Purim is a joyous Jewish holiday that celebrates the miraculous events told in the Book of Esther. It is celebrated by reading the Megillah, giving gifts, distributing charity, and feasting.
Of all Jewish holidays, this is the one when people let loose, dress up in silly costumes, and act in ways you’d never see them act during the rest of the year.
On Purim we emphasize the importance of Jewish unity and friendship by sending gifts of food to friends. We send a gift of at least two kinds of ready-to-eat foods (e.g., pastry, fruit, beverage), to at least one friend on Purim day.
Here are some guidelines that can be used by individuals and synagogues. Please help by forwarding this to your friends, rabbis, and community leaders.
Each year my wife and I host an alcohol-free Purim seudah (festive afternoon meal) in the heart of Jerusalem for Jewish alcoholics, addicts, and their families.
Beyond the bare bones requirements, a wealth of customs have grown around this joyous day. Here are some, ranging from the well-known to the more obscure.