Across the world, Jews will celebrate Purim this year from the eve of March 4 through March 5 with much fanfare and excitement. Families will go door to door sporting costumes while delivering candy and other foods, and sit down to a lavish meal with friends and relatives later in the day to celebrate the holiday. However, Purim has a much deeper purpose to it, a lesson applicable to each and every one of our lives.
One of the most joyous days of the Jewish calendar, Purim is a fun and enjoyable holiday for celebrants all ages. The holiday commemorates the salvation of the Jewish people in the ancient Persian
Empire from a royal decree issued in a plot by Haman, one of the king’s ministers, to annihilate the entire Jewish nation. The plot was foiled by Mordechai and his cousin, Queen Esther, the heroes of the Purim story, and Haman and his sons were later hanged.
The day prior to the actual holiday is marked by fasting to commemorate Esther’s desperate plea to the king to save her nation. The Book of Esther, also known as the megillah, which contains the Purim story, is publicly read on both the eve and morning of the holiday, and it is also customary to give large amounts of charity in honor of the miraculous salvation.
The delivery and exchange of items of food, called mishloach manot, is perhaps the most appealing part of the day for children, who go from home to home in costume to exchange candy and other foods with friends and family. These gifts have a much more unique significance.