What is the festival of Purim

Purim commemorates the saving of the Persian Jews described in the biblical Book of Esther (Megillat Esther) in the fourth century B.C.E. During the reign of the Persian king Achashverosh and his Jewish wife Esther, Haman, the king’s highest official, planned to kill all the Jews in the kingdom. Esther, however, thwarted Haman’s plan. With support from her uncle Mordecai, she interceded with the king on behalf of her people and persuaded him to grant the Jews the right to self-defence by decree. The Jews successfully defended themselves and Haman’s plan failed. The name Purim is derived from the word “pur” (plural Purim), which means “lot” (i.e., “to draw a lot”), because of the lots that Haman drew to determine the day of the Jews’ destruction.

Synagogue congregations mark the occasion with a service that is usually not overly serious. A very widespread tradition in the synagogue is to accompany every mention of the villain Haman with a deafening noise of jangling and rattling during the reading of Megillat Esther. The day before Purim is called the “Fast of Esther” and commemorates Esther and her people fasting while begging G’d for salvation from Haman’s decree.

Purim is celebrated on the 14th or 15th day of the Jewish month of Adar in Spring.