One of Rabbi Milton Balkany’s favorite holidays is the joyous day of Purim. The celebration of Purim actually begins a few days before Purim, with the Fast of Esther, which this year is observed on February 25th 2010. This is a fast day which commemorates the fast which Esther observed and imposed on the Jewish people for three days when it appeared that the Jewish subjects of the Persian Empire were about to be massacred by decree and with the permission of the government. Through the actions of Queen Esther and her uncle Mordecai the decree was thwarted and the Jews were victorious in their battles to defend themselves. When the Jews rested from their fight they celebrated their victory on the 14th day of the month of Adar, and that is when we celebrate Purim today, which this year coincides with the date of Sunday, February 07, 2010.
Like all Jewish holidays the observance begins the evening before. This year the beginning of Purim falls on Saturday night, when the Book of Esther or Megillat Esther (The Scroll of Esther) is read aloud in the synagogue. Whenever the reader says the name of the villain of the story, “Haman” it is a prevalent custom to make noise at that moment. The usual serious atmosphere of decorum and quiet is broken with the noisy, boisterous shouting, noisemakers, musical instruments and other means of creating noise whenever Haman’s name is mentioned. After the reading there are usually parties, with dancing, feasting and music, but the main feast occurs the next day.
This year the main activities will happen on Sunday, beginning with listening the reading of the Megillah again. Then people begin distributing gifts of food to their friends and relatives, the minimum to fulfill the requirement of Jewish law being one friend getting to food items. The usual way it is observed however is by people delivering many, many gifts to just about everyone they know. Children often make the deliveries for their parents, and this is often the time the children get to show off their costumes to their friends. In addition Jewish law requires that either food or money be given to two poor people, at least. This obligation can be fulfilled through charitable organizations, or by delivering food or money in person to someone you might know who is truly in need.
Finally the great feast takes place. There is no particular requirement on what can be eaten, aside from the need to drink alcohol to become drunk. How drunk is an issue which has kept scholars busy discussing, but it is certainly agreed that a certain amount of drunkenness, even if its just a little bit until you fall asleep, is required to fulfill the obligation.
So you can understand why Purim is considered a great, joyous day. Rabbi Balkany wishes you and your family a wonderful, happy Purim.
saying, that “When Adar enters, happiness and joy increases.” Why is this so? It is because within the month of Adar is contained the particularly joyous holiday known as Purim. Why is Purim known as such a happy holiday, more so than Passover, Chanukah or even Succoth (Tabernacles)? Perhaps it is because of the way it is celebrated. Of all the Jewish holidays Purim is probably the most frivolously observed, with special attention paid to the donning of costumes and masks, and the drinking of alcoholic beverages at the holiday feast. There is even a commandment to get drunk at this feast, in memory of the feast which is described in the Book of Esther which is read on Purim. You can imagine how much children enjoy this holiday, too. Little girls love to dress up as the beautiful, mysterious and brave Queen Esther, and little boys often dress up as the righteous, brave and true Mordecai. But of course there is much room for children, as well as adults, to disguise themselves in whatever way they can imagine, from a dangerous and ugly monster, to a robot, or a cowboy, ballerina and astronaut.