Chabad Hebrew School: Its Purim Time!

The Holiday of Purim, which will take place this year on Wednesday night, March 4th and Thursday, March 5th, is a most Joyous Holiday. As Jews, we celebrate a story in which G-d changed our fate from annihilation to life, enabling us to be here as a nation to this very day.

The Persian empire of the 4th century BCE extended over 127 lands, and all the Jews were its subjects. When King Ahasuerus had his wife, QueenVashti, executed for failing to follow his orders, he orchestrated a beauty pageant to find a new queen. A Jewish girl, Esther, found favor in his eyes and became the new queen—though she refused to divulge the identity of her nationality.

Meanwhile, the anti-Semitic Haman was appointed prime minister of the empire. Mordechai, the leader of the Jews (and Esther’s cousin), defied the king’s orders and refused to bow to Haman. Haman was incensed and convinced the king to issue a decree ordering the extermination of all the Jews on the 13th of Adar—a date chosen by a lottery Haman made (hence the name Purim, “lots”).

Mordechai galvanized all the Jews, convincing them to repent, fast and pray toG‑d. Meanwhile, Esther asked the king and Haman to join her for a feast. At the feast, Esther revealed to the king her Jewish identity. Haman was hanged, Mordechai was appointed prime minister in his stead, and a new decree was issued granting the Jews the right to defend themselves against their enemies.

On the 13th of Adar, the Jews mobilized and killed many of their enemies. On the 14th of Adar, they rested and celebrated. To remember and celebrate this wondrous turn of events, we too celebrate the Holiday of Purim each year on that day. There are four Mitzvot that are assigned specifically to this day as well as customs that many follow.

Many people dress up on Purim to signify the way the whole story was turned upside down at the end, with Haman hanged on the gallows set up for Mordechai.