Purim is one of the happiest and most joyous holidays in Jewish tradition, a
holiday whose religious precepts include being happy, and even getting
drunk. This is a holiday that allows even the most serious Torah scholars to get caught up in the spirit of amusement, and enjoy the carnival atmosphere.
The source of this holiday is in the Biblical Book of Esther, which relates
the saving of Persian Jewry from Haman, chief minister to Persian King
Ahashuerus, who was plotting to kill all the kingdom's Jews (the time frame
of this story is estimated as between the destruction of the First Temple
and the building of the Second Temple, in the late 6th century BCE). The
date on which Purim is observed, the 14th of the Jewish month of Adar
(usually in March), in keeping with the date Haman had determined for all
the Jews to be killed. Purim celebrations continue through the following
day, which is called Shushan Purim. One of the unique aspects of
the Book of Esther is that the story revolves around the heroism of
a woman - Esther, who was Jewish.
It is she who saved
the Jewish people and turned the day of the evil decree into a historic
holiday. According to Jewish law, Purim is not considered a holy day, and is
therefore not an official day of rest. Business (apart from banks) are open
as usual, but schools are closed and the festival atmosphere is evident in
the streets throughout the country.
The Fast of Esther
The day before Purim is a fast day, commemorating the
fast by Esther and all of Persian Jewry before Esther approached King
Ahasuerus to plead for her people. Unlike the fasts of the Day of Atonement
and the Tisha B'Av, but similar to other minor Jewish fasts, the Fast of
Esther starts at dawn and ends at sunset.
The Reading of Book of Esther
On Purim evening and on the morning of the holiday, the Book of
Esther is read aloud in the synagogue. There is a religious precept
for women to hear this reading, too, and children are also
welcome. The reading of Esther is a very happy social event: at each mention
of the wicked Haman, who has become synonymous with all those who bear ill
will toward Jews, the congregants and especially the children, try to drown
out his name by shaking special noisemakers.
After the fast there is a holiday meal with games and other
amusements that lasts late into the evening. It is a religious precept to
get drunk to the point of not knowing the difference between the hero of the
Purim story and the evil Haman. As part of the joy of this holiday, Jews have a
custom of preparing gift baskets and sending to their friends and neighbors,
and to give money to the poor. This custom of wearing masks and costumes
developed in the Middle Ages, apparently influenced by local Mardi gras holidays.
Small children take special interest in this aspect of the holiday, and can be
seen in the streets wearing their costumes.
Haman's ears is a traditional Purim delicacy: triangular pastries (resembling
ears) filled with poppy seeds and various other sweet fillings.
On the days leading up to Purim, and especially on Purim itself, Israel is
filled with a happy and lighthearted atmosphere. The streets are full of costumed
children, the stores sell brightly
colored accessories for the 
holiday and there are parties at which adults wear costumes, too.
One event with a long tradition, dating back to the early years of renewed
Jewish settlement in Israel is the Purim parade through the city streets. In
the past the parade was held in Tel Aviv, but today there are parades
throughout the country. The biggest and most impressive parade is south of
Tel Aviv, in Holon, a city that in recent years has built a reputation of
being friendly to children.
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