When is פורים? פורים, our most fun filled holiday, occurs on the 14th day of אדר. This year, 5775 (2015), Purim begins sundown Thursday, March 5, and goes through Friday evening, March 6. פורים means “lots”

Background Information פורים commemorates events that took place 2,500 years ago in the city of Shushan, in the Persian Empire (modern day Iran) The events of the holiday of פורים come from the Book of Esther in the 3 rd section of the Bible: כתובים.

Vashti and Esther The book of Esther begins with a six month drinking feast given by King Achashverosh the ruler of Persia for: –The army of Persia and Media –The civil servants –Princes in the 127 provinces of his kingdom After the 6 month party, there was a seven day drinking feast for the rich and poor of Shushan –Separate feast for the women with Queen Vashti Achashverosh called for Vashti to appear and display her beauty to the people and his officials Vashti refused

Vashti and Esther King Achashverosh’s advisers told the king to kill Vashti for disobeying They advised the king to find a new wife There was a young, Jewish woman from Shushan named Esther ( הדסה ) She was raised by her cousin, Mordecai. Esther was forced to go to the palace Mordecai told her to keep her Judaism a secret After ten months in the palace, she was brought before the king King Achashverosh chose her as his new queen

Mordechai Mordecai stayed near the palace to watch over Esther Mordecai overheard two palace guards (Bigtan and Teresh) plotting to kill the king Mordecai sent word to Esther Esther reported it to the king in Mordecai’s name The event was written in the royal book of records

Haman Haman was the king’s chief adviser Haman wanted everyone to bow down to him Mordecai would not bow because Jewish people bow only to God Haman was furious He realized that if Mordecai refused, other Jews may refuse too So Haman cast “lots” ( פורים ) and chose the 13th of אדר as the day all the Jews should be killed The foolish king trusted Haman and allowed him to do as he wished

The Jewish Response Mordecai told Esther to go to the king and plead for her people A rule forbid anyone (under penalty of death) from going to the king without being called Esther and the Jews of Shushan fasted and prayed for three days After three days, the king held out his golden scepter, a symbol that she could enter

King Achashverosh The King told Esther he would give her whatever she wanted, up to half of his kingdom She asked the king and Haman to attend a banquet At the banquet Esther invited the king and Haman to another banquet

Zeresh Haman left the first banquet happy At home he bragged to his wife Zeresh that he was the only one invited to the special banquet Haman said how great everything would be if only he didn’t have to put up with Mordecai Zeresh told him to build gallows and hang Mordecai the next day

The King’s Insomnia That night the king can’t sleep His servants read to him from the book of records They read about Mordecai saving the king’s life The king realized that nothing was done to honor Mordecai Meanwhile, Haman came to the king to get permission to hang Mordecai

The King’s Insomnia The king asks Haman what should be done for a man the king wishes to honor Haman thinks the king is talking about him Haman says the man should be dressed in the king’s clothing, placed upon the king’s horse, and led through the city by an important man, who will say “This is the man the King wishes to honor” The king likes the idea, and tells Haman that he should do that for Mordecai Haman got even angrier

The Second Banquet At the second banquet Achashverosh asks Esther what she wants Esther asks the king to spare the life of her people Esther tells Achashverosh someone seeks to destroy her and the Jewish people When the king asks who would dare do such a thing she says, “Haman” Haman is hung on the gallows built for Mordecai Mordecai is instated in his place as the king’s chief adviser

Self-Defense The Jews are sent word that by order of the king they defend themselves against any one would attempt to destroy them On the 13 אדר the Jews in Persia defended themselves On the 14 אדר they rested and rejoiced Mordecai proclaimed the joyous day should be celebrated for all times

שבת שקלים The Shabbat before the month of אדר officially welcomes the פורים season It is honored with the reading of an additional Torah portion dedicated to tzedakah, a mitzvah associated with Esther It is from שמות ל: יא-טז, which describes the giving of a half- shekel in support of the offerings in the בית המקדש

שבת זכור The Shabbat immediately before פורים is called שבת זכור, the Sabbath of Remembrance The Torah portion recalls the when Amalek, the grandson of Esau, tried to destroy the Jews at their most vulnerable moment The Torah reading describes Amalek attacked the Jews just as they escaped slavery “Remember what Amalek did to you on the road as you came out of Egypt… you shall blot out the memory of Amalek from under the heavens. Do Not Forget!”

שבת זכור The Haftarah describes how King Shaul had the chance to destroy all of Amalek, but instead, took pity on King Agag, and spared his life The prophet Shmuel criticized King Shaul and killed the Amalek king himself Before King Agog died, he returned home and fathered a child Haman was a direct descendant of King Agag Mordecai was a descendant of King Shaul Generations later, Mordecai did what his ancestor failed to do

The Fast of Esther תענית אסתר On the 13 אדר (the day before פורים ) Jews observe a “minor fast” day in memory of Esther who asked the Jews of Shushan to fast and pray for three days A “minor fast” lasts from dawn to sunset One may eat breakfast if one arises before sunrise for the purpose of doing so This year, when פורים begins מוצאי שבת (Saturday night), The Fast of Esther is held on Thursday

4 מצוות של פורים מגילת אסתר- The Scroll of Esther משלוח מנות - Sending food to friends מתנות לאויונים -Giving gifts to the poor סעודת פורים – Purim meal

Megillah Readings The Book of Esther (a single scroll) is read aloud Read twice, on the eve of פורים and on פורים day The Megillah is chanted with its own melody Megillah can be read at synagogue or home It is a mitzvah for everyone to hear the Megillah There should be very little talk while it is being read, except when the name Haman is heard It is a mitzvah to hear each and every word of the megillah

משלוח מנות Send food packages to friends and relatives on פורים. Origin is in the Megillah when Mordecai declared the holiday of פורים as a time “of feasting and gladness and of sending food to one another, as well as gifts to the poor.” The food basket: –Must contain at least two different foods that require two separate blessings –Must be sent to at least two different people –Usually delivered through a שליח (representative), usually a young child –Usually delivered on פורים day

מתנות לאביונים Gifts to the poor was the second requirement Mordechai made for פורים Any type of tzedakah that helps the poor qualifies for this מצווה

סעודת פורים In the late afternoon, family and friends gather for a festive פורים meal The only specific rule for the סעודה is that it include bread

Customs Hamantashen –Three- cornered cakes filled with fruit jams or poppy seeds –It is Yiddish for “Haman’s pockets”, or –In Hebrew they are אזני המן, Haman’s ears Costumes –Wearing costumes is a custom –God’s role in the פורים story is hidden Graggers –Gragger is a Yiddish word for a noisemaker. –רעשן is a Hebrew word for a noisemaker.

עד לא ידע A third century Babylonian teacher named Rava said that on פורים one should drink enough wine until one does not know the difference between – “ ארור המן ” cursed Haman – “ברוך מרדכי ”- blessed Mordecai

הסתר פנים The hidden face of God –The name of God never appears in the Megillah –As the story unfolds, it is clear that God is very much a part of the story –God who manages the events, ensures the survival of God’s people –God often works in ways that are not apparent in ways that appear to be: Chance Coincidence Ordinary good luck.

Other Days שושן פורים : –It took the Jews of the walled city Shushan an extra day to fight their enemies –They did not rest until 15 אדר instead of the 14 אדר –Today, the Jews of the walled city Jerusalem observe פורים on 15 אדר פורים קטן : –During the Jewish Leap Year, there is a second month of אדר, which is called אדר ב. –During leap year, פורים קטן is observed on the 14th of א אדר –A big פורים celebration takes place on the 14th אדר ב

Other פורים פורים is not the only time Jews were saved from destruction Jews all over the world have experienced small purims In Hebrew this is called פורים קטן One famous פורים קטן - the Wintz Purim - involved the community of Frankfurt –In 1614, Jews were driven from the city by an angry mob led by Wintz Fettmilch –The emperor intervened and Fettmilch was executed –The Jews returned to the city Another פורים קטן involves the Heller family of Prague –To this day, members of this family gather on the first of אדר to remember how Yom Tov Heller, the rabbi of Prague, was saved from death in 1629

Where is God in the פורים story? God’s name is never mentioned in the Megillah Why is God’s role in the story of פורים hidden?

Where is Moshe in the Hagadah? Moshe’s name is never mentioned in the Hagadah. Why does the Hagadah leave Moshe out of the Hagadah?

Comparison How would you compare Moshe not being mentioned in the Hagadah to God not being mentioned in the Megillah? Are the reasons similar or different?

Analysis Where is Moses in the Hagadah? –During the Exodus, God was the main force in creating and strengthening the Israelite nation Where is God in the Megillah? –By this point, the Jews could be main force in saving themselves

עמלק, השואה, פורים, Who was Amalek in the Torah? –A nation that attacked the old, the children, and the weak How was Haman connected to Amalek? –He was a descendant of Agag, King of Amalek How was the Shoah connected to Amalek? –Many believe that Hitler was a (spiritual) descendant of Amalek. –His hatred of the Jewish people paralleled that of Pharaoh, Amalek, and Haman