Purim - What it is not
Purim is NOT a Jewish version of halloween, a pagan-cum-Paulist holiday. According to Tomorrow's World, a Jesus-focused web site:
Centuries before the birth of Jesus, pagan Rome celebrated February 15 (beginning the evening before, February 14th) as a sensuous festival in honor of the idolatrous worship of Lupercus — the deified "hero-hunter of wolves."
The ancient Roman practice especially encouraged young persons who were "going steady" to indulge in licentious acts of fornication. Church leaders in the late fifth century sought to infuse into the festival of "Lupercalia" a Christian value by renaming it "Saint Valentine's day." On the pagan Lupercalia, "handed down from the Roman festival of the Lupercalia, celebrated in the month of February... names of young women were put into a box and drawn out by men as chance directed," (Encyclopedia Americana, article, "St Valentine's Day.")
Roman church leaders in the fifth century debated the inclusion of the festival Lupercalia in "Christian Rome." Due to the immense popularity of the holiday with the pagan "cum Christian" Roman citizenry, it was decided to include the holiday—except for "the more grossly sensual observances." In 496 A. D. Pope Gelasius "Christianized" the pagan Lupercalia by changing the name and day of observance from the 15th to the 14th of February.
Moreover, on halloween, people threatened neighbors and strangers alike with "trick or treat" the meaning being either you give us a treat or we'll give you a trick (as in tipping over an outhouse, beating up a person, or otherwise causing the reluctant giver distress. Purim, on the other hand, sends, preferably at the hands of a child, gifts to neighbors and friends.
Purim - What it is
Purim is a post-Biblical story that came to life during the reign of Persian King Ahasuerus אֲחַשְׁוֵרוֹשׁ, better known by his Greek name, Xerxes I, who ruled over 127 counties, "from India to Ethiopia." He lived between 486 to 465 BCE. (Source: Bible.org.)
NOTE: All transliterations are from "The Book of Esther" Illustrated by Arthur Szyk, published by the Maariv Book Guild & American-Israeli Publishing Co.
Ahasuerus, in the third year of his reign, wanted to show off his riches so he threw a party. Meanwhile, Vashti, Ahasuerus' queen, was putting on a party in her quarters.
Ahasuerus ordered his queen to appear before all his guests so they could look upon her beauty. Vashti took exception to this and refused.
It may not be nice to fool with Mother Nature, but it could be fatal to refuse a king's command. Encouraged by his counselors to consider that Vashti's refusal would send a message to other women to disobey their husbands, Ahasuerus had to do something. What he did - at his counselors' instigation - was to take away all of Vashti's properties and her right to come to the king. He also ordered a search for a new queen.
Enter Hadassah, a/k/a Esther.
According to the Megelah (scroll), Esther was "of beautiful form and fair to look upon."
Somehow, and the story is silent here but it seems to have been a round-up of good-looking women, Esther ended up in the custody of Hegai, the keeper of the women.
Esther was an orphan, but she had an uncle, Mordecai, who hung around the gate to Shushan, Ahasuerus' capital.
To condense the story, Esther becomes queen and the evil Haman plots to murder all the Jews, starting with Uncle Mordecai who seems to best him at every turn. Haman cons the king into declaring a day when Jews across his kingdom can be massacred.
Mordecai learns of Hamen's plan and convinces a reluctant Esther to show the king Haman's true colors. She does; Ahasuerus sees, Haman (and sons) is hanged, and Ahasuerus issues a decree that Jews can defend themselves.
As the story goes, we are attacked, we defeat the enemy, we eat.
Now, go read the whole megillah (which, incidentally, is but one of five, the others are:
Ruth רות
Song of Songs שיר השירים
Lamentations קהלת
Job איכה)
The story of Ruth is read on Purim evening and again on Purim morning. Men have an obligation to hear the megillah twice. Source: ילקות שמ''ש קצד
Purim practices
For most people, Purim falls on the 14th day of Adar (Adar Bet/Adar 2 when there are two Adars - leap year). However, for Jews in Jerusalem and all other cities that had walls when the events in the story unfolded, the megillah is first read on the evening of the 15th of Adar and again on the morning of 15 Adar (remembering that the Jewish day starts in the evening). Source: ילקות שמ''ש קצג
The reading may begin anytime AFTER three medium stars are visible. Source: קצור שלחן ערוך השלם של ר מרדכי אליהו הלכות מגלה
A mourner in the first 7 days (shiva) treats Purim as if it is a Shabat. Source: קצור שלחן ערוך השלם של ר מרדכי אליהו הלכות מגלה
Women may read the scroll for themselves with the blessings. ). Source: הילקות שמ''ש קצג Women are allowed to chant the Scroll of Esther on behalf of men if no competent men are available, Rabbi Ovadia Yosef, the late Sefardi chief rabbi, ruled in February, 2009. Source: HaAretz.
Only the hazan must stand as the blessings are recited and the megillah is read; all others may sit for both. Source: ילקות שמ''ש קצו
If there is a brit melah on Purim, the brit takes place before the megillah. Source: הוד יוסף חי קנג
A woman may write a megillah if she has the knowledge. Source: הוד יוסף חי קנד
When Purim falls on a Sunday, the pre-Purim fast is pushed back to Thursday. However, if there is a brit on Thursday, the meal should be postponed for everyone until after the fast ends. Source: קצור שלחן ערוך השלם של ר מרדכי אליהו הלכות מגלה ג
To honor the day, people should dress in clothes suitable for Shabat. Source: קצור שלחן ערוך השלם של ר מרדכי אליהו הלכות מגלה ד
Mishloach Manot and Matanot La’Evyonim
The day after Purim, Rabbi Meir Shalom of Porisov would invite the town’s poor to his home and give them a sum of money and other help. His students asked him: “Didn’t they receive a considerable amount of mishloach manot and matanot la’evyonim (money distributed to the needy on Purim) only yesterday? Why is it so urgent to give them charity now, the day after Purim?”
The tzaddik (righteous man) answered, “On Purim everyone knows it is a great religious obligation to distribute matanot la’evyonim, but they might think such a mitzva (good deed) applies only to Purim, rather than year-round. Therefore, I took it upon myself to remind the community that it is obligatory to give charity the rest of the year too.”
Purim is one of several times during the year when Jews have added incentive to be generous to the poor. As the rabbi in the story above ponts out, " it is obligatory to give charity the rest of the year too.”
In addition to giving tzdekah - which actually translates to "justice"; the gifts to the poor are owed to them; it is there due, and giving is a mitzvah, which may be why we learn that the poor always will be with us.
As far as mishloach manot, there are some basics from קצור שלחן ערוך השלם של ר מרדכי אליהו .
Everyone is obliged to send a gift to at least one person.
The gift must include at least two different items; two of the same, e.g., drinks, would count as only one item.
Everyone, including the poor that receives community support, must send two items to at least two (other) poor people. The gift to the poor must be money sufficient to purchase a meal.
The gifts should be given on Purim day (the 14th or 15th of Adar, depending on the location of the person giving the gift.
