Purim

The Saving Of The Jewish People

The holiday of Purim commemorates the saving of the Jewish people from annihilation at the hands of an official of the Achaemenid Empire named Haman, as it is recounted in the Book of Esther.

Purim is celebrated annually on the 14th day of the Hebrew month of Adar or in Adar II in Hebrew leap years.

Purim meaning 'lots is the plural of the Hebrew word pur meaning “lot". Its use as the name of this festival comes from Esther 3:6–7, describing the choice of date.

6 having been told who Mordecai's people were, Haman plotted to do away with all the Jews, Mordecai's people, throughout the kingdom of Ahasuerus.
7 In the first month, that is, the month of Nisan, in the twelfth year of King Ahasuerus, pur—which means "the lot"—was cast before Haman concerning every day and every month, [until it fell on] the twelfth month, that is, the month of Adar.”

Esther 3:6-7

In cities that were protected by a surrounding wall at the time of Joshua, Purim is celebrated on the 15th of the month of Adar on what is known as Shushan Purim, since fighting in the walled city of Shushan continued through the 14th day of Adar.

Today, only in Jerusalem and in several other biblical settlements such as Hebron and Shilo. Purim is observed and celebrated on both dates because of doubts regarding their status as cities surrounded by a wall since the days of Joshua.

-How The Story Goes-

The Story of Esther takes place over 9 years and begins with a six-month drinking feast given by King Ahasuerus of the Persian Empire and it is at this feast, Ahasuerus becomes thoroughly drunk, and prompted by his courtiers, orders his wife Vashti to 'display her beauty' before the nobles and populace, while wearing her royal crown.

Vashti embarrassed she refuses, her refusal humiliates and embarrasses King Ahasuerus in front of his guests and prompts the King to demote her from her position as queen. King Ahasuerus then orders all of the beautiful women throughout the Persian Empire to be presented to him, so that he can choose a new queen to replace Vashti. Esther is one of these beautiful women presented to King Ahasuerus. Now Esther (originally Hadassah) who was orphaned at a young age and fostered by her first cousin Mordecai and member of the Sanhedrin, finds favor in King Ahasuerus eyes, and is made queen. Heading Mordecai’s instructions Queen Esther does not reveal her origins or that she is Jewish. It is only shortly afterwards, Queen Esther’s cousin Mordecai discovers a plot by two palace guards Bigthan and Teresh to kill King Ahasuerus. Bigthan and Teresh are apprehended and hanged, and Mordecai's service to the King is recorded in the daily record of the court.

Afterwards King Ahasuerus appoints Haman as his viceroy. Now Mordecai who is a member of the Sanhedrin of the tribe of Benjamin, who sits at the palace gates, falls into disfavor with Haman because Mordecai refuses to bow down to him. When Haman finds out that Mordecai is Jewish, Haman devises a plain to kill him but not just Mordecai but all Persia's Jews in the empire. Through his manipulation Haman later obtains permission from king Ahasuerus' and provides funds to execute Haman’s plan. Haman then casts lots ("purim") to choose the date on which to execute his plain, the 14th of the month of Adar.

It is only when Haman’s plan becomes known, Mordecai and many other Jews in Shushan and other parts of the Persian empire, put on sackcloth and ashes, and begin publicly weeping and lamenting.

Hatach, a servant of the palace informs Queen Esther of what has transpired and acts as intermediary between Queen Esther and Mordecai. Mordecai then requests that Queen Esther intercede on behalf of all Persia's Jews in the empire. Knowing that nobody is allowed to approach the King, under penalty of death. Queen Esther informs Mordecai that she will fast and pray for three days and instructs Mordechai and all Jews of Persia to fast and pray for three days together with her. Queen Esther proceeds to says that on the third day she will approach the King to seek his help, despite the law against doing so, and famously declares, 'If I perish, I perish.’

On the third day, Queen Esther as promised approached to seek an audience with the king. Obtaining favour in King Ahasuerus sight, the golden sceptre is extended to Queen Esther. When asked by King Ahasuerus “what is troubling you, Queen Esther and what is your request? Queen Esthe request that the king and the royal vizier attend that day the banquet that she had prepared.”

As King Ahasuerus and Haman drank their wine at the banquet, the king again asks Queen Esther, “What is your request, for it shall be granted to you. Queen Esther replying , “My request and my wish my king, attend tomorrow the banquet which I will prepare, it is then I will answer the kings request of his Queen. Leaving Queen Esters banquet Haman arrogant and full of conceit finds himself offended again by Mordecai's refusal to bow to him. Haman being egged on by his wife Zeresh and unidentified friends, builds a gallows for Mordecai, with the intention to hang him there the very next day.

Later that night, King Ahasuerus suffering from insomnia orders the court's daily records read and learns of the services Mordecai rendered to the king yet he received no recognition for saving the King's life. Then just as “fate” would have it, Haman appears, and King Ahasuerus asks him what should be done for the man that the King wishes to honor. Haman thinking that the King is referring to himself, suggest the honoree should be dressed in the King's royal robes and led around on the King's royal horse. To Haman's horror, the king instructs Haman to render such honors to Mordecai.

That evening, King Ahasuerus and Haman attend Queen Esther's second banquet. The king again asks Queen Esther, “What is your request, for it shall be granted to you. As promised Queen Esther answers and reveals that she is Jewish and that Haman is planning to exterminate her and her people. King Ahasuerus becomes enraged and is informed by Harbonah, (one of the attending chamberlains) that the gallows that Haman built for Mordechai stands at Haman house. King Ahasuerus then orders Haman hanged on the gallows that Haman had prepared for Mordecai.

Sadly the previous decree against the Jewish people could not be nullified, so King Ahasuerus allows Mordecai and Queen Esther to write another decree as they wish. It was decreed that the Jewish people may preemptively kill those thought to pose a lethal risk. As a result, on 13 Adar, 500 attackers and 10 of Haman's sons are killed in Shushan. Throughout the empire 75,000 of the Jewish peoples' enemies were killed. On the 14th, another 300 were killed in Shushan. In all of the Persian Empire no spoils was taken.

Mordecai assumes the position of second in rank to King Ahasuerus, and institutes an annual commemoration of the deliverance of the Jewish people from annihilation.

-The Fast Of Esther-

The Fast of Esther is a dawn-to-nightfall fast held on the day before the holiday of Purim. It commemorates the fasting of our ancestors in response to the dramatic chain of events that occurred during their exile in the Persian empire. The day following the victory of the Jews over their enemies, the 13th of Adar, a date now observed in most years with the fast of Esther.

-The Day Of Deliverance-

According to the Scroll of Esther, "they should make them days of feasting and gladness, and of sending portions one to another, and gifts to the poor".

Today Purim is celebrated among Jews by:

Exchanging gifts of food and drink, known as mishloach manot.
Donating charity to the poor, known as mattanot la-evyonim.[7]
Eating a celebratory meal with alcoholic beverages, known as se'udat Purim or "Mishteh".
Public recitation of the Scroll of Esther (קריאת מגילת אסתר), or "reading of the Megillah", usually in synagogue.
Reciting additions to the daily prayers and the grace after meals, known as Al HaNissim.
Applying henna (Sephardic and Mizrahi Jews).

Other customs include wearing masks and costumes, public celebrations and parades (Adloyada), eating hamantashen (transl. "Haman's ears"), and drinking wine.

-Additional Facts-

Esther Scroll is dated to the 4th century BC
Became the last of the 24 books of the Hebrew Bible to be canonized by the Sages of the Great Assembly.
It is dated to the 4th century BCE and according to the Talmud was a redaction by the Great Assembly of an original text by Mordechai.
The Tractate Megillah in the Mishnah records the laws relating to Purim.
Tosefta and Gemara record Queen Vashti is the daughter of Belshazzar.
Esther of royal descent.
Mention of Esther is made in Tractate Hullin (Bavli Hullin 139b) and idolatry relating to worship of Haman is discussed in Tractate Sanhedrin (Sanhedrin 61b).

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Purim

The holiday of Purim commemorates the saving of the Jewish people from annihilation at the hands of an official of the Achaemenid Empire named Haman, as it is recounted in the Book of Esther.

Purim is celebrated annually on the 14th day of the Hebrew month of Adar or in Adar II in Hebrew leap years.

Purim meaning 'lots is the plural of the Hebrew word pur meaning “lot". Its use as the name of this festival comes from Esther 3:6–7, describing the choice of date.

Esther 3:6-7

In cities that were protected by a surrounding wall at the time of Joshua, Purim is celebrated on the 15th of the month of Adar on what is known as Shushan Purim, since fighting in the walled city of Shushan continued through the 14th day of Adar.

Today, only in Jerusalem and in several other biblical settlements such as Hebron and Shilo. Purim is observed and celebrated on both dates because of doubts regarding their status as cities surrounded by a wall since the days of Joshua.

-How The Story Goes-

It is only when Haman’s plan becomes known, Mordecai and many other Jews in Shushan and other parts of the Persian empire, put on sackcloth and ashes, and begin publicly weeping and lamenting.

Mordecai assumes the position of second in rank to King Ahasuerus, and institutes an annual commemoration of the deliverance of the Jewish people from annihilation.

-The Fast Of Esther-

-The Day Of Deliverance-

According to the Scroll of Esther, "they should make them days of feasting and gladness, and of sending portions one to another, and gifts to the poor".

Today Purim is celebrated among Jews by:

Exchanging gifts of food and drink, known as mishloach manot.

Donating charity to the poor, known as mattanot la-evyonim.[7]

Eating a celebratory meal with alcoholic beverages, known as se'udat Purim or "Mishteh".

Public recitation of the Scroll of Esther (קריאת מגילת אסתר), or "reading of the Megillah", usually in synagogue.

Reciting additions to the daily prayers and the grace after meals, known as Al HaNissim.

Applying henna (Sephardic and Mizrahi Jews).

Other customs include wearing masks and costumes, public celebrations and parades (Adloyada), eating hamantashen (transl. "Haman's ears"), and drinking wine.

-Additional Facts-

Esther Scroll is dated to the 4th century BC

Became the last of the 24 books of the Hebrew Bible to be canonized by the Sages of the Great Assembly.

It is dated to the 4th century BCE and according to the Talmud was a redaction by the Great Assembly of an original text by Mordechai.

The Tractate Megillah in the Mishnah records the laws relating to Purim.

Tosefta and Gemara record Queen Vashti is the daughter of Belshazzar.

Esther of royal descent.

Mention of Esther is made in Tractate Hullin (Bavli Hullin 139b) and idolatry relating to worship of Haman is discussed in Tractate Sanhedrin (Sanhedrin 61b).