B"H
Tuesday, Adar 5, 5778 / February 20, 2018
Next week, Wednesday night (February 28) and Thursday (March 1) we will celebrate the holiday of Purim. It is the most joyful and festive of all holidays. On Purim we celebrate the miracle of Jewish survival when Haman’s plot to kill all Jews was miraculously nullified through the intervention of Mordechai and Queen Esther.
Q. Why is the holiday called "Purim"?
A. Purimmeans "lots". The Megilah tells us that upon receiving permission to kill the Jewish people, Haman cast lotsto choose the day and month in which to execute his plan. The lot fell on the 13th day of the month Adar. Haman was very pleased, for he knew that Moshe, the great leader of the Jewish people passed away in the Adar. But, Haman didn't know that Moshe’s date of birth was also in Adar. Thus, it turned out to be Haman's downfall and a good month for the Jewish people.
Q. How long ago did the miracle of Purim occur?
A. The miracle of Purim took place 2373 years ago - in the Hebrew year 3405. Purim, as a holiday, was established by the sages of the Great Assembly one year later.
Q. Why is there much more merriment on Purim than on any other Jewish holiday?
A. At the time of the Purim miracle the entire Jewish people lived under the rule of King Achashveirosh. Thus, when Haman convinced him to decree the annihilation of the entire Jewish nation, it affected every Jewish person; men, women and children. Thus, the miracle of Purim is like no other miracle in which the entire Jewish nation was saved.
Q. Women are exempt from most mitzvot which have a timefactor. Yet, hearing the Megilah, which is read only one day a year, on Purim, women are required to hear it just like men. Why?
A. Haman’s decree was to kill every man, woman and child. Since the miracle of Purim affected women just the same as men, women are also required to hear the Megilah.
Q. Mordechai was involved in the story of Purim together with Esther. Why is the Megilah called "Megilat Esther" - "Scroll of Esther"?
A. The Megilah tells us that Esther's Jewish identity was originally not known, so she was not affected by Haman's decree. In spite of this, Esther risked death, revealing her Jewish identity, to plead for her people. Since Esther put her life in danger more than Mordechai, the Megilah is named after her.
Also, Esther was the one who insisted that the story of Purim be recorded and be added to the Holy Scriptures, thus, it was named "Megilat Esther."
HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY, SUCCESSFUL DAY