Discover the Spirit of Purim
Celebrate Purim in NYC
We heard on the streets yesterday that attendance at synagogues was very high. Despite the threat of terror attacks, Jews and their friends turned up to face down evil and celebrate God’s rescues through the ages.
Purim, which starts tonight and runs to tomorrow night is a festival filled with joy of Jewish survival, tradition, and community spirit in the heart of New York City.
Today’s article is part of our series, “BEING JEWISH IN A CITY ON EDGE”
The Significance of Purim
Purim is a joyous Jewish festival that commemorates the salvation of the Jewish people from Haman’s plot to destroy them, as recounted in the Book of Esther. It is a time of celebration, marked by reading the Megillah, giving to charity, and enjoying festive meals. Purim embodies themes of resilience, community, and joy, making it a cherished occasion in Jewish culture.
Traditional customs also include wearing costumes, exchanging gifts of food, and participating in lively parades and performances.
The Book of Esther tells how a young Jewish woman becomes Queen of Persia and risks her life to thwart a genocide plot against her people by the wicked official Haman. Supported by her cousin Mordecai, Esther reveals her identity, saves the Jews, and establishes the festival of Purim.
Purim Events in NYC
Celebrating Purim at Joshua Abraham Heschel School, West Side of Manhattan
כַּיָּמִ֗ים אֲשֶׁר־נָ֨חוּ בָהֶ֤ם הַיְּהוּדִים֙ מֵאֹ֣יְבֵיהֶ֔ם וְהַחֹ֗דֶשׁ אֲשֶׁר֩ נֶהְפַּ֨ךְ לָהֶ֤ם מִיָּגוֹן֙ לְשִׂמְחָ֔ה וּמֵאֵ֖בֶל לְי֣וֹם ט֑וֹב לַעֲשׂ֣וֹת אוֹתָ֗ם יְמֵי֙ מִשְׁתֶּ֣ה וְשִׂמְחָ֔ה וּמִשְׁלֹ֤חַ מָנוֹת֙ אִ֣ישׁ לְרֵעֵ֔הוּ וּמַתָּנ֖וֹת לָֽאֶבְיֹנִֽים׃
The same days on which the Jews enjoyed relief from their foes and the same month that had been transformed for them from one of grief and mourning to one of festive joy. they were to observe as days of feasting and merrymaking, and as an occasion for sending gifts to one another and presents to the poor. Esther 9:22
Megillat Esther is one of only two books in the Tanakh (the other is Song of Songs) that does not mention the name of God at all. Purim speaks to the times in life when it is difficult to discern the presence of the divine in our world.
What can we possibly do at such a time? Purim comes to show us exactly what to do.
First, we can learn Torah. Today I watched proudly as our 5th graders skillfully read from the megillah and added skits in Hebrew to tell the story of Purim to our younger students.
Next, we can send mishloah manot and give matanot l’evyonim. We can take care of one another and of the people who are most vulnerable in our society. The Seridei Esh, R. Yaakov Yehiel Weinberg, offers a reason for wny there is no blessing over the mitzvah of mishloach manot and matanot l’evyonim. The purpose of these mitzvot is to increase peace, love and friendship in the world and as such, each of them is a mitzvah t’midit, a perpetual mitzvah that is incumbent upon us at all times and has no break so we can never say amen.
Finally, in addition to learning Torah and taking care of others, there is one other thing we should not forget to do during difficult periods in life. Sometimes, we should have a seudah, a festive meal. We can gather with people we love to talk and joke, to feel and express gratitude for the blessings in our lives.
Hag Purim Sameah
Rabbi Anne Ebersman
Purim@Heschel
Jewish pluralist education on the West Side of Manhatan
Abraham Joshua Heschel School is named to honor the memory of one of the great rabbis of the 20th century.
Rabbi Heschel translated his belief into action through involvement in the earliest days of the Civil Rights and Soviet Jewry movements.
