Purim
This Jewish holiday celebrates Jews being saved from persecution during the Persian Empire.
This Jewish holiday celebrates Jews being saved from persecution during the Persian Empire.
Nathaniel Glanzman
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Pronunciation: PUH-rim
This Jewish holiday celebrates Jews being saved from persecution during the Persian Empire.
Origin
In the 5th century B.C., a jealous chief minister of the Persian king convinced him that Jews were a threat, and all Persian Jews should be executed. But when Queen Esther, secretly a Jew herself, heard of the plan, she revealed her religion to her husband the king and changed his mind. Her heroism—and the survival of her people—is celebrated on Purim.
When it is observed
Purim is celebrated on the 14th of the Hebrew month of Adar—it typically occurs sometime between late winter and early spring.
Traditions
People celebrate in many ways. Some children may dress up in costumes from the story of Purim. Others may listen to the history told aloud through a reading of the Megillah (book of Esther), using noisemakers and putting on plays commemorating the event. Hamantaschen, a three-cornered cookie, is a traditional Purim treat.
About Queen Esther
Esther, cousin of Mordecai, married King Ahasuerus of Persia, but did not reveal to him that she was Jewish. Meanwhile, when Mordecai refused to pay proper respect to the King’s minister, Haman, the minister grew angry and convinced the King to execute all Persian Jews in one day. When Esther heard of the plan, she revealed to the king that she was Jewish—and pointed out that under his plan she would also be executed. Instead of executing Esther and her people, the King had Haman executed instead.