Purim: An Age Old Biblical Holiday Has Special Meaning for Modern Families

Purim is a very special holiday which is observed by many modern Jewish families. This holiday is joyous because it represents a time when the Jews were delivered away from the Jaws of death and the tables were turned against their enemies. According to the Stone Edition Tanach (Old Testament), this account took place around (349 B.C.E.). The descendants of the nation of Amalek from the Persian Empire had plotted to kill the Jews, and the Jews had triumphed over their enemies. The extreme gladness that Purim brings spreads rapidly throughout the community because it is a day of true feasting. This holiday is not a quiet occasion but rather a truly exciting celebration of freedom. People are even encouraged to drink wine and shout for joy. It is a very festive occasion marked on the Jewish calendar. It is a time when excitement is widespread. Many modern families dress up in creative costumes and make noise with their noisemakers. The noisemakers are also called graggers which are usually handmade from juice cans. The days of Purim have become more vital over the years.

Purim is an important part of Jewish tradition today. This year Purim will start on Tuesday the 10^th of March and will continue for two days, ending on the eve of the 11^th of March. All Jewish Holy Days begin on sunset of the previous day. This age old biblical holiday brings about delicious food and wine. Many families prepare elaborate food baskets to give out to friends and relatives. These baskets typically have an assortment of colorful fruits and vegetables, grape juice, nuts and other favorite items.

How was Purim Created? The History

Purim is a biblical holiday found in the book of Esther. The story of how the Purim holiday emerged is very special because it represents freedom. Esther was one of the virgins chosen to be a possible wife for King Darius, son of Ahasuerus who was the king of Persia. All the virgins of the land were gathered. The women were then required to go through a purification process before he would spend the night with them. The purification process lasted a total of 12 months. For 6 months these women were be purified with oil of myrrh, then another 6 months with sweet odors and perfumes created by the women. The king spent time with all the women until he found his favorite which was Esther. She soon became Queen Esther. Throughout this entire time Esther had concealed her true identity as a Jewish woman. Mordecai was a known Jew who was like a father to Esther. He originally advised Esther to not reveal this truth. Mordecai worked for the king and helped Esther to find favor with him.

Haman, second in command to the king, plotted to kill the Jews and Mordecai with the king's blessing after Mordecai had offended him. Mordecai had refused to bow down before Haman. As punishment for this offense, Haman wanted to kill Mordecai and all of his people. Haman deceitfully told the king what he wanted to do and the king agreed to allow it because of trusting Haman's judgment. The king did not know all the details of this plan so he simply trusted Haman. Word spread rapidly across the kingdom and the Jews, as well as Mordecai, were terrified and in distress. Mordecai told Esther to speak to the king to reveal who she really was and seek help for her people by making supplication to him. Esther was scared for her life in doing this because she knew that she must be called upon by the king in order to see him. She was not allowed to just go and speak with the king of her own free will unless he specifically asked for her. If she went to the king without being called upon she could be executed. Esther told Mordecai to tell everyone in the Kingdom to fast and pray 3 days for her to be successful with the king. She decided to risk it all and she said, "If I perish then so be it." Esther wore her finest royal linens and went into the courtyard. The king noticed her beauty right away and he let down his golden septar for her to come to him. He said that he would give her anything she wanted. She requested for the king and Haman to come to a banquet which she would prepare. Prior to the banquet, the king found, written in the records, that Mordecai had saved his life at one point.

At the banquet, Esther asked the king to spare hers, Mordecai's, and the Jewish people's lives. She exposed Haman's plot, and the king immediately became very upset. Haman realized that his life was at stake and he fell to Esther, pulled at her garments, pleaded and begged for his life. This made the king even more upset and he ordered him to death. Haman's face was covered and then he was hanged. A war started, and the Jews set out to kill the Persian army as well as any other enemy that stood against them. The Jews were full of happiness for they had triumphed over the enemy. The 14^th and 15^th day of the month of Adar, the twelfth month of the Jewish calendar, were appointed to be a feasting days in celebration of overtaking the enemy and sadness turned to joy. They called these days Purim, after the word pure. From then on, Jewish tradition appointed these days to be observed throughout every generation.