While most of the Jewish holidays are celebratory,
there is none like the holiday of Purim. This smaller holiday, which often falls
in March and occasionally in late February (such as this year), commemorates the
victory of the Jewish population of Ancient Persia over Haman, the notorious
anti-Semite and persecutor of Jews in the 4th century B.C.E. Haman, an advisor
to the king, created a plot by which he planned to annihilate the Jewish
population. Through the intervention of the Jewish hero Mordechai and his niece,
Esther, Haman's plans were overturned and the evil plot quickly destroyed.
Purim is traditionally celebrated by partaking in a festive meal with family and friends, giving charity to the poor, dressing up in costume and sending food parcels to close friends and relatives. The main focus of the celebration, however, is the reading of the book of Esther, more commonly known in Hebrew as Megillat Esther, or the Megillah as it is known for short, in synagogue both in the evening before and the morning of the actual day of Purim.
The tale of Purim is not simply a piece of Jewish
history, faith and storytelling; instead, because it is recorded by Jewish law
on a scroll of vellum (also known as parchment), it has become part of the long
Jewish tradition of beautifying religious objects. This tradition, which is
known as hiddur mitzvah, the beautification of the good deed, is considered
important because the beautification of religious objects is considered to
enhance their holiness. This is particularly true when it comes to the megillah.
For centuries the tradition has evolved and today, the megillah is enclosed within a silver case. This case provides safety for the megillah as well as preserving it from decay. Most importantly, the case accomplishes hiddur mitzvah, the beatification of the scroll.
Purim is traditionally celebrated by partaking in a festive meal with family and friends, giving charity to the poor, dressing up in costume and sending food parcels to close friends and relatives. The main focus of the celebration, however, is the reading of the book of Esther, more commonly known in Hebrew as Megillat Esther, or the Megillah as it is known for short, in synagogue both in the evening before and the morning of the actual day of Purim.
The tale of Purim is not simply a piece of Jewish
history, faith and storytelling; instead, because it is recorded by Jewish law
on a scroll of vellum (also known as parchment), it has become part of the long
Jewish tradition of beautifying religious objects. This tradition, which is
known as hiddur mitzvah, the beautification of the good deed, is considered
important because the beautification of religious objects is considered to
enhance their holiness. This is particularly true when it comes to the megillah.
For centuries the tradition has evolved and today, the megillah is enclosed within a silver case. This case provides safety for the megillah as well as preserving it from decay. Most importantly, the case accomplishes hiddur mitzvah, the beatification of the scroll.
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