Young people in costume, for the festival of Purim. Photo by Lilach Daniel, courtesy of Wikimedia Commons
THURSDAY, MARCH 13: For many observant Jews, the dawn-to-dusk period today is a time to observe the Fast of Esther, related to the story of Purim. Yet today’s fast lasts only from sunrise to sunset (Purim begins at sunset), and for a joyful reason: the Fast of Esther recalls a story of victory!
Here’s the story:
About 2,500 years ago, a beautiful young woman named Esther was taken to the house of Ahasuerus, the king of Persia. When Esther became queen of Persia, she hid her true Jewish identity.
Queen Esther’s husband, King Ahasuerus—who did not know that his wife was Jewish—was swayed by an evil advisor (Haman), who wanted to rid Persia of all Jews. When Esther was informed of this tragic plan, she knew she had no other choice; Esther asked her fellow Jews to fast with her in hope of divine favor, and she courageously revealed her true religious identity to her husband. Queen Esther’s brave act could have resulted in her death, but King Ahasuerus was partial to his wife—and he spared the lives of all the Jews.
PURIM: COSTUMES, COOKIES, STOMPING AND GIVING
The story of Purim is found in the pages of the book of Esther, in the Hebrew scriptures of the Bible. Many Jews still observe the Fast of Esther from dawn to dusk—and then, with the start of Purim at sundown, fruit-filled cookies are served, costumes are donned, wine is consumed and comical skits entertain audiences.
In the synagogue, readings from the book of Esther evoke hissing, booing and stomping, as Jews “blot out” the name of the villainous Haman. Some Jews even write Haman’s name on the bottom of their shoes, so as to literally stomp on his name!
Did you know? The name of G_d is not mentioned in the book of Esther, and many Jews interpret this as indication that G_d works in ways that are not always apparent. On Purim, disguises and costumes serve as symbolism of G_d “hidden” behind the scenes.
The carnivals and masquerades of Purim are accompanied by the four primary obligations of the day: to listen to a public reading of the book of Esther in the evening and the morning; to send food gifts to friends; to give charity to the poor; and to partake in a festive meal. (Find interactive tools and more at Chabad.org.)
2025 NEWS
“When fake news is good news …” the Jewish News Syndicate reports on this unique time of year in the Jewish community, when the Purim shpiel (humorous dramatization of the Book of Esther) is seen in Jewish media worldwide, providing articles of satire and humor for the celebration of this boisterous holiday.
The Jewish Telegraphic Agency reports the array of events that will be held this year in New York City, for the festival of Purim, and on the music front, Jewish music notables Avraham Fried and Thank You Hashem collaborated on a new song for Purim, titled “Layehudim” (read more, and watch the music video, here.)
WANT MORE?
An array of Purim recipes can be found at AllRecipes.
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