In Judaism, Purim is a comfortable spring vacation that capabilities a festive meal, gift-giving, costumes, noisemakers inside the synagogue, and required drunkenness. Purim is for this reason sometimes nicknamed "the Jewish Mardi Gras" or "the Jewish Halloween."

Purim is one of these joyous excursion that the rabbis train it will nonetheless be located inside the age of the messiah, while most different vacations could be abolished. 2

Purim isn't always one of the vacations commanded inside the Torah, but it is rooted within the biblical e book of Esther and its requirements are outlined in the Talmud. Purim has been celebrated seeing that at least the second century CE, and probable long earlier than. 3

The word "Purim" approach "lots," and refers to Haman's casting of lots in the story of Esther (see below). four Purim is likewise called "The ceremonial dinner of plenty."

Purim: dates, the tale of Esther, observances

Dates of Purim

Purim is well known on the 14th of Adar (mid-March), based on Esther 9:17. In soar years, while there are  months of Adar, Purim is widely known at some point of Adar II. like every Jewish holidays, Purim begins at sunset the night earlier than the date of the vacation. The dates for Purim in the following few years are:

Mar. 4-5, 2015

Mar. 23-24, 2016

In Jerusalem, Purim is celebrated on 15 Adar, a day later than anywhere else. The separate date, called Shushan Purim, is based totally on Esther 9:20-22, which says the "walled cities" did no longer acquire victory until that day. Rabbis interpret this as the towns that were walled on the time of Joshua, and one city that truely fits that description is Jerusalem (Shushan Purim is also celebrated in Hebron and the vintage town of Safed).

Jews dwelling in Israel can extend the Purim pageant with the aid of celebrating out of doors the metropolis on 14 Adar, then returning domestic for the Shushan Purim at the fifteenth.

The story of Esther

The occasion honored by means of Purim is certainly one of victory over oppressors of the Jewish humans. The heroine is Esther, a beautiful Jewish woman who married the king of Persia, King Ahasuerus, after prevailing a beauty contest. The king cherished Esther more than any of his other girls and made her his Queen. He became now not aware that Esther became a Jew, for her parent Mordecai, a incredible Jewish chief, had advised her to now not to reveal her true identity.

Haman, the villain of the story, turned into the king's prime minister. He hated the Jews (especially Mordecai, due to the fact he might not bow down earlier than him) and tried to persuade King Ahasuerus that it might be inside the satisfactory interest of his kingdom if the Jews had been eliminated. In his speech he argued:

"there is a sure humans scattered abroad and dispersed a number of the peoples in all of the provinces of your realm. Their laws are distinctive from the ones of each different humans's, and that they do no longer study the king's laws; therefore it isn't always befitting the king to tolerate them." 6 The king gave Haman permission to address the Jews as he saw healthy, so Haman made plans to bloodbath the Persian Jews. He cast masses to decide the day, which changed into to be 13 Adar.

Mordecai convinced Esther to talk to the king on the behalf of her humans, which might require her to appear earlier than him unsummoned - a criminal offense punishable by way of death. She fasted for three days to put together for the assembly. King Ahasuerus welcomed her, listened to her tale, and was outraged by means of what he heard. He had Haman hanged at the gallows that were meant for Mordecai, and appointed Mordecai as top minister in Haman's location.

The tale does now not pretty give up there, for the king had formally decreed the massacre, and it couldn't be stopped. but he allowed the Jews to fight to protect themselves. They fought on the thirteenth of Adar and celebrated their victory at the 14th day. the ones in walled cities had been triumphant an afternoon later, on 15 Adar.

The topics of this 2,500 12 months-antique tale remains very relevant to modern Jews. Amy Kramer of EverythingJewish.com explains, "The story of Purim presents the eternal tale of the Jew threatened in a atypical land. because of this we're commanded to study the book of Esther. nonetheless in exile, Purim is a reminder that we, as Jews, should face up to turning into too complacent in our lives."

Religious Observance on Purim

The ritual observance of Purim starts offevolved with Ta'anit Esther (the quick of Esther). This minor rapid day is held on one of the days previous Purim, typically thirteen Adar. (If the 13th falls on a Friday or Saturday, it's miles hung on the previous Thursday, in honor of the Sabbath.) It absolutely commemorates the fasting of the Jewish warriors before their warfare on thirteen Adar, however it is known as for Esther, who additionally fasted before her vital task. 8

On Purim, all Jews are required to meet the 4 Purim mitzvot:

Readings of the Megillah (Scroll of Esther) (Mikrah Megillah)

Festive meal (Seudah Purim)

items of meals to buddies (Mishloach Manot)

Charity to the terrible (Matanot l'Evyonim)

the primary reading of the Megillah should occur someday between sundown the night earlier than Purim and sunrise on Purim; it typically takes place simply after sundown. the second one analyzing must occur between dawn and sunset on Purim. It is good to hear the Megillah in the synagogue with many human beings, however the maximum essential component is that the reading is heard surely. while Haman's call is examine, it's miles commonplace for the congregation to yell and make noise so that it can not be heard. This symbolically blots out the memory of his name from the earth.

"The Purim dinner party is unlike some other within the Jewish 12 months. similarly to correct food and plenty of alcohol, the meal is characterized by using its zany raucous surroundings -- trombones blare, stupid string flies, and grown guys dance collectively for hours on end. " nine one of the most famous (and cherished) aspects of the Purim festive meal is that every (grownup) player is obliged to become so drunk that she or he can't distinguish between the phrases, "Cursed be Haman" and "Blessed be Mordecai."

reviews range as to precisely how inebriated that is, however there's no doubt that the intoxication is supposed to be large. however, one should not come to be so drunk that he endangers his fitness or neglects other mitzvot consisting of ritual washing, praying, or pronouncing the blessing after food, and it is wrong to hope if one is so drunk that he is "unfit to stand before the King."

A 3rd mitzvah of Purim is to give a present of  styles of meals or drink to as a minimum one buddy (the Mishloach Manot). it's far inappropriate to offer overly expensive items, as this takes faraway from how an awful lot may be given to the poor. it's far in particular meritorious to ship items to those from whom one is estranged, to illustrate the falsity of Hamans' accusation of dissention a number of the Jews.

Subsequently, charity must take delivery of to as a minimum two terrible humans on Purim, in an quantity at the least same to the price of one cheaper meal. each Jew's donation want no longer receive to the bad immediately, however it have to be allotted on Purim. maximum appreciably, Purim charity should take delivery of without regard to the advantage, wilderness, or maybe need of the recipient. On all different days, Jews are required to make certain their donations are used well, however not on Purim. "in this day of unbridled joy, no questions are to be asked."

Other Purim Customs

As with many vacations, non-spiritual customs for celebrating Purim have evolved over the years. One very famous custom is the baking of hamantaschen ("Haman's ears" or "Haman's pockets"), three-cornered pastries with a fruit filling.

It has also end up commonplace to have a good time Purim with performs, satirical skits (Purimshpiels), disguises, and beauty contests to commemorate Esther's tale.