Official feasts used to be an important part of the human community. People would gather together to remember something sacred, express their faith and hope for the future, and / or just be together formally, recognizing each other as being part of a shared community. Few things express a desire for shared companionship and social intimacy more than dining together. Sadly, the gathering together for feasting is increasingly a relic of the past – at least here in the West.
It need not be so! Today we will remember the ancient feasts.
THE FEAST DAY OF Purim
This Feast Day is a religious celebration that commemorates the saving of the Jewish people from annihilation at the hands of an official of the Achaemenid Empire named Haman, as it is recounted in the Book of Esther (usually dated to the 5th century BC).
It is celebrated with vigor and is sometimes called the Jewish Halloween.
What is Purim and how is it celebrated?
Haman was the royal vizier to the Persian king Ahasuerus (Xerxes I or Artaxerxes I; Khshayarsha and Artakhsher in Old Persian, respectively). His plans were foiled by Mordecai of the tribe of Benjamin, and Esther, Mordecai’s cousin and adopted daughter who had become queen of Persia after her marriage to Ahasuerus. The day of deliverance became a day of feasting and rejoicing among Jews.
According to the Scroll of Esther, “they should make them days of feasting and gladness, and of sending portions one to another, and gifts to the poor”. Purim is celebrated among Jews by:
- Exchanging gifts of food and drink, known as mishloach manot
- Donating charity to the poor, known as mattanot la-evyonim
- Eating a celebratory meal, known as se’udat Purim
- Public recitation of the Scroll of Esther (קריאת מגילת אסתר), or “reading of the Megillah“, usually in synagogue
- Reciting additions to the daily prayers and the grace after meals, known as Al HaNissim
- Applying henna (Sephardic and Mizrahi Jews)
Other customs include wearing masks and costumes, public celebrations and parades (Adloyada), eating hamantashen (transl. ”Haman’s pockets”), and drinking wine.
According to the Hebrew calendar, Purim is celebrated annually on the 14th day of the Hebrew month of Adar (and it is celebrated in Adar II in Hebrew leap years, which occur every two to three years), the day following the victory of the Jews over their enemies, the 13th of Adar, a day now observed with the fast of Esther. In cities that were protected by a surrounding wall at the time of Joshua, Purim was celebrated on the 15th of the month of Adar on what is known as Shushan Purim, since fighting in the walled city of Shushan continued through the 14th day of Adar. Today, only Jerusalem and a few other cities celebrate Purim on the 15th of Adar.
The four main mitzvot (obligations) of the day are:
- Listening to the public reading, usually in synagogue, of the Book of Esther in the evening and again in the following morning (k’riat megillah)
- Sending food gifts to friends (mishloach manot)
- Giving charity to the poor (matanot la’evyonim)
- Eating a festive meal (se’udat mitzvah)
The three latter obligations apply only during the daytime hours of Purim.
What do you eat for the Celebration of Purim?
Purim is a celebration that requires giving food and eating! There are many options. Given its place as a traditional Jewish food, I recommend the following recipe: Noodle Kugel (via bonappetit.com)
Ingredients
10–12 servings
12oz. extra-wide egg noodles
2 tsp. Diamond Crystal or 1 tsp. Morton kosher salt, plus more
½ cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, plus more for pan
8 large eggs
½ cup (100 g) sugar
1 lb. full-fat cottage cheese
1 lb. full-fat sour cream
2 tsp. vanilla extract
1 tsp. ground cinnamon
Preparation
Step 1
Preheat oven to 350°. Cook 12 oz. extra-wide egg noodles in a large pot of boiling salted water, stirring occasionally, until al dente, about 4–5 minutes. Drain, leaving a little bit of water clinging to the noodles
Step 2
Generously butter a 13×9″ baking dish (we prefer glass for even heating, but metal is okay, too).
Step 3
Make the creamy sauce: Cut 1 stick butter into a few big pieces and transfer to a small heatproof bowl. Microwave until butter is melted, about 1 minute. Let cool slightly. Whisk 8 large eggs and ½ cup (100 g) sugar in a large bowl until sugar is dissolved and eggs are frothy, 1–2 minutes. Add 1 lb. full-fat cottage cheese, 1 lb. full-fat sour cream, 2 tsp. vanilla extract, 1 tsp. ground cinnamon, and 2 tsp. Diamond Crystal or 1 tsp. Morton kosher salt to egg mixture. Whisk vigorously to combine. Pour in melted butter and whisk again to combine.
Step 4
Add hot noodles to bowl and toss to coat with a spoon or spatula.
Step 5
Transfer noodle mixture to prepared baking dish, tipping dish to evenly distribute. For a really crispy top, pull a few noodles to the surface so that they’re poking out over the sauce.
Step 6
Bake kugel, rotating pan halfway through, until custard has souffléed, top is browned, and noodles on the surface are crispy, 50–55 minutes.
Step 7
Let cool at least 20 minutes before slicing. Fight over those almost-burnt noodles on top.
What is a prayer you could say in honor of the Celebration of Purim?
Al HaNissim alternatively V’al HaNissim is a prayer said on Purim.
The standard Ashkenazi Orthodox text of the prayer is as follows (via wiki):
| Hebrew | English |
|---|---|
| On Hanukkah and Purim: | |
| וְ)עַל הַנִּסִּים וְעַל הַפֻּרְקָן וְעַל הַגְּבוּרוֹת וְעַל הַתְּשׁוּעוֹת וְעַל הַמִּלְחָמוֹת) | (And) for the miracles and for the redemption and for the mighty acts and for the salvation and for the wars |
| שֶׁעָשִֽׂיתָ לַאֲבוֹתֵֽינוּ בַּיָּמִים הָהֵם בִּזְּמַן הַזֶּה | that You have done for our forefathers in those days in this season. |
| On Purim: | |
| בִּימֵי מָרְדְּכַי וְאֶסְתֵּר בְּשׁוּשַׁן הַבִּירָה | In the days of Mordechai and Esther, in Shushan, the capital, |
| כְּשֶׁעָמַד עֲלֵיהֶם הָמָן הָרָשָׁע | when Haman, the wicked, rose up against them |
| בִּקֵּשׁ לְהַשְׁמִיד לַהֲרוֹג וּלְאַבֵּד אֶת־כָּל־הַיְּהוּדִים | and sought to destroy, to slay, and to exterminate all the Jews |
| מִנַּֽעַר וְעַד־זָקֵן טַף וְנָשִׁים | young and old, infants and women, |
| יוֹם אֶחָד בִּשְׁלוֹשָׁה עָשָׂר לְחֹֽדֶשׁ שְׁנֵים־עָשָׂר הוּא־חֹֽדֶשׁ אֲדָר | on the same day, on the thirteenth of the twelfth month, which is the month of Adar, |
| וּשְׁלָלָם לָבוֹז | and to plunder their possessions; |
| וְאַתָּה בְּרַחֲמֶֽיךָ הָרַבִּים הֵפַֽרְתָּ אֶת־עֲצָתוֹ וְקִלְקַֽלְתָּ אֶת־מַחֲשַׁבְתּוֹ | But You, in Your abundant mercy, nullified his counsel and frustrated his intention and caused his design to return upon his own head and they hanged him and his sons on the gallows. |
When is Purim celebrated?
Purim is celebrated on the 14th day of Adar (in Jerusalem and all ancient walled cities, 15th of Adar) – which is usually at some point during the month of March.
| 2023 date | Sunset, 6 March – nightfall, 7 March |
|---|---|
| 2024 date | Sunset, 23 March – nightfall, 24 March |
| 2025 date | Sunset, 13 March – nightfall, 14 March |
| 2026 date | Sunset, 2 March – nightfall, 3 March |
I hope all who celebrate have a wonderful time!
