodeph Sholom, after the Megillah is read, the youth groups and clergy stage a Purim spiel. The spiel is a humorous play that reenacts and spoofs the story of Purim. It is another link to the joy of Purim.

Ad She Lo Yada (until one does not know)

A third century Babylonian teacher named Rava said that on Purim one should drink enough wine until one does not know the difference between “blessed Mordacai and cursed Haman.”

Despite the fact that the rabbis frequently tried to curb excessive drinking, Rava’s statement has become a Purim custom, although today it is losing popularity. The Hebrew words for “until one does not know” are “ad lo yada.”

Shushan Purim

“The victory was on the 13th day of the month of Adar, while the deliverance was realized on the 14th of the month. Whereas the Jews who were in Shushan assembled on the 13th and 14th of the month, and realized deliverance on the 15th of the month, making it a day of feasting and rejoicing.”
- Esther 9:17-18

Because the Jews of Shushan fought against their enemies for an extra day and did not rest until the 15th of Adar, they observed Purim on the 15th of the month rather than the 14th of the month. The Rabbis instituted Purim, they took into account that Shushan was a walled city and ruled that all cities walled at the time of Joshua would observe Purim as in Shushan. Thus, Purim is observed on the 15th of Adar in Jerusalem, which the only city that was definitely walled at the time of Joshua. The Megillah is also read on the 15th in other cities in Israel—such as Jaffa and Akko—only as a custom based on a doubt over whether these cities were surrounded by walls at the time of Joshua.

Shabbat Zachor

On the Shabbat before Purim we read an additional selection from the Torah, Deut. 25:17-19. It begins with the word Zachor (which means “remember”), commands us to remember what Amalek did to us in the desert, and orders us to blot out his memory. According to tradition, Haman directly descended from Amalek, so it is a mitzvah to wipe out the memory of Haman. The Shabbat before Purim is called Shabbat Zachor, after the first word of the additional reading.

Family Activities for Purim

Make a Purim Gragger

Materials needed: Popping corn or dried beans; pencil; empty juice can (with only 2 holes at the top that were used for pouring; cardboard; scissors; colored felt; household cement; glue.

Directions
1.Put a handful of popping corn into the can through the 2 holes. Trace the base of the can onto the cardboard. Cut the cardboard and trim the circle so it fits snugly onto the side of the can with the holes.

2.Trace the base onto the large piece of felt and cut each circle so that it is about 1 inch larger all the way around. You’ll need darts in the felt to stretch it over the ends, so cut them every 2 inches to the correct size of the circle. Glue the felt over each end using household cement Wrap the rest of the can with more felt, trim, and glue it to the can.

3.Decorate the gragger using glue and other colors of felt.

4.Shake and use.

Make a Purim Mask

Materials needed: balloon; glue; water; newspaper; paints and paint brush; construction paper; aluminum foil; glitter; cotton balls; and yarn.

Directions
1.Blow up a balloon so that it is a little larger than the head of whomever will be wearing the mask.

2.In a bowl, combine 1 part glue to about 4 parts warm water and mix thoroughly. Cut strips of newspaper about 1 inch wide and soak them one at a time in the glue mixture and wrap them around the balloon. Cover the balloon completely with two layers of newspaper. Let it dry overnight.

3.When the balloon is dry, cut it in half lengthwise. Now cut two holes in one of the halves for eyes.

4.Paint the outer side of the mask and allow it to dry before decoration with paper, paint, or any other materials.

5.Make holes on either side of the mask to attach pieces of yarn for ties around the head.

6.Wear your mask to the Megillah reading or the Purim carnival!

Bake Hamentaschen

Ingredients
2/3 cup butter
½ cup sugar
¼ cup orange juice
1 egg
1 cup white flour
1 cup wheat flour
Filling: prune, poppy seeds, various preservatives or pie fillings

1.Blend butter and sugar. Add the egg and blend. Add juice and blend. Add flour, ½ cup at a time, alternating white and wheat. Blend.

2.Refrigerate batter three ours. Roll thin. Cut out 3 or 4 inch sircles. Fold up the sides to make a triangle, overlapping the sides as much as possible so only a little filling shows through the middle. Squeeze the corners tightly.

3.Bake at 375 degrees for about 10 minutes or until golden brown.
Design and deliver gift baskets
1.Prepare and deliver Mishloach Manot baskets to family, friends, hospitals, and old age facilities. A typical basket may consist of fruit, one of more baked goods, sweets, and wine or grape juice. Decorate a basket, plate or paper bag with crayons, markers, glitter, or just about anything else.

2.Matanot L’evyonim (gifts to the poor) is a Purim custom that symbolizes the human role in redeeming and perfecting the world in partnership with God. It is customary to give donations to at least two needy individuals or needy organizations.
Purim will begin on the following days of the secular calendar. Holidays begin at sundown on the evening before the specified date.