It seems like everybody loves this holiday, although it wasn’t long ago that it was considered to be one of the “minor” Jewish holidays. How could a holiday that stresses joy and is so filled with mitzvos (commandments) and activity be considered minor? I’m not sure, except that it is a day when cooking and driving are permitted, but nonetheless, there are plenty of observances and things to do.
The story of Purim is described in the book of Esther. In an nutshell, Esther, a Jewish girl who lived in Persia, was forced to marry a King Ahashverosh, who ruled a large empire, from India to Ethiopia. He had an evil advisor named Hamman who hated Jews because Mordechai, Esther’s righteous uncle, refused to bow down to him, and declared that he only bowed to G-d. Hamman made a plot to murder all of the Jews in the empire, but when Queen Esther revealed Hamman’s deceitfulness to the King, Hamman and his sons were hanged on the gallows, and the Jewish people fought a series of successful battles and defeated their enemies.
Purim is considered to be on of the most joyful days on the Jewish calendar, and in the days of Moshiach, it will be one of the most important holidays, along with Chanukkah. The day is also considered to be like a second Shavuos, because the self-sacrifice shown by the Jews at that time was like accepting the Torah at Sinai again.
There are several observances associated with Purim:
1) gifts to the poor: these can be given anonomously
2) mishaloch manot: every person should give at least two gifts of food and drink to friends. These can be wrapped nicely in baskets or in decorative bags.
3) A special meal: It is customary to have a meal with meat and wine on Purim
4) Megillah; Everyone must hear the megilla of Esther read at least twice
5) Drink until you don’t know: Women are exempt from this custom, but men are enjoined to drink until they don’t know the difference between “blessed be Mordechai and cursed be Hamman.” (Don’t drive if you drink!)
Happy Purim!