Is this to commemorate the defeat of Pharaoh by Moses?
Purim, which literally means “lots,” is the holiday in which Jews commemorate being saved from persecution in the ancient Persian Empire. According to the Book of Esther in the Bible, the Jews of the city of Shushan were threatened by the villain Haman, a prime minister who convinces the King Ahasuerus to kill all the Jews (because the Jewish Mordecai refused to bow down to Haman).
Purim is the most raucous holiday on the Jewish calendar (see mandatory alcohol drinking below). Observance of the holiday begins with dressing up in costume: some people choose to dress as characters from the Purim story, and others dress in non-Purim-related costumes. It is a mitzvah (commandment) to listen to the story of Purim chanted from Megillat Esther (“The Scroll of Esther”) and to hear every word. It is customary to make loud noise with a noisemaker called a ra’ashan in Hebrew, or grager in Yiddish, every time Haman’s name is mentioned, in order to fulfill the obligation of blotting out Haman’s name. Part of the holiday also includes giving gifts or charity to the poor, called matanot l’evyonim. A fun tradition on the holiday is to perform a Purim spiel, a satirical show either dramatizing the Purim story in a humorous way, or just a funny skit on any theme.
What is Purim? Learn All About the Jewish Holiday Purim
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@Falcon29 @WebMaster
Today,in front of a Synagogue a Jew was disguised as a terrorist with a fake AK and screaming 'Allah Akbar'. The soldiers in front of the Synagogue were about to use their weapons,but the other fidels recognized him..... How 'intelligent' is that.