Purim in Israel – in Pictures

<?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" />Jerusalem residents celebrated “Shushan Purim” on Monday, one day after Jews around the world ended their Purim festivities. The “second” celebration is based on the Scroll of Esther (Megillat Esther), which records that the Jews were granted a second day to eliminate their would-be exterminators in the Persian capital of Shushan.

The first and last photos (by Flash 90) were taken in Jerusalem and the other pictures are of celebrations in Betar Illit and Hevron on Sunday.