Purim: What's the Big Megillah?
Ahasuerus, Vashti, Haman. What does it all mean? PURIM!
The Festival of Purim commemorates a major victory over oppression and is recounted in the
Megillah, or scroll, of the story of Esther. Purim takes place on the 14th and 15th days of Adar,
the twelfth month of the Jewish calendar. The 14th of Adar is Purim while the 15th is
Shushan Purim, which is when cities that are walled celebrate Purim. In a Hebrew calendar
leap year, when there are two months of Adar, Purim is celebrated in Adar II.
Scholars debate about the historic accuracy of the story of Purim. But whether or not the story
actually happened, it teaches us some timeless lessons:
• Standing up for one’s rights;
• Remaining committed to the Jewish people;
• Supporting the community;
• Saving lives;
• Celebrating our deliverance; and
• Caring for the needy
are all important and worthy endeavors
Purim is the most festive of Jewish holidays, a time of prizes, noisemakers, costumes, parades and treats.
PURIM GLOSSARY
Achashverosh —King of Persia who chose Esther to be his new queen and
listened to her pleas to save the Jewish people from Haman’s evil plot.
Haman —Vizier (adviser) of the king of Persia who instigated the plan to destroy the
Jewish people.
Hamantaschen—(Yiddish) The triangular-shaped pastry filled with poppy seed paste (mun)
or fruit fillings and traditionally eaten on Purim. The triangle shape is said to refer to Haman’s
hat or his ears! (In Hebrew, the cookies are called oznei Haman, or “Haman’s ears.”)
Megillah —Single-handle scroll. Megillat Esther tells the story of the deliverance of
the Jews of Persia from the destruction planned against them by Haman, vizier of King
Achashverosh.
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