The holiday of Purim begins on Saturday night in most of the world, and on Sunday night in Jerusalem. Several other cities, such as Tiberias, will celebrate aspects of Purim on both days.
Purim is one of Judaism's more colorful and joyous holidays. It commemorates, as described in the Book of Esther, Haman's foiled attempt to wipe out all the Jews in the wide-ranging Persian Empire 2,450 years ago. A major theme of the holiday is "abrupt and miraculous turnabout," with the Jews taking control over those who tried to kill them (Esther 9,1), and the reversal of "sorrow to joy, mourning to holiday... days of feasting and joy, sending portions one to another, and gifts to the poor" (9,22). On the Sabbath before Purim, the Torah passage commanding the blotting out of the Amalekite nation, of which Haman was a descendant, is read aloud.
Though not a public holiday in Israel, schools will be closed, and many offices and stores will operate on a reduced basis, if at all. Many cities mark the day with a special parade known as the Adloyada; the most famous of these takes place in Tel Aviv. Many kindergartens, schools, synagogues, and towns will also host special Purim parties and carnivals, while yeshiva students sing and dance into the night.
Purim is one of Judaism's more colorful and joyous holidays. It commemorates, as described in the Book of Esther, Haman's foiled attempt to wipe out all the Jews in the wide-ranging Persian Empire 2,450 years ago. A major theme of the holiday is "abrupt and miraculous turnabout," with the Jews taking control over those who tried to kill them (Esther 9,1), and the reversal of "sorrow to joy, mourning to holiday... days of feasting and joy, sending portions one to another, and gifts to the poor" (9,22). On the Sabbath before Purim, the Torah passage commanding the blotting out of the Amalekite nation, of which Haman was a descendant, is read aloud.
Though not a public holiday in Israel, schools will be closed, and many offices and stores will operate on a reduced basis, if at all. Many cities mark the day with a special parade known as the Adloyada; the most famous of these takes place in Tel Aviv. Many kindergartens, schools, synagogues, and towns will also host special Purim parties and carnivals, while yeshiva students sing and dance into the night.