Purim Explained: The Holiday of Costumes, Noise, and One Very Brave Woman

Purim is one of the most joyful holidays in the Jewish calendar. It involves costumes, noise, drinking, and a specific command to give food to neighbors. It also tells the story of one of the most consequential acts of courage in the Hebrew Bible. Purim comes from the Book of Esther, one of only two books in the Hebrew Bible where God is not explicitly mentioned. The story is set in the Persian court of King Ahasuerus. The chief minister Haman despises the Jews and plots to kill all of them on a day chosen by lot — the word purim means lots. Mordecai's niece Esther has become the queen without revealing her Jewish identity. When Mordecai tells her about the plot, she must decide whether to approach the king uninvited — a potentially capital offense. She says: if I perish, I perish. She approaches the king, reveals the plot, and Haman is executed. The Jews are allowed to defend themselves and survive. The Book of Esther is read aloud from a handwritten scroll called the Megillah. Every time Haman's name is mentioned, the congregation makes noise — spinning groggers, stomping, booing — to drown it out. The four mitzvot of Purim: hearing the Megillah read twice, sending food gifts to at least two people, giving money to at least two poor people, and eating a festive meal. Hamantaschen are the signature food — triangular pastries named for Haman's three-cornered hat. Purim tells a story about an identifiable threat to Jewish existence and the courage of a woman who risked everything to prevent it. The noise at Haman's name is a statement: we are still here.