Purim

Purim is celebrated on the 14th of Adar (usually in March, sometimes at the end of February) and comes from the Book of Esther.

Purim spread featuring hamantaschen party favors and two glasses of white wine

Purim is celebrated on the 14th of Adar (usually in March, sometimes at the end of February) and comes from the Book of Esther. A Persian girl named Esther becomes part of King Ahasuerus’s harem, and later his Queen, although he is unaware that she is Jewish. The King’s power-hungry advisor Haman plots revenge against the Jewish people as a way of getting back at Esther’s cousin Mordecai who would not bow down to him. Esther steps in to plead her case; the King listens, appoints Mordecai his prime minister, allows the Jews to defend themselves, and Haman is sent to the gallows.

One of the dictates of Purim is that we are meant to listen to its story (“The Megillah”) being read. The Book of Esther is the only book of the Bible that doesn’t mention God. Instead, humanity must save itself. As such, in the third century, Rabbi Joshua ben Levi dictated that not only men should attend the reading of the Megillah but that women were obligated to hear it as well since it was a woman who delivered the Jewish people into safety.

Over the years, the reading of The Megillah has turned into one of the most festive days in the Jewish calendar. This partially stems from the saying of the Talmud (Meg. 7b) that one should drink on Purim until he can no longer distinguish "Cursed be Haman" from "Blessed be Mordechai."

Adding to the merriment, noisemakers (“groggers”) are in full force to block out the sound of Haman’s name. This tradition is traced back to the 13th century when French and German rabbis took to writing Haman’s name on two stones, knocking them together to make noise and physically rub off the text. Costumes and masks are also worn to mirror the many instances of mistaken identities that appear in the story of Esther as well as the “hidden face” of God directing the salvation of the Jewish people.

The Book of Esther also suggests that gifts of food (“Mishloach Manot”) are given to friends and the poor. Even those who have very little are meant to share with two other people. The traditional gift is, of course, hamantaschen, triangular-shaped cookies that mirror the shape of Haman’s hat.
 

Purim Programming Ideas

  • Go to synagogue and hear the reading of the Megillah, wearing a costume and bringing a grogger.
     

  • Send Mishloach Manot to friends, children in hospitals or institutional settings, or elderly members of the community. Hand-delivering something sweet is sure to bring a smile to everyone’s face.
     

  • Read about Esther in the WRJ Divrei Torah written in honor of WRJ's Centennial in order to honor women of our ancestral and organizational past, lift up the core values and successes of WRJ, and celebrate the unique qualities of womankind. 
     

  • Host a Purim talent show or bake-off. Plan these programs for the congregation after the Megillah reading or for the religious school students—they would surely appreciate seeing adults performing for their benefit! Use these amazing recipes.  
     

  • Hold a costume competition for the children in your congregation, followed by a parade. Have the kids decorate their own groggers, using paper plates and dry beans or other materials.
     

  • Discuss with your sisterhood the role of women in the Book of Esther: is Esther an empowering figure or too reliant on her own femininity? Was the banishment of Vashti fair or uncalled for? How does this story relate to our current struggle to reach gender equity?
     

  • Since Purim encourages gambling for celebration, throw a casino night as a fundraiser for your sisterhood! Charge admission, which could come with a certain number of tokens and food/drink tickets, and have a prize for those with the most tokens at the end of the night. (Possible games include varieties of poker, bingo, roulette, or craps.) Encourage guests to come wearing masks or costumes.
     

In honor of Esther, who stood up for her community when they were in danger, brainstorm with the sisterhood ways that you could help a community in trouble: organize a food drive for a local homeless shelter or get a group together to write letters to Congress in support of legislation that defends women’s rights; see what you can come up with!