Purim is a springtime holiday commemorating the events of the book of Esther, where the Jewish Queen Esther and Mordekhai overturn a decree of genocide against the Jews of the ancient Persian Empire.
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A Day of Feasting and JoyTANAKH
A Day of Feasting and Joy
TANAKH
The holiday of Purim celebrates the miraculous survival of the Jewish people in the wake of an existential genocidal threat. The book of Esther describes how, after their victory, the Jews established the holiday of Purim for future generations.
Reading the MegillahMISHNAH
Reading the Megillah
MISHNAH
Reading Megillat Esther, the physical scroll of the book of Esther, is a central component of the holiday of Purim. The Mishnah, the first codification of Jewish law, from the early third-century land of Israel, provides detailed instructions as to how to properly read the Megillah.
Sending Gifts to One Another RESPONSA
Sending Gifts to One Another
RESPONSA
A central feature of the Purim holiday is a practice known as mishloach manot, a tradition of sending gifts of food to others. In his 15th-century work of responsa, Terumat HaDeshen, Israel Isserlin describes the legal requirements of this practice.
Presents for Those in NeedHALAKHAH
Presents for Those in Need
HALAKHAH
The Purim holiday includes a directive to extend our happiness to those less fortunate. Rambam, in his comprehensive 12th-century legal code, Mishneh Torah, emphasizes the importance of the commandment to give charity to the poor on Purim.
A Purim Feast and its Mystical MeaningKABBALAH
A Purim Feast and its Mystical Meaning
KABBALAH
Purim day is traditionally celebrated with a festive meal, known as a se’udah. Rabbi Yehuda Ashlag, in his 20th-century presentation of the kabbalistic teachings of Isaac Luria, discusses the mystical significance of the Purim se’udah.
Gratitude for the MiraclesLITURGY
Gratitude for the Miracles
LITURGY
On Purim, an additional passage known as “Al HaNissim,” or “For the Miracles” is inserted into the central prayer, and the grace after meals. The passage recounts the miracles God performed for the Jewish people during the time of Mordekhai and Esther.
Meaning Behind the MaskCHASIDUT
Meaning Behind the Mask
CHASIDUT
Many people dress up in costumes as part of their Purim celebrations, including during the festive holiday meal. Rabbi Tzvi Elimelekh Shapira of Dinov, in his 19th-century Chasidic text, Bnei Yissaschar, provides a spiritual interpretation of the custom to dress up on Purim.
An Unbeatable PeopleTALMUD
An Unbeatable People
TALMUD
The Purim story is part of a broader narrative of Jewish survival and divine intervention in times of adversity. The Babylonian Talmud in tractate Megillah places the Purim story in the context of Jewish history and compares it to other moments of existential danger for the Jewish people.
Topsy-Turvy DayJEWISH THOUGHT
Topsy-Turvy Day
JEWISH THOUGHT
Purim celebrates a turn from mourning to celebration and from grief to joy. Rav Shagar, a modern Israeli rabbi, explores the particular way in which Purim emphasizes polarities and opposites, emphasizing the power of ecstasy that emerges from sadness.
Haman’s LotsMIDRASH
Haman’s Lots
MIDRASH
Haman, the villain of the Purim story, casts lots — “purim,” in Hebrew — to determine the date for the annihilation of the Jews. Yalkut Shimoni, a medieval compilation of midrashic texts, adds color and detail to this narrative plot point.
Yom Kippur And PurimKABBALAH
Yom Kippur And Purim
KABBALAH
Jewish tradition, and particularly Jewish mysticism, draw a connection between the joyous holiday of Purim and the solemn day of Yom Kippur. Tikkunei Zohar, a medieval kabbalistic text, suggests that one day Yom Kippur will transform into a day much more like Purim.
A Season of JoyTALMUD
A Season of Joy
TALMUD
Purim takes place on the 14th day of the Jewish month of Adar. The Babylonian Talmud in tractate Ta’anit directs us to extend the joyful spirit of Purim to the beginning of the month, to spiritually and emotionally prepare for the holiday.
A Different Kind of PurimHALAKHAH
A Different Kind of Purim
HALAKHAH
The Ethiopian Jewish community traditionally marked Purim very differently from other Jewish communities, refraining from celebration entirely. Rabbi Dr. Sharon Shalom, an Ethiopian-Israeli rabbi, describes his community’s practices and the various explanations offered for them.
The Limits of Purim MerrimentTALMUD
The Limits of Purim Merriment
TALMUD
Purim is a holiday of joy and celebration, and heavy drinking is common and even encouraged in some contexts. The Babylonian Talmud in tractate Megillah recounts a tale of two rabbis who took the obligation of Purim intoxication to a dangerous extreme.
A Journey from Purim to PassoverCOMMENTARY
A Journey from Purim to Passover
COMMENTARY
The Jewish holidays of Purim and Passover are connected both calendrically — they are a month apart — and thematically, in their shared themes of redemption and salvation. Yehoshua Hartman, in his study of Maharal’s essay about Purim, explores the connection between Purim and Passover and its significance.
A Personal PurimHALAKHAH
A Personal Purim
HALAKHAH
Purim, which commemorates the Jewish people’s survival from a genocidal plot, has served as a template for celebrating other miracles. In his 19th-century legal work, Chayei Adam, Rabbi Abraham Danzig discusses the practice of marking personal or communal “Purim” days to commemorate narrowly avoided catastrophes.