Purim 101: What We Celebrate and Why

The days of Purim, celebrated on the 14th and 15th of Adar, are days of gratitude for the miracle that occurred to the Jewish people in the time of Mordechai and Esther.

During the years between the destruction of the First Temple and the building of the Second, King Ahasuerus, following the counsel of Haman, decreed that all Jews be annihilated on the 13th of Adar. In the end, the exact opposite occurred. On that very day, the Jews defeated their enemies.

This miraculous reversal is recorded in Megillat Esther, which is read on Purim. The Megillah spans ten chapters and describes events that unfolded over more than nine years. Uniquely, the name of Hashem does not appear even once in the entire scroll. This absence hints at divine hiddenness during that era and at a concealed providence guiding events even without open revelation.

How do we celebrate Purim?

The mitzvot and customs of Purim express joy, gratitude, and communal responsibility:

Ta’anit Esther

The day before Purim is observed as a fast, commemorating the three days of fasting that Esther declared before approaching King Ahasuerus.

Machatzit ha shekel

Money is given in remembrance of the half shekel, symbolizing that the Jewish people’s shekels preceded those of Haman, who weighed out silver in his attempt to destroy them.

Reading Megillat Esther

The Megillah is read publicly in the synagogue on the night of Purim and again the following day.

Mishloach Manot

Food is sent to one another for the Purim meal, with a minimum of two different food items sent to one person.

Matanot La’evyonim

Gifts are given to those in need, ensuring that everyone can participate in the joy of Purim and eat properly at the festive meal.

Seudat Purim

Purim is designated as a day of feasting and joy. As stated in the Megillah, these days were established as days of celebration. The Gemara mentions a mitzvah to drink wine and become intoxicated ad delo yada, until one cannot distinguish between Arur Haman and Baruch Mordechai. This reflects the fact that the miracle unfolded through Esther’s wine banquets.

Costumes

It is customary to dress up on Purim to express the theme of v’nahafoch hu, the great reversal. Costumes also remind us that Israel’s missteps were external, while inwardly they remained faithful to Hashem.

One last interesting note

Purim is the only Jewish holiday celebrated on two different days depending on location. In Jerusalem and other cities that were walled since the days of Yehoshua bin Nun, Purim is celebrated on the 15th of Adar. Elsewhere, it is observed on the 14th.

The Jerusalem Talmud explains that the era of Yehoshua was chosen in order to honor the Land of Israel, which lay in ruins at the time of the Purim story. The celebration was therefore anchored in a period when the Land stood in its strength.

There are cities whose status is uncertain, and they observe Purim for two days. These include Tzfat, Tiberias, Hebron, and Jaffa. Outside of Israel, this includes Izmir in Turkey, Aleppo in Syria, and Baghdad in Iraq.

Purim invites us not only to remember a historic rescue, but to notice how hidden guidance continues to shape Jewish history and personal life alike. Even when Hashem’s presence is not openly revealed, the story of Purim reminds us that nothing unfolds by chance. Through joy, generosity, and remembrance, we reconnect to that quiet providence and carry the spirit of Purim beyond the holiday itself.