Purim

The most joyous and carnivalesque Jewish festival, Purim celebrates the deliverance of Persian Jews from genocidal destruction through the courage of Queen Esther. Marked by feasting, costumes, comedy, and charity, Purim commemorates divine providence hidden beneath human events and the persistent survival of the Jewish people against impossible odds.

The Story of Esther

Plot Summary (Book of Esther)

Setting: Persian Empire, reign of King Ahasuerus (possibly Xerxes I), c. 5th century BCE

Act 1: Esther Becomes Queen

• Queen Vashti deposed for refusing king’s command
• Jewish orphan Esther (raised by cousin Mordecai) chosen as new queen
• Conceals her Jewish identity

Act 2: Haman’s Plot

• Haman, chief minister, demands everyone bow to him
• Mordecai refuses (as Jew, bows only to God)
• Haman enraged, plots to destroy all Jews
• Casts lots (purim) to choose date for genocide: 13th of Adar
• King signs decree allowing Jews’ annihilation

Act 3: Esther’s Courage

• Mordecai urges Esther to intercede
• “Who knows if you have come to royal position for such a time as this?” (Esther 4:14)
• Esther risks death (approaching king unbidden)
• “If I perish, I perish” (Esther 4:16)

Act 4: The Reversal

• Esther reveals her Jewish identity and Haman’s plot
• King enraged at Haman, has him hanged on gallows prepared for Mordecai
• Irrevocable decree can’t be canceled, but second decree allows Jews to defend themselves
• On 13th Adar, Jews defeat enemies
• Mordecai elevated to Haman’s position

Act 5: Celebration

• 14th Adar (15th in Shushan): Feasting and gladness
• Established as perpetual holiday
• “These days should be remembered and observed in every generation” (Esther 9:28)

Unique Aspects of Esther

God Not Mentioned:

• Only biblical book not naming God
• Divine providence hidden
• God working behind scenes
• Natural events with supernatural significance

Reversal Theme:

• Weak become strong
• Intended victims become victorious
• Haman’s plot backfires completely
• Gallows prepared for Mordecai hang Haman

Women’s Courage:

• Esther risks life to save people
• Vashti’s refusal begins story
• Female agency central

The Four Mitzvot of Purim

1. Reading the Megillah

The Book of Esther:

• Read twice: evening and morning
• From parchment scroll
• Congregation listens
• Special trope (melody)

When Haman Mentioned:

• Groggers (noisemakers) used
• Booing and stamping
• Drown out his name
• “Blot out Amalek’s name” (Haman’s ancestor)

Blessings:

• Before and after reading
• Praising God for miracles

2. Mishloach Manot (Sending Food Gifts)

Requirement:

• Send at least two food items to at least one person
• Ready-to-eat foods
• Strengthening community bonds
• Spreading joy

Typical Items:

• Hamantaschen cookies
• Wine or juice
• Fruit
• Candies
• Pastries

Baskets and Delivery:

• Often elaborate baskets
• Children deliver
• Community networking

3. Matanot La’evyonim (Gifts to Poor)

Requirement:

• Give to at least two poor people
• Money or food
• On Purim day itself
• No questions asked (given freely)

Priority:

• More important than other mitzvot
• “The greatest joy is to gladden the hearts of the poor”
• Social justice emphasis

4. Se’udat Purim (Festive Meal)

Requirements:

• Afternoon feast
• Meat and wine
• Joy and celebration
• Family and friends

Drinking:

• “Drink until can’t distinguish between ‘Cursed be Haman’ and ‘Blessed be Mordecai’”
• Debated interpretation
• Joy, not drunkenness, intended
• Some drink symbolically

Customs and Celebrations

Costumes

Modern Tradition:

• Children (and adults) dress up
• Esther, Mordecai, Haman popular
• Any costume acceptable
• Hidden identities (like God hidden in story)

Symbolism:

• Things not as they appear
• Reversals and surprises
• Playfulness and joy

Hamantaschen

Three-Cornered Cookies:

• Filled with poppy seed, jam, chocolate
• “Haman’s pockets” or “Haman’s hat”
• Triangular shape significant
• Sweet defeating bitter

Other Foods:

• Kreplach (triangular dumplings)
• Challah in special shapes
• Festive pastries

Purim Spiel

Comic Plays:

• Retelling Purim story
• Humorous exaggerations
• Satirical elements
• Community entertainment

Purim Shpiel:

• Amateur productions
• Everyone participates
• Laughter and joy
• Absurdity celebrated

Drunkenness Debate

Talmudic Statement: Obligated to drink until can’t distinguish cursed Haman from blessed Mordecai

Interpretations:

1. Literal: Get drunk (minority view)
2. Moderate: Drink more than usual
3. Symbolic: Slight intoxication
4. Sleep: Drink and nap (asleep, can’t distinguish)

Modern Concern:

• Alcoholism awareness
• Responsible celebration
• Joy without excess

Theological Significance

Hidden Providence

Ester = Hidden:

• God’s name hidden in text
• Providence hidden in events
• Working through natural means
• “Coincidences” that aren’t

Lesson:

• God present even when invisible
• History under divine control
• Faith sees what eyes can’t

Jewish Survival

Against All Odds:

• Existential threat defeated
• Pattern throughout history
• “In every generation they rise up to destroy us, and the Holy One saves us”
• Resilience and endurance

Post-Holocaust Resonance:

• Hitler as modern Haman
• Survival despite genocide
• Hope in darkest times

Esther’s Courage

“For Such a Time as This”:

• Divine purpose in circumstances
• Called to courage
• Risking all to save others
• Faith in action

Female Heroism:

• Woman saves nation
• Intelligence and bravery
• Agency and initiative

Reversal Fortune

Upside-Down World:

• Weak defeat strong
• Intended victim victorious
• Evil punished by own device
• God’s justice prevails

Purim Worldwide

Israel

National Celebration:

• Public holiday
• Street parties
• Parades (Ad-lo-yada)
• Costumes everywhere
• Carnival atmosphere

Tel Aviv Parade:

• Major event
• Thousands participate
• Floats and music

Diaspora

Synagogue-Centered:

• Community Megillah reading
• Purim carnivals
• Costume contests
• Food baskets exchanged

Cultural Variations:

• Sephardi vs. Ashkenazi customs
• Different foods and traditions
• Common joy and celebration

Modern Adaptations

Secular Participation:

• Cultural Jews celebrate
• Costumes and parties
• Food and fun
• Jewish identity

Social Media:

• Costume photos
• Virtual readings
• Online connections
• Global community

Shushan Purim

Day After (Adar 15):

• Celebrated in walled cities from Joshua’s time
• Jerusalem observes Shushan Purim
• Others celebrate Adar 14
• Based on when Shushan (capital) celebrated

Why Different?:

• Esther 9: Fighting continued in Shushan one more day
• Celebrated day after
• Jerusalem honored as ancient walled city

Special Purims

Local Purims:

• Communities saved from danger established local Purims
• Commemorating specific deliverances
• Family or community celebrations
• Continuing tradition of remembering salvation

Anti-Haman Tradition

Amalek Connection:

• Haman descended from Agag (Amalekite king)
• Ancient enemy of Israel
• Command to “blot out Amalek”
• Symbolic victory

Groggers Drown Name:

• Every mention of Haman = noise
• Erasing his memory
• Communal participation
• Children especially active

The Message of Purim

Purim shouts: Joy defeats despair! Even when genocide looms, when evil seems triumphant, when God appears absent—the story can reverse.

The lots (purim) Haman cast to choose destruction’s date became the name of the festival celebrating survival. What was meant for death became occasion for life.

Esther’s “If I perish, I perish” is Jewish courage distilled. When crisis comes, rise to it. Perhaps you were placed exactly here, exactly now, “for such a time as this.”

The hidden God of Esther is the God of history—unseen but active, silent but sovereign. When He seems absent, He’s writing the story. Coincidences are Providence incognito.

And Purim’s carnival spirit—costumes, comedy, wine, noise—declares: Don’t let suffering have the last word. Laugh at death. Mock the enemy. Celebrate survival. Joy is resistance.

Every Jewish generation has faced Hamans. Every time, deliverance came. Not by might, not by power, but by My Spirit, says the Lord. And by courage of people like Esther.

“These days should be remembered and observed in every generation, in every family, in every province and every city.” — Esther 9:28

The noise of groggers drowning Haman’s name echoes through time: Evil will not triumph. The Jewish people will endure. God’s purposes will prevail.

Chag Purim Sameach! Happy Purim!