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        New Message Board Archives >> 2007 General Board Posts >> Happy PURIM!
        
(Message started by: wildhaus on Mar 3^rd, 2007, 2:52pm)

Title: Happy PURIM!
Post by wildhaus on Mar 3^rd, 2007, 2:52pm

http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b7dd22b3127cce81a8a0b7124c00000016100AbMmbFu4YsWNA

Purim

In the twelfth month, which is the month of Adar, on its thirteenth day ... on the day that the enemies of the Jews were expected to prevail over them, it was turned about: the Jews prevailed over their adversaries. - Esther 9:1

And they gained relief on the fourteenth, making it a day of feasting and gladness. - Esther 9:17

[Mordecai instructed them] to observe them as days of feasting and gladness, and sending delicacies to one another, and gifts to the poor. - Esther 9:22

Purim is one of the most joyous and fun holidays on the Jewish calendar. It commemorates a time when the Jewish people living in Persia were saved from extermination.

The story of Purim is told in the Biblical book of Esther. The heroes of the story are Esther, a beautiful young Jewish woman living in Persia, and her cousin Mordecai, who raised her as if she were his daughter. Esther was taken to the house of Ahasuerus, King of Persia, to become part of his harem. King Ahasuerus loved Esther more than his other women and made Esther queen, but the king did not know that Esther was a Jew, because Mordecai told her not to reveal her identity.

The villain of the story is Haman, an arrogant, egotistical advisor to the king. Haman hated Mordecai because Mordecai refused to bow down to Haman, so Haman plotted to destroy the Jewish people. In a speech that is all too familiar to Jews, Haman told the king, "There is a certain people scattered abroad and dispersed among the peoples in all the provinces of your realm. Their laws are different from those of every other people's, and they do not observe the king's laws; therefore it is not befitting the king to tolerate them." Esther 3:8. The king gave the fate of the Jewish people to Haman, to do as he pleased to them. Haman planned to exterminate all of the Jews.

Mordecai persuaded Esther to speak to the king on behalf of the Jewish people. This was a dangerous thing for Esther to do, because anyone who came into the king's presence without being summoned could be put to death, and she had not been summoned. Esther fasted for three days to prepare herself, then went into the king. He welcomed her. Later, she told him of Haman's plot against her people. The Jewish people were saved, and Haman was hanged on the gallows that had been prepared for Mordecai.

The book of Esther is unusual in that it is the only book of the Bible that does not contain the name of G-d. In fact, it includes virtually no reference to G-d. Mordecai makes a vague reference to the fact that the Jews will be saved by someone else, if not by Esther, but that is the closest the book comes to mentioning G-d. Thus, one important message that can be gained from the story is that G-d often works in ways that are not apparent, in ways that appear to be chance, coincidence or ordinary good luck.

Title: Re: Happy PURIM!
Post by E-Double on Mar 3^rd, 2007, 2:55pm

To you as well.
Fun reading Megilla. :)

Title: Re: Happy PURIM!
Post by wildhaus on Mar 3^rd, 2007, 3:09pm

I have it in 4 languages............. from greek to german to english to spanish............. and the origanal.........

even on the puter............

will do it with the boys..........

Title: Re: Happy PURIM!
Post by BB on Mar 3^rd, 2007, 3:09pm

That was interesting, thanks for expanding our knowledge, Michael :-*

Happy Purim to you too.

Hugs

Annette

Title: Re: Happy PURIM!
Post by LeLimey on Mar 3^rd, 2007, 3:20pm

Thanks for that Michael, I love learning new stuff. What do you do to celebrate Purim? Do you have special foods or what do you do?

Title: Re: Happy PURIM!
Post by E-Double on Mar 3^rd, 2007, 3:30pm

on 03/03/07 at 15:20:21, LeLimey wrote:

Thanks for that Michael, I love learning new stuff. What do you do to celebrate Purim? Do you have special foods or what do you do?

We read the Book of Esther
Kids tend to dress up in costumes and everytime the name Hamen is said we make tons of noise
We eat hamentashen http://www.chocolategelt.com/catalog/images/hamentashen-bulk.jpg
which are cookies shaped like a triangular hat which represents hat/head of Hamen who was the bad guy who tried to convince the king of persia to kill all the jews.

Title: Re: Happy PURIM!
Post by lionsound on Mar 3^rd, 2007, 4:47pm

We are going this evening to a "Pizza and Pilzner" Purim Party :D

And to do all the things EE said too :)
lots-o-family- fun!

Title: Re: Happy PURIM!
Post by Brewcrew on Mar 3^rd, 2007, 4:57pm

Happy Purim to all my Jewish friends!

If you get a chance, go see a movie called For Your Consideration. In it there is the making of a movie called Home for Purim. Some funny, funny stuff.

Title: Re: Happy PURIM!
Post by Mosaicwench on Mar 3^rd, 2007, 5:30pm

And if you're interested in some Queen Esther mosaics (see my user name for why),they are here:

http://lilianbroca.com/mosaics.asp

They are stunning!

Title: Re: Happy PURIM!
Post by Jimi on Mar 3^rd, 2007, 11:27pm

Thanks Michael. I enjoyed reading that. I was aware of the story, but not the celebration.

Title: Re: Happy PURIM!
Post by BB on Mar 4^th, 2007, 8:41am

on 03/03/07 at 17:30:42, Mosaicwench wrote:

And if you're interested in some Queen Esther mosaics (see my user name for why),they are here:

http://lilianbroca.com/mosaics.asp

They are stunning!

WOW ! They are absolutely beautiful!

Annette

Title: Re: Happy PURIM!
Post by Callico_Kid on Mar 4^th, 2007, 9:41pm

A happy Purim to you also Michael, as well as all of my Jewish friends.

It has always interested me in studying history how God has preserved the Jewish race by raising up someone to stand up for them. It is also interesting that a modern day Persian (Iranian) is trying to destroy Israel. It will never happen.

Shalom,
Jerry