The story behind the Jewish holiday Purim is an old one but still very relevant today.
“This has been sort of our history, that every so often ... whether it's ... at that time an adviser to the king or so on today, as a political figure, antisemitism was, and unfortunately, always will be," said Rabbi Yossi Baumgarten, director of the Cheder Menachem School in Wilkes-Barre. "It's something we have to stand very, very strong against.”
In the gymnasium at the former Coughlin High School, more than 100 Jews gathered, most in costume, on Tuesday, March 7, to celebrate Purim.
Purim began at sundown on Monday, March 6. The holiday lasts around 24 hours, ending at sunset on Tuesday.
It celebrates a story from the Hebrew Bible’s Book of Esther about the Jews victory over Haman, an antisemite, who lived in the 5th Century BCE.
Haman was an advisor to the Persian King and convinced the king to destroy all the Jews. But the king, unbeknownst to him at first, was married to a Jew, Esther. She was also the niece of the Jewish leader, Mordecai. Queen Esther begged the king for mercy for her people and the Jews were victorious.
“It was God that was watching over us and directing our actions and making sure that no harm befall us,” said Baumgarten.
Rabbi Moshe Backman read the story, called the Megillah. He held up a scroll of parchment paper with the tale hand inscribed, reading from right to left in Aramaic. When he said Haman’s name the crowd became boisterous, jeering, stomping, spinning noisemakers, hissing and booing the villain who tried to destroy the Jewish people.
The children wear costumes during Purim to make the story more real for them, said Baumgarten. A strawberry rode a tricycle in the gym. There was a police officer, an astronaut with laser vision and mini versions of Mordecai, the king and Esther.
Four Mitzvos — or commandments from God — are practiced during Purim. The story is read twice; the Jews also give a gift to one friend containing two food items; and donate to charity.
The story written by Mordecai is read every year to remember what happened thousands of years ago.
“We have to stand up for what is right, what we believe in," said Baumgarten.
