Purim

Purim begins at sundown tonight (4th March 2007). Purim is the most festive of Jewish holidays. It commemorates a major victory over oppression and is recounted in the Megillah, the scroll of the story of Esther and takes place on the fourteenth and fifteenth days of Adar, the twelfth month of the Jewish calendar. Purim is celbrated by reading Megillat Esther (the scroll Esther), Mishloach Manot - Sending food to friends, Matanot L'evyonim - Giving gifts to the poor, and enjoying a Purim Seuda (meal). At Purim Jews also celebrate by poking fun at themselves and their institutions, throwing synagogue decorum out the window and dressing in costumes. Purim is an important holiday. Jews throughout the world, surrounded by anti-semitism, take great joy in a holiday that reminds them, that even though throughout the course of Jewish History there have been too many real-life "Hamans," in the end Hashem never lets the anti-semites win.