Subject: All about Purim
Date: Wed, 11 Mar 1998 23:30:16 +0000
To: "Hebraic Heritage Newsgroup"<heb_roots_chr@geocities.com>
From: Uri Marcus
To: heb_roots_chr@geocities.com
Subject: All about Purim
Shalom from Israel and Hag Purim Samay'ach...
Purim, unlike all the other major Feasts, is a
"Jewish" Holiday, meaning that it is a holiday which is part and parcel
of the Jewish people and Jewish custom worldwide. Purim is "D'Rabbanan"
(a Rabbinic command). It's man-made. It was instituted by the
Sanhedrin after the deliverance of the Jews who were under the rule of
the Persian Empire.
All of the other Feasts of Israel are "D'Oraita", i.e. Torah commands
given to us by Hashem Himself and not necessarily "Jewish" per say. They
are G-d's appointed Feasts, and even Gentiles would do well to pay
attention to their meaning and import, so that they might better
understand their own roots, while grasping God's plan and timing of the
redemption of mankind outlined by Him over a seven-thousand year period
which has been alloted to us.
Yet, Purim, though not an "Appointed" Feast for the Jews or the
nations, still contains spiritual truths from which all peoples can
benefit. For the whole purpose of the Creation and every event that
takes places in it is that Man should open his eyes and see who pulls
the strings of history.
Now, before I get the answers to the Purim questions, here is a bit of
background on the holiday, for those who don't know what its all about.
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Purim is a minor holiday connected to an historical event. One complete
book of the Bible - the Book of Esther, often referred to as Megillaht
Esther or the Scroll of Esther-is devoted to recounting the events that
led to the holiday. The dramatic story is read at the synagogue service
on the night of Purim and again at the service the following morning.
The name Purim, we are told in the Book of Esther, derives from the
word pur (plural, purim), meaning "lots," which were used by Haman,
Prime Minister of King Achasverosh of Persia, to choose the date on
which he would slaughter the Jews of the empire.
Purim, the Feast of Lots, commemorates the deliverance of the Jews of
Persia in the fifth century B.C.E. by Esther and her cousin (the son of
her father's brother) Mordechai. Haman, second in command to King
Achasverosh, planned to exterminate the Jews of Persia. He ordered that
lots be drawn to determine on which day the massacre should take place,
and it fell on the thirteenth day of the Hebrew month of Adar.
Haman's plans were foiled by beautiful Queen Esther and her cousin,
Mordechai. Risking her own life, Esther pleaded before the king for her
people, and Haman's order was rescinded. Instead of the Jews of Persia
being slaughtered, Haman and his family were hung on the gallows
prepared for Mordechai. Thus, those days of doom were turned "from
sorrow to gladness," days to be commemorated by "sending gifts to one
another and to the poor" (Esther 9:22).
During the reading of the Megillah at the synagogue service, whenever
Haman's name is mentioned, it is booed in one form or another by the
stamping of feet or the rattling of noisemakers (groggers). Before the
day is over, friends and relatives exchange gifts and join in a festive
meal called the Seudat Purim.
Purim, of course is not mentioned in the New Testament, yet its lessons
can still be found within it. One primary lesson which Rav Sha'ul
(Paul) expounds upon in Romans 9-11 is that of the faithfulness of God
towards the Jewish people. The church as a whole should never forget,
as they have in the past, that God will remain faithful to his people
and intervene whenever they are threatened with distruction, not
because of their intrinsic "goodness" or because they deserve it, but
because the character and Name of God would be impugned otherwise. The
fact that God has granted consistant protection toward the Jewish
people has literally provided the Genitles with an insurance policy
that guarantees the promises of God to be valid for them and their
salvation as well. Should God fail at any point to carry out His
ultimate promises to the Jewish people, the Scriptures would be
declared null and void, and the Gentiles would be left without hope in
this world, Chas-ve'Shalom (May God forbid).
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1. How did Haman decide which month he should plot the genocide of the
Jewish People?
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2,353 years ago in Persia, when Haman plotted the genocide of the
Jewish People, he consulted the stars to see which month would be the
most propitious to execute his murderous plan.
He found that the month of Adar, whose sign is Dagim (Pisces), which
means `fish,' contained no special merit for the Jews. Thus,
he surmised, that he could `swallow' his prey, the Jewish People,
just like a fish. The fact that death had `swallowed' Moshe on the
seventh day of Adar leant support to his hypothesis.
However, Haman had forgotten two `minor' points: First of all,
Moshe was also born on the 7th of Adar. And secondly, it's true that
fish can swallow up their prey; but they can also get swallowed up by
bigger fish!
This is exactly what happened to Haman and his crew. All their plans
were turned upside down, and Haman and his family were hung on the
exact same gallows which he had prepared for Mordechai.
This total turnabout of events is ironically symbolized by the two
fish, swimming in opposite directions, which is the sign of Dagim.
This year we have two Adars. However, we observe Purim in the second
of the two, because Purim took place in a leap year during the second
Adar.
Also, by observing Purim during the second Adar we can celebrate two
redemptions next to each other: the deliverance of the Jews from
Haman, and from Pharaoh at the time of Pesach.
2. Why is Hashem's name not written even once in the whole Megillat
(Story of) Esther?
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On Purim we read the Megillat Esther. In the entire Megillah, Hashem's
name is not written even once. It is strange that in a book about the
miraculous delivery of the Jewish People from genocide, the Name of the
`Hero' doesn't appear even once!
The title of the book itself, Megillat Esther, contains the answer to
this riddle: Megillat Esther in Hebrew, contains the words `Galeh et
ha-nastir' -- `To reveal the hidden.' That's the purpose of Purim: To
reveal the hidden Hand of the Divine Author who pulls the strings of
history.
Megillah means a scroll. The scroll `reveals' as you read it. But you
have to unravel secrets of Creation yourself, just like all good
mysteries!
Also, since the Book of Esther was written in the form of a scroll and
was sent out as a letter to all the outlying districts of Persia, the
name of G-d was omitted lest the letter be desecrated or otherwise
improperly handled. This is the only book or scroll in the Bible in
which the name of G-d does not appear.
3. Why does Jerusalem celebrate Purim on a different day than Jews in
other parts of the world?
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Haman decreed that all Jews be killed on the 13th of Adar (usually
during the month of March). When the day came, the Jews miraculously
defended themselves. On the following day, Adar 14, the Book of Esther
proclaims the day a day of celebration.
However, in Shushan, the capital of Persia, the Jews did not finish
ridding themselves of their enemy until the following day (the 15th),
and so they celebrated Purim on the fifteenth of Adar. Because Shushan
was a walled city, it became customary for other cities fortified with
outer walls to celebrate the holiday on the fifteenth as well.
Jerusalem, a walled city since early times, observes Purim on the
fifteenth to this day (in other parts of Israel the holiday is
celebrated on the fourteenth).
In remembrance of these events, Mordechai and Esther instituted two
separate days of Purim, Adar 14 and 15. The 14th commemorates the
national victory. The 15th -- Shushan Purim -- commemorates the victory
of theJews who lived in the walled city of Shushan.
So if you're like most Jews, you celebrate Purim on the 14th. But, if
you happen to live in Shushan, or in any ancient walled city, you celebrate
Purim on Adar 15th.
4. Why do Jews read the Megillat Esther on Purim, and what other books
in the Bible are called Megillot?
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Megillah (meaning "scroll") is the name by which the Book of Esther is
called. To this day, when it is read in the synagogue on Purim night
and again the following morning, the Megillah is unrolled as it is read
and it reminds us of the events that took place so long ago now, but
are worthy of our review.
Five books of the Bible are called megillot or scrolls, and they are
Esther, Lamentations, Song of Songs, Ruth, and Ecclesiastes. When the
word Megillah is used without specification, it refers to the Scroll of
Esther. This is so because in early talmudic times (up until 250 C.E.),
the Book of Esther was the only scroll read in the synagogue.
5. Why are noisemakers (grousers) used when the Megillah (Book of
Esther) is read in the synagogue?
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Since Haman was the archenemy of the Jews of Persia, and since he also
epitomizes all enemies of the Jewish people throughout the ages,
noisemakers of various kinds are sounded whenever his name is mentioned
during the reading of the Megillah. This is a method of "erasing" his
name. The verse in Sh'mot (Exodus) 17:14 is often quoted in connection
with this tradition: "For I will utterly erase the remembrance of
Amalek from under the heavens." Haman's ancestors were considered to be
the Amalekites.
6. Why are gifts and goodies sent to friends and neighbors on the day
preceding the holiday of Purim? (Hint, Hint...)
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This custom, known by its Hebrew name mishloach manot, means "sending
gifts" (literally portions), as indicated in the Book of Esther (9:22).
This is an expression of joy over the victory of Esther, who frustrated
the plot of Haman to annihilate the Jewish community of Persia. The
custom consists of sending money, food, and delicacies to friends,
neighbors, and relatives.
The custom of marking a happy occasion by sending gifts (manot) is
quite old. It is mentioned in the Book of Nechemeyah (Nehemiah) 8:10,
where Ezra instructs the Jews to celebrate the joyous occasion of the
resumption of the public reading of the Torah (after a lapse of several
centuries) by sending gifts to the needy. Since the word manot ("gifts"
or "portions") is used in its plural form, it became traditional to
send at least two eatables to friends and charity to the poor.
7. Why is masquerading permitted on Purim, and where did the custom
come from?
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In Jewish tradition, masquerading was always banned because it often
involved men and women interchanging garments. The prohibition is based
on biblical law: "Neither shall a man wear the garments of a woman"
(D'varim [Deuteronomy] 22:5). However, because Purim was such a great
and joyous festival, the Rabbis permitted this breach of biblical law,
which is a tragedy in my opinion. Torah is Torah, and breaching it for
any reason is forbidden.
But, because the Jewish nation through-out its history was so intent
upon becoming "like" the nations around it, it fell under the influence
of the Roman carnival, where Italian Jews at the close of the fifteenth
century were the first to add masquerading to the celebration of Purim,
and from Italy the custom spread to many other Jewish communities.
Today, masquerading is a prominent feature of Purim, especially for
kids in grades 1-6 in the secular school system. Purim masquerade
parties are also popular in all parts of the world, and sadly, the
celebration of Purim has become the cultural equivilant of Halloween,
in which demons and the underworld are glorified, instead of the
Creator, the G-d of Israel, may His Name be Blessed forever.
Uri Marcus
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