Purim - West Jerusalem

Purim means - the Feast of Lots, Haman having cast the lot against the Jews and his plans did not work. is a joyous holiday that recounts the saving of the Jews from a threatened massacre during the Persian period (539-330 BCE). The story of Purim is recounted in the Book of Esther, so they read it in the Synagogues She plays the leading role in saving her people. The holiday is traditionally celebrated with wild dancing and with the giving of gifts to friends and the poor.

Purim History

While the origins of Purim appear clear from the Book of Esther, it is a story that take place during a time when many Jews were living in Persia.

A young Jewish woman, Esther, rises to be Queen of Persia under her mentor guardian Mordecai. All, however, is not right. The Jews have enemies, and a certain Haman, the grand prime miniter, plots the Jews’ destruction.

Even though Esther has hidden her Jewish identity from all, Mordecai 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. This story is one of the most beloved in the Jewish community, because of the hope that it gives a minority living in an oftentimes hostile majority culture.

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