Today is the Jewish holiday of Purim, which begins at
sundown as do most Jewish holidays/ Purim is the Jewish holiday commemorating
the saving of the Jewish people from genocide during the ancient Achaemenid
Persian Empire and told in the Book of Esther. It is also known as the Feast of
Lots. It is a day of deliverance and became a day of feasting and rejoicing. The
story is one of courage in the face of death. Modern historians view the story
behind the holiday differently than did the traditional historians. As well
many holiday, certain foods are enjoyed during the day of feasting.
In the Book of Esther, Esther becomes queen when King
Athasuerus gets rid of his wife and queen, Vashti, for refusing his order.
Esther hides her Jewish heritage from the king. Shortly afterward, Mordecai,
her uncle and adopted father, discovers a plot to kill the king by two of the
palace guards. He reveals the plot. The two guards are hanged, and Mordecai’s
service is recorded. A man named Haman becomes the king’s viceroy and is
outraged when Mordecai refuses to bow down to him. When he discovers Mordecai
is Jewish, he plots to kill not only Mordecai but all the Jews. Mordecai learns
of the plots and goes into mourning. He would also plead Esther to intercede
with the king on their people’s behalf. Esther agrees to do so despite the
great risk to her life as it was upon penalty of death to approach the king. At
a feast, Esther reveals she is Jewish and exposes Haman’s plot to kill the
Jews. The king becomes enraged and orders Haman to be executed instead.
Traditional historians have written about the events of the
Book of Esther. Berossus from the early third century BCE, wrote the context for
the account in the introduction of idols of Anahita under Artaxerxes II Mnemom
throughout the Persian Empire. Josephus from the first century CE recounts the
origins of Purim in the 11th book of his Antiquities of the Jews which follows the original biblical account
as well as information in the Greek version, the Septuagint. The Islamic
historian from 915 CE, Muhammad ibn Jarir al-Tabari, gives a brief Persian
account similarly to Jewish and Christian sources as well as additional
details. However, modern historian argue that Purim has no historical basis. Amnon
Netzer argues that “Mordecai” and “Esther” are names derived from the
Babylonian gods, Marduk and Ishtar (Netzer, 1999). Shaul Shaked argues that the
Book of Esther is historical fiction despite its accurate account of the
Achaemenid court (Shaked, 1998).
Purim is more a national rather than religious holiday, on a
different level than days ordained as holy by the Torah. There are four main
mitzvot (obligations). First, listening to a public reading, usually a
synagogue, of the Book of Esther in the morning and in the morning. Second,
sending food gifts to friends. Third, giving charity to the poor. Lastly,
eating a festive meal. The customs of Purim including a greeting “Chag Purim
Sameach” which in Hebrew which loosely translate to “Happy Purim Holiday.” Another
custom is masquerading in costumes and masks, believed to originate with
Italian Jews in the end of the 15th century. One explanation for
this custom is given as to emulating God who was “disguised” during the events
of the Book of Esther and remained concealed yet present in Jewish history. Hamantaschen
(Haman’s pockets), a traditional food made among Ashkenazi Jews, is a sweet
pastry dough filled with a poppy seed filling and folded into a triangle. More
recently, prunes, dates, apricots, apples, and chocolate fillings have been
used. Fazuelos, a traditional food among the Sephardi Jews, is a fried thin
pastry.
In conclusion, Purim is the Festival of Lots which
commemorates the Jewish people being saved from execution and the courage of
one woman to stand up and say something despite cultural rules dictating she
remain silent. The Book of Esther details the story behind Haman’s plot to kill
the Jews and Esther’s plan to expose his evil intentions. Throughout history,
the views of the story range as historical to fiction. The day is filled with
customs and food. The foods made during the holiday symbolize the events and
people involved. To the Jewish community, Chag Purim Sameach!
References
Netzer, Amnon. Festivals vii, Jewish. In Encyclopaedia
Iranica, vol. 9, 1999, pp. 555-60.
Shaked, Shaul. Esther, Book of. In Encyclopaedia Iranica,
vol. 8, 1998, pp. 655-57.
