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The word „purim” is derived from Akkadian word „pur” — lots, as in lottery, a winning lot. Purim is the most joyful festival in the cycle of traditional Jewish festivals. In the diaspora, it is celebrated on the 14th and 15th, and in Israel – on the 15th of the months of Adar, which means February or March.

Purim is celebrated to commemorate saving the Jews living in the Persian coty of Susa from inevitable death. The story of brave queen Esther, her uncle Mordecai, king Ahasuerus and malicious Haman has been written in the Book of Esther. The story is full of unexpected turns and events.

The powerful Persian king, Ahasuerus, gave a week-long feast for his satraps, princes and courtiers. On the last day, the drunk monarch requested the company of queen Vashti, who was hosting women at her palace at the same time. She firmly refused, wanting to avoid the company of drunk guests. Angry Ahasuerus ordered to kill stubborn Vashti and call for most beautiful girls from the whole country to find a future wife. Among them, there was Esther, a Jewish girl brought up by her uncle Mordecai.

Her beauty stunned the king who decided that she should become his wife. At that time, Haman, a dignitary at the court, began to plot against Jews living in Persia. After casting lots (purim) meant to herald the future of the country, the official urged the king to persecute the Jews as the only people in Persia who don’t prostrate in front of the state officials. He convinced the king and received an approval to kill the entire nation. When Mordecai found out, he put his trust in Esther and her influence on Ahasuerus, believing that his niece was the only chance for survival. He asked her to do whatever he could to make the king change his mind about the looming massacre.

After three days of fasting and praying, Esther stood in front of the king and invited him to a feast – together with Haman. That night, sleepless Ahasuerus was reading the chronicles of his kingdom. During reading, he found a note that Mordecai warned him earlier about a planned assassination. When he asked his courtiers whether Mordecai was awarded for saving the king’s life, they said no. He asked Haman how to celebrate someone highly respected by the monarch. The selfish official, believing that it was about him, proposed to dress the said person in royal clothing, seat on a royal horse and walked around the main square in the capital, while the highest official would lead the horse and loudly praise the celebrated person. The king followed this advice: it was Haman who had to praise Mordecai and lead the horse ridden by his biggest enemy.

Next day, during the feast, Esther was begging the king to spare her nation. She confessed that she was Jewish, and that Haman’s judgment refers also to her and to Mordecai. The king cancelled the order to kill the Jews, and instead sentenced to death Haman and his sons, who were hanged on the same gallows where Mordecai was supposed to be executed. Jews began to celebrate and express thankfulness for queen Esther, Mordecai and the merciful king. From that moment on, an annual festival was reminding about these events.

Purim is preceded by a day of fasting from dawn until dusk called Taanit Ester (Hebrew: the fast of Esther), commemorating the fast of the queen before her meeting with king Ahasuerus.

The festival begins with reading Megilat Ester (The Scroll of Esther) at the synagogue. The scroll tells the story of Jews in Susa, Haman’s plot, the courage of Esther and Mordecai. It’s a traditional vellum stored in a decorated box made of metal or wood. It can be richly decorated – as the only book in the Old Testament. Handmade illuminations comprise traditional decorative motifs, such as flower garlands and grapes, as well as scenes and characters from the story. During reading, people at the synagogue are trying to stifle Haman’s name – they make noise, whistle, stamp their feet, clap their hands, bang on rattles – following the rule that the names of evil people should be wiped out.

A regular practice is also supporting the poor and offering small gifts to friends and neighbours – usually sweets, fruit or wine. It’s necessary to give two presents, and in case of alms, it should be twice as big as usual. Traditional sweets for the festival include hamantashe („Haman’s ears” or „Haman’s pockets”), triangular dough cakes with filling made of poppyseed, nuts and raisins, or jam. The morning service is followed by parties, meetings with friends, which apart from festival meals include also alcohol. According to the tradition, it’s recommended to drink until someone cannot tell good from evil (Hebrew: ad d’lo yada — „beyond knowing”), until the words „blessed is Mordecai” would become confused with „cursed is Haman”. This tradition has multiple meanings. It’s supposed to remind of the feast during which the Jews were saved. Some commenters emphasise another, mystical meaning of ad d’lo yada – achieving a state in which the notions of good and evil lose meaning, mix and reach harmony.

These recommendations have made Purim the most joyful festival, a carnival. On this day, even the strict rule of not wearing the clothes of opposite gender is lifted – hence Purim is a traditional occasion of organizing masquerades, balls, joyful dancing parades on the streets and large parties at home.

Among students of religious schools, there’s a custom of writing and reading funny, pseudoreligious theses, which explain the basic rules of faith in an absurd way. Sometimes these writings criticize teachers and question the rabbis’ authority.

The celebration of Purim has influenced a separate genre of drama, purimshpil (in Yiddish – a Purim-themed theatre play), which originally referred to themes from the Scroll of Esther, and later was expanded with other biblical themes, often presented comically, as parody. Groups of purimshpilers – actors who participated in these plays – were visiting houses playing short humorous sketches and were rewarded with small payments or food. Purim plays became the basis for development of modern Jewish theatre.

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See in the Central Jewish Library: „Purym: Księga Estery, legendy, opowiadania, inscenizacje, wiersz”, red. J. Jawan, Biblioteka dla dzieci i młodzieży żydowskiej, 1930 r.