The Story of Purim

The Jewish festival of Purim commemorates the story of Esther, a Jewish girl forced to join the harem of the Persian king, Ahasuerus. As the king's favorite wife, Esther became the queen.

 

At that time everyone was commanded to bow before Haman, the king's adviser. As Mordecai -Esther's cousin, who brought her up after her parents' death- refused to bow before any man, Haman vowed to destroy him and the rest of the Jews. He convinced the king that the Jews refused to obey the law, and was allowed to execute them.

 

When Esther knew about her cousin's and people's fate, she fasted for three days and then went before the king. Esther confessed to Ahasuerus that she was a Jew and begged for her people's lives. The king sent his guards to Haman, who was hanged on the gallows he had prepared for Mordecai. The order to kill the Jews was cancelled and Mordecai became the king's adviser.

 

 

Blotting Out Haman's Name
The book of Esther is read at synagogues. When the name of "Haman" is mentioned, people stomp their feet or make noise with groggers and other noisemakers to obliterate his name.

Performing Plays
It is also common to perform plays at Purim representing the story of Esther. Use our soft foam Purim masks on Esther, Asahuerus, Mordecai and Haman to represent the story of Purim!

 
Giving Hamentaschen

On this Jewish holiday people give food offerings, specially Hamentaschen, which are triangular cookies filled with poppy seeds.

 

There are many theories about the origin of the word. Most people say it means "Haman's pocket", from Haman and tasch (pocket or pouch.) Others say that the word simply comes from the Yiddish word montash, which means "poppyseed-filled pouches". This word later evolved to hamantashen and was associated with Haman. On the other hand, many schools teach that Hamentaschen stand for Haman's 3-cornered hat, due to their triangular form.

 

Fill our Purim boxes with hamentaschen and give out at Purim!