"If you fail to speak up now, relief and deliverance will come to the Jews from a different direction; but you and your father's family will perish.
Who knows whether you didn't come into your royal position precisely for such a time as this" (Esther 4:14).Occurs sunset to sunset:
- 2011: March 19-20
- 2012: March 7-8
- 2013: February 23-24
- 2014: March 15-16
- 2015: March 4-5
Purim is the celebration of the Triumph of Good over Evil, of Israel's assured survival against all the odds stacked against us! More, it is a challenge to each of us today:
Will we stand with Israel TODAY or will we stand with the Haman's of the world? We each must decide. You must decide. From the earliest days of People Israel there have always been those determined to destroy us, whether we are Jews by birth or Jews by conversion. Still we survive against all odds and we continue on. This is the message of Purim:
We will survive. Throughout the millennia many Haman's have come against us and none of them have succeeded because HaShem is with His people then and now! Beyond the festivals and the fun this is the central Remembrance of Purim.
Genesis 12:1 Now ADONAI said to Avram, "Get yourself out of your country, away from your kinsmen and away from your father's house, and go to the land that I will show you.
2 I will make of you a great nation, I will bless you, and I will make your name great; and you are to be a blessing.
3 I will bless those who bless you, but I will curse anyone who curses you; and by you all the families of the earth will be blessed."HaShem blesses and protects His people come what may. He alone is our hope.
The Story of Purim The story of Purim is found within the Megillah (or Scroll of Esther). The heart of the Feast of Purim is the public recitation of the Megillah. It is read in homes and shuls the world over.
The celebrations of Purim include dressing up in wonderful costumes, putting on plays, men sometimes dress as women and women as men, people playfully steal each others food, there is dancing and noise making, carnivals and more as a general air of complete disorder reigns supreme... even in the shul itself!
Jews enter the normally reserved synagogues with Hamon's name written on the soles of their shoes! As the Megillah (Book of Esther) is read they pay close attention understanding that the story of Purim never ends -- it continues in every generation as new Hamans arise and are confronted by modern Mordecais and Esthers (may HaShem send us an army of such people!). We have many Hamans today and Bezras Hashem ("with the help of HaShem") we will survive them as well!
As the Book of Esther is read, whenever the name "Haman" is uttered (and its in the text 54 times!) the congregation stomps their feet in disgust at what he sought to do to the Jews, grinding his name into the floor/dust of the shul. This tradition began among French and German rabbis of the 13th century who wrote Haman's name on stones and beat and ground them together until the stones (like Haman's power) disintegrated into rumble. Doubtless they were thinking of their own Hamans!
Congregants hiss and boo at the mention of his name in the text. Some shake rattles (called ra'ashan) as everyone symbolically mocks all the Haman's of history past, present and future. HaShem is with His people!
Purim then is a time to remember the truth that none of the enemies of Israel have ever succeeded despite the pain and sorrow they may inflict. God's people will survive!
As Messianic Jews we understand the dark days that lay ahead and we recall that Rebbe Y'shua taught that he will return and establish the earthly Kingdom of HaShem in order to save the Jews from genocide (Matthew 24:22). Stand with Israel friends, or fall with Haman!
The other main tradition of Purim is feasting (Se'udat Purim) and the drinking of large quantities of wine. On this one day of the year the Sages of the Talmud state that one should drink until he can one longer distinguish between the phrases arur Haman ("Cursed is Haman") and baruch Mordechai ("Blessed is Mordecai")! Other Chazal ("sages of blessed memory") sought to mellow this ruling a bit, stating that one should only drink a bit more than usual, then go to sleep (as in sleep one can not distinguish between the two either!). The point is that our hope is in HaShem alone, not in our ability to defend ourselves nor apply our rational minds. For a people who so deeply value knowledge, this is a major concession!
Also popular is the giving of charity (Esther 9:22). Orthodox halakha (law) dictates that each adult Jew should give two different foods to one person, and two charitable donations to two poor people. The food parcels are called mishloach manot ("sending of portions"). In some Jewish circles these traditions result in major gift-giving but simple gifts satisfy the tradition.
It appears that the costuming traditions began among Italian Jews in the 15th-century. The customs of cross dressing are peculiar and difficult to explain however the tradition is strong and seems to be related to the idea that HaShem sometimes uses the forbidden (men wearing women's clothing etc) to accomplish His Will. Or perhaps that's just a cop-out!
Queen Esther was Jewish and yet due to Haman's antisemitism she was forced to conceal her Jewish identity. The costumes and masks worn by Jews on Purim remember this part of the Queen's experiences. In other words, hidden beneath what appears like chaotic mirth is the miracle of God's salvation. As with the drunkenness, by such traditions religious Jews acknowledge that we are powerless without HaShem.
Another fun thing about Purim is the Purim Shpiel! These began as comic reenactments of the story of Esther mocking Haman but soon evolved into fun examples of the Jewish spirit in all areas that show how HaShem blesses His people. Here are a couple of fun examples with the help of You Tube:
Best Purim Shpiel Ever!!
Congregation Beth Am Purim Shpiel 2: The Wrath of Haman
The story of Purim IS the story of the Jewish people.
From http://JewishHistory.org:
Have you ever asked yourself, "What is the Jewish holiday of Purim all about?"
The story of Purim is about the survival of the Jews and Judaism in Persia and Babylonia, despite attempts to destroy them.
After Persia conquers Babylonia, the Persian King Achashverosh throws a ball and invites the Jews to participate. They therefore feel confident that they will be safe in the kingdom. However, the King's minister, Haman, plans to destroy the Jewish People. Meanwhile- the King holds a beauty contest in order to pick a new Queen, and in the end chooses an observant Jewish woman named Esther. Esther's uncle Mordechai consents to the marriage and she becomes the queen, though Mordechai keeps constant awareness of his niece and the happenings of the Kingdom.
Haman, who is evil incarnate, convinces the King Achashverosh that the Jews must be gotten rid of. He cloaks this evil plan with a veneer of legitimacy, claiming that the Jews are subversive and that their money should go to Persian efforts. Mordechai explains to Esther that she, due to her position of power, must save the Jewish people- and she agrees to try.
Risking her life, Esther approaches the King, and they arrange to have a banquet. The King is suspicious of Haman, and Esther- who is aware of this suspicion, plans to trap Haman so that he will be seen as a true enemy to the King.
Meanwhile, Haman, trying to increase his status in the Kingdom, hears that the King is looking to honor one of his most loyal subjects- and advises that such a person should be dressed in royal clothing, and led around the city on a royal chariot. Haman, like all tyrants, believes that he must be the one whom the King wishes to honor- but is shocked to find that it is his enemy Mordechai (who had previously saved the King's life). Nevertheless, Haman is forced to lead Mordechai around the city and proclaim that this is the reward for one who saves the King's life.
Afterwards, Haman must come to the banquet which was arranged by Esther. When everybody has had a significant amount to drink, Esther tells the King that Haman does not care about the Kingdom and wishes to destroy the Jewish people- that he is an enemy of herself and the King. Haman then trips and falls onto Esther's divan, which the King sees as a sexual advance and therefore becomes further enraged.
Haman, his family, and his cohorts are hanged. Mordechai is raised to a position of power, while he and Esther save the Jewish people.
We read this story from the Megillah (Scroll of Esther) every Purim festival, and it still applies today. In every generation there is a Haman, Achashverosh, Mordechai, and Esther.
Here Rabbi Berel Wein explains the story of Purim and its continuing relevance:
The Story of Purim
A Purim Story Puppet Show Part 1
Part 2
Purim Song
And this is... Just wrong! 
May you have a joyous festival!
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