Purim is a Jewish holiday that commemorates the saving of the Jewish people from annihilation in ancient Persia, as recounted in the Book of Esther. The holiday is celebrated on the 14th day of Adar, which is usually in March. Here are some key facts about Purim:

• Story: The story of Purim is told in the Book of Esther, one of the five Scrolls, or Megillot, in the third section of the Tanakh (the Hebrew Bible) . The heroes of the story are Esther, a beautiful young Jewish woman living in Persia, and her cousin Mordecai, who raised her as if she were his daughter. Esther was taken to the house of Ahasuerus, King of Persia, to become part of his harem. King Ahasuerus loved Esther more than his other women and made Esther queen, but the king did not know that Esther was a Jew, because Mordecai told her not to reveal her identity. When the kings advisor, Haman, plotted to exterminate the Jews, Esther bravely revealed her status as a Jewish person to convince the king to stop Haman from carrying out his plan. Due to Esthers courage, Haman was hanged on the gallows that had been arranged for Esther’s caregiver, Mordecai. Ahasuerus issued a new decree allowing the Jews to defend themselves against their enemies, and they emerged victorious.

• Celebration: Purim is the most raucous holiday on the Jewish calendar and is celebrated with a variety of customs and traditions. Some of the most common include:

  • Reading the Megillah: It is a mitzvah (commandment) to listen to the story of Purim chanted from Megillat Esther (“The Scroll of Esther”) and to hear every word.

  • Costumes: Observance of the holiday begins with dressing up in costume. Some people choose to dress as characters from the Purim story, and others dress in non-Purim-related costumes.

  • Gifts: Mishloach manot (“sending of portions”) are gifts of food, treats, and goodies that Jewish communities send to friends and family on Purim.

  • Feasting: It is traditional to have a jovial feast, or Seudat Purim, in the evening of the holiday.

  • Charity: Jews are also enjoined to make donations to the poor.

  • Purim plays: A Purim spiel (Purim play) is a comic dramatization that attempts to convey the saga of the Purim story.

Purim is a joyous holiday that celebrates Jewish survival and the triumph of good over evil.