Blog

By: Ben Kreshtool, Ritual Director

Celebrated on the 14th of Adar, Purim is a joyous holiday on which we recount the saving of the Jews from a looming massacre organized by the wicked Haman during the Persian period (539-330 BCE).

What is the history of Purim?

The Book of Esther (Megillat Esther) provides the origin story of Purim, the blueprint for its celebration, and the authorization for its observance. Interestingly, historians have not discovered any extra-biblical corroboration of the events of the story. While there is no historical evidence which proves that the events of The Book Esther actually happened, the story's message is nonetheless central to the Jewish faith.

The Purim narrative describes a time when many Jews were living in Persia. A young Jewish woman, Esther, rises to be Queen of Persia under the tutelage of her guardian Mordechai. All, however, is not right. The Jews have enemies, and a certain Haman, the grand vizier, plots the Jews' destruction. Even though Esther has hidden her Jewish identity, Mordechai prevails on her to risk her life by revealing her true identity to the king. She does this and denounces the evil Haman's plot. At the end of the story, the Jews are able to turn the tables on their enemies, who are then punished in place of the intended victims.

What is the theme of Purim?

The Purim story is one of the most beloved in the Jewish community, because of the hope that it gives a minority living in an often hostile majority culture. Along those lines, Rabbi Steve Schwartz commented on the meaning of the Purim story to secular Jews: “In many ways, the Book of Esther reflects today's Jewish community. It is a story of secular Jews - Mordechai and Esther - who still feel connected to their Jewish heritage, even if they aren't observant. The Book of Esther also is the story of an interfaith family. After all, when Esther wins that beauty contest and becomes the Queen, she is a Jewish woman marrying a non-Jewish man.”

In Masekhet Megillah, the Talmudic tractate devoted to Purim observances, Rabbi Akiva declares the Book of Esther to be divinely inspired. Some commentators believe this eventually led to the inclusion of Esther in the Hebrew Bible, despite the omission of God from the book.

As Brandon Chiat wrote in his article, The Masked Singers of Shushan: “On Purim, nothing is at it seems. Even Hashem is hidden in the Purim story; God's name is not mentioned a single time in the Megillah. Unlike the overt miracles of other holidays like Passover and Hanukkah, the Purim miracle itself - whereby the entire Jewish community is saved from destruction - is hidden. The interceding hand of God is invisible.”

Rabbi Schwartz furthers that explanation. “The message may be that you have to take control of your own destiny. Esther sits in the palace, and Mordechai says to her: ‘You have to act!' He doesn't say ‘pray to God,' instead his message is: you have to speak up, you have to make a difference!”

How do you celebrate Purim?

Purim is a holiday ordained by our sages of blessed memory in the Talmud, specifically Tractate Megillah. There are four mitzvot (commandments) associated with the holiday of Purim:

1. Listening to the chanting of the Megillah

2. Sending gifts to friends (Mishloach Manot)

3. Giving gifts to charity (Matanot La'evyonim)

4. Attending a festive meal (Seudat Mitzvah)

Listening to the Megillah chanting:
On the eve of Purim and the following morning, we listen to the chanting of the Book of Esther (Megillat Esther). Similar to a Torah scroll, the Megillah is written on parchment by a religious scribe called a sofer. A special cantillation (trope) is used that is different from the melody you may be used to hearing when we read from the Torah or Haftarah on Shabbat. At Beth El, we are fortunate to have many beautiful Megillot in our collection of ritual objects - here are three things you might not know about Beth El's Megillot.

Sending gifts to friends (Mishloach Manot):
Sending gifts of food to your friends and family is a Purim mitzvah commanded by the Megillah. It is customary to prepare at least two different kinds of foods in the basket, and Mishloach Manot baskets traditionally include every Jew's favorite pastry: a hamentashen (Oznei Haman).

The hamentashen - a triangle shaped pastry commonly filled with fruit (though some people get creative with their recipes)  - comes to us from the Ashkenazic tradition of Eastern Europe. But in Sephardic communities, you might see bourekas, or a tasty treat called Huevos de Haman, which is a hard boiled egg wrapped in a sweet dough.

Giving gifts to charity (Matanot La'evyonim):
The Megillah also commands us to make charitable contributions to those in need during Purim: “The days wherein the Jews had rest from their enemies, and the month which was turned unto them from sorrow to gladness, and from mourning into a good day; that they should make them days of feasting and gladness, and of sending portions one to another, and gifts to the poor” (Chapter 9:22). At this time of year, we also read Shabbat Shekalim (literally, The Shabbat of Shekels), which requests that each adult Jewish male contribute half of a Biblical shekel for the upkeep of the Tabernacle or Mishkan. Accordingly, on Purim we collect funds to distribute to those in need.

Attending a festive meal (Seudat Mitzvah):
The Shulchan Aruch, the primary code of Jewish law, considers eating the Purim festive meal to be a mitzvah. Purim is a holiday on which we try to increase our joy, and there's no better way to celebrate than with a delicious feast. One of the more controversial requirements (or welcomed, depending on how you look at it), is to drink a little more alcohol than usual. Such a request is surprising not only because we're commanded to get drunk, but also given the timing of festive meal: the Purim Seudah should be conducted during the day.

Purim is a joyous holiday filled with fun, but the message of Purim is an important one. As Jews, we must make our collective voices heard, and accept that we can instill change if we desire it.

Join us on Wednesday, March 20th at 7:00 p.m. for our congregational Megillah reading and The Masked Singers of Shushan: Beth El's 2019 Purim Spiel. We look forward to celebrating Purim with you!