Learn all about the holiday here. Some commentators believe this eventually led to the inclusion of Esther in the Hebrew Bible , despite the omission of God from the book. In distinction to various other holidays, such as Pesach Passover , Purim is the quintessential community holiday.
Nonetheless, there are a number of activities that are centered in the home. One of the favorite activities in preparation for the holiday is the baking of hamantaschen , the triangular filled pastries that are the traditional food at Purim time. In addition, following the commandment to give gifts to friends and the poor, the preparation of so-called mishloah manot baskets is a fun activity to engage in, as is their distribution on the holiday. Purim is a community holiday of joyful celebration.
The centerpiece of the communal celebration is the reading of the Scroll of Esther , the Megillah, in the synagogue. Another tradition is the Purim shpiel , the Purim play, during which fun is poked at community leaders and members.
Purim has often been called the Jewish carnival, and dressing in costume and taking part in a Purim carnival heighten the levity of the day, on which one is encouraged to engage in activities that at other times of the year would be somewhat more restricted in scope, such as drinking.
The overriding theme of Purim is the saving of the Jews from a mortal threat. As with many religious holidays from all corners of the world, Purim is marked with a festival meal with friends, family and the community. The feast of Purim, held in the afternoon of the holiday, is mandated in the story, too, Krasner says. Though many Jewish holidays are observed with similar meals, the Purim feast has a different feeling, Krasner says. For most major Jewish holidays, aside from Hanukkah , the meal begins with blessings over candles and wine.
After all, the plot of the Scroll of Esther itself hinges greatly on community. The cookies are shaped in their triangular way to commemorate the hat that Haman wore, according to tradition. That tradition is quite ancient, Krasner says.
Of course, using poppyseeds is certainly not the only way to fill a hamentaschen cookie — chocolate, Nutella, apricot jam — the options are endless. The New York Times even ran a savory caramelized onion recipe of the Purim cookies this week.
Above all, the cultural importance of hamentaschen is largely due to the wide popularity of the taste. Write to Rachel E. Greenspan at rachel. Traditional hamantaschen cookies for the Jewish festival of Purim.
By Rachel E. Purim is one of the more fun-loving holidays in the Jewish calendar where fancy dress is a must, with girls dressing up as Queen Esther, boys as King Ahasuerus and rabbis donning comedy hats. Children will still be able to dress up at home, and some parents may incorporate the baking of traditional foods into their home-education this week.
But there is concern some of the most strictly Orthodox Haredi Jews may not adhere to the rules as prayer is still permitted in places of worship. Data suggests deaths among British Jews were 3. The holiday took place just a few weeks before lockdown was brought in, and featured poorly-ventilated rooms full of people crammed together.
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