Purim celebrates a time when a government tried to kill the Jewish people. And they failed! So now we eat! And drink!
For those who copped a shluf during Hebrew school, see this in-depth, drunken history of Purim provided by our friends at A Very Awesome Purim.
Have you ever thought about what the word Purim even means?
Purim (פורים) is the plural of “lot,” like lottery. Back in Persia, around 350 BCE, there was a different, less fun, kind of lottery. Haman, an advisor to the King, picked a day to kill all the Jews. But, it turned out that his lot was the unlucky one, as he was the one killed.
So how did this chag become the Jewish child of St. Patrick’s Day and Halloween?
We are supposed to be so !*!*HAPPY!*!* on Purim that we can’t tell the difference between Mordechai and Haman—or someone who exudes goodness and someone who exudes evil. How do we do this? We dress up! We drink a lot!
#lechaim.
And, why the heck do we eat triangle cookies?
We can pretend hamantashen have to do with the Illuminati pyramid, but there are plenty of other explanations for these delicious triangular treats. Keeping with Jewish tradition, the symbolism of the delicious hamantashen is up for debate.
Hamantashen (hay-mohn-tash-en) literally translates to Haman’s pockets, something that hints at Haman’s corrupt nature. Some say Haman had triangular ears that were cut off before he was hanged. Mohn, is also Yiddish for poppy seeds—a traditional filling.
So make yourself some Purim Plans! Here’s what is going on in Philly:
Thursday, March 9th
Young Friends of NMAJH Purim Party
Friday, March 10th
Graduate Network’s Pre-Purim Shabbat
NextGen Shabbat in the City
Saturday, March 11th
Monte Carlo Purim Masquerade
Sunday, Mar 12th
Kaiserman JCC Purim Carnival
