Purim פּוּרִים |
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An 18th century prayerbook on the miracles of Purim
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Observed by | Jews |
Type | Jewish religious, cultural |
Significance | Celebration of Jewish deliverance as told in the Book of Esther (Megillah) |
Celebrations | Listening to the Book of Esther in synagogue; sending food parcels and giving charity; dressing up in costume; eating a festive meal |
Date | 14th day of Adar (in Jerusalem and all ancient walled cities, 15th of Adar) |
2016 date | Sunset, 23 March – nightfall, 24 March |
2017 date | Sunset, 11 March – nightfall, 12 March |
Related to | Hanukkah, as a rabbinically decreed Jewish holiday. |
Purim (/ˈpʊərɪm/; Hebrew: פּוּרִים Pûrîm "lots", from the word פור pur, related to Akkadian: pūru) is a Jewish holiday that commemorates the saving of the Jewish people from Haman, who was planning to kill all the Jews. This took place in the ancient Achaemenid Persian Empire. The story is recorded in the Biblical Book of Esther (מגילת אסתר Megillat Ester in Hebrew).