Jewish holidays in the year calendar. Purim holiday - what is it? Jewish holiday Purim

Jewish holidays for people who are not connected with the culture of this people seem something incomprehensible, mysterious and at the same time attractive. What are these people happy about? Why are they having such reckless fun? For example, the holiday of Purim - what is it? From the outside it seems that the participants in the celebration are so happy, as if they had just avoided some great misfortune. And this is true, but this story is already 2500 years old.

Purim is a holiday of feasting and fun!

Purim is a spring holiday. Most often it is celebrated in March. Some even believe that Purim is the Jewish holiday on March 8th. However, this is a big misconception.

Like all Jewish holidays, it is celebrated according to lunar calendar and corresponds to the 14th day of the month Aidar. Therefore, not everyone knows when Purim is celebrated in a given year.

Purim is a holiday on which Jews are commanded to feast and be merry. And have fun as if the events to which this day is dedicated happened yesterday.

The actions that marked the beginning of the holiday are associated with the salvation of a large part of the Jewish people from imminent death in Persian captivity. Thanks to the ingenuity of the Jewish leader Mordechai and the self-sacrifice of the beautiful Esther, the Jewish people avoided a terrible bloody massacre, since then this has been remembered for about 2500 years. And all participants in the feast are commanded to have fun and rejoice in this salvation every year.

The celebration begins with the reading of the Scroll of Esther (Esther), a book that details the events that became the prologue of Purim. Then the celebration itself begins. This is the only Jewish holiday on which fun and feasting are not just a tradition, but also a commandment. That’s why it remains the most fun day of the Jewish calendar. So, the holiday of Purim - what is it? How do people spend this day?

Purim holiday: the story of a prophecy

The events preceding the history of Purim began in 586 BC. e. In this year, the Babylonian King Nebuchadnezzar captured Jerusalem and destroyed the temple, taking thousands of Jews into captivity. The Babylonian captivity lasted 47 years, after which, by decree of King Cyrus II, the Jews were able to return to Jerusalem and begin rebuilding the temple. However, just over 40 thousand people took advantage of this opportunity.

This story, from the Babylonian captivity to the events described in the Scroll of Esther, is associated with the prophecy of Jeremiah, who predicted the restoration of Jerusalem 70 years after the destruction and death of the Babylonian kingdom. These events help us understand that the holiday of Purim is very important for Jews, that it is a special day for them.

Almost all the Babylonian and Persian kings lived in fear of this prophecy and hoped that it would turn out to be false. Prophecy for a long time protected the Jews, since none of the rulers dared to harm them in fear of the unprecedented Jewish god.

Everything changed with the coming to power of the Persian king Artaxerxes, one of the most powerful and capricious rulers of Persia, who created one of the greatest empires V Ancient world. Deciding that the time of prophecy had expired, he held a feast lasting 180 days as a sign of his superiority over the god of the Hebrews, who had not fulfilled the prophecy. Jewish sources note that the king of Persia made a mistake in his calculations and died a few years later.

Oman's machinations

The story begins with Xerxes banishing his wife for refusing to dance naked in the presence of the king's entourage. He is looking for a new wife. After much searching, Xerxes chooses Esther, the niece of the Jewish sage Mordechai, the man who saved Xerxes from the conspiracy.

At the same time, Haman the Hamilite became the second person in Persia, close to the king. One day he encountered Mordechai, who refused to bow to the nobleman. This “impudence” became the reason for terrible revenge, which Haman decided to prepare for the entire Jewish people.

Haman came to Xerxes and said that in the empire there lived a captive Jewish people who did not obey the laws of Persia and did not honor the king, but only their god and their traditions. The angry ruler ordered a decree to be written on the extermination of all Jews living in Persia. Haman decided to cast lots to determine on what day he would exterminate the Jews. After this, he sent messengers throughout the empire with a message about the beginning of the massacre on the 12th and 13th of Aidar.

However, Esther became aware of the secret plot and conveyed the disturbing news to Mordechai.

Esther's feat

The only person who can save the Jews is Esther, who can influence the king's decision. However, even this enterprise is associated with great risk, since she needs to turn to Xerxes with a request to violate the established order. This could lead to her death.

Mordecai comes up with a risky plan to get Athraxerxes' attention rather than anger him. Everything else depends entirely on the queen’s charm and fearlessness.

Risking her life, Esther held several feasts for Xerxes. Over the course of long conversations, she was able to convince her husband of the devotion of the Jewish people, reminding him of who exactly saved him from the conspiracy. As a result, the king believed in Haman’s treachery and betrayal. Finding out what happened the real reason attacks on chosen people, the formidable ruler of Persia brought down all his anger on Haman and his family, turning all his decrees against him.

Rescue of the Jewish people

The first thing the formidable king ordered was to hang Haman on the gallows prepared for Mordechai. Since the Persian ruler could not revoke his own decrees, he allowed the Jews to defend their lives and the lives of their children with arms in their hands from anyone who would raise a hand against them.

Thus, on the 12th and 13th of Aidar, the Jewish people met their murderers face to face. The battle continued for two days throughout Persia, as a result of which all the attackers were destroyed or fled. In total, 70 thousand people are said to have died, including 10 sons of Haman, who led the failed genocide.

On the 14th of Aidar, the Jews learned that the danger had passed and they had escaped death. Has begun great holiday which lasted all day. Mordechai ordered to make this day special so that it would be a reminder to future generations of the fateful events. In the book of Esther, the holiday is called a day of feasting and joy.

The Jewish Purim got its name from the word “pur” (lot). Thus, the name symbolizes that they tried to decide the fate of the people,

When is Purim celebrated?

As noted above, Purim is celebrated on the 14th Aidar. However, what does this day correspond to? Purim almost always falls in March or late February. Every year this date falls on different number, because lunar year shorter than the sun by 10 days. So, in 2014 the celebration took place on March 15 and 16, in 2015 on the 4 and 5, and in 2016 on the 23 and 24.

In Jerusalem, Purim is traditionally celebrated a day later, allowing many Israelis to celebrate the holiday twice.

During the period of Jewish dispersion, the holiday had its Negative influence on the attitude of Christians towards Jews. First of all, due to the fact that its celebration almost always coincided with Lent. This often provoked pogroms by Christian communities. The bright fun, dissonant with the days of fasting, gave rise to the superstition that the holiday carries an anti-Christian meaning.

Nowadays, there is a prejudice that Purim is a Jewish holiday on March 8th. However, on this day it falls only once every 25-30 years. In every national or religious tradition There is a holiday that falls at the end of winter, the beginning of spring. So, in Russia it is Maslenitsa, in the Islamic tradition it is Novruz and so on.

There are four unshakable traditions of celebrating Purim. The main one is reading the Scroll of Esther. Moreover, the word “scroll” is taken literally. The book is read in the synagogue during Vespers and During the reading of the scroll, at the moment the name of Haman is read, the visitors of the synagogue begin to make noise, stomp their feet and use special rattles, expressing contempt for the memory of the villain.

A festive meal is an obligatory part of Purim. It was always the most eventful and richest of the whole year. Among the special traditions that developed on this day, one can recall the obligatory treat in the form of “Haman’s ears” - open triangular pies with a sweet or meat filling. In addition, it is prescribed to drink wine until the participants in the fun can no longer distinguish between the names of Haman and Mordechai. However, this tradition is performed at will.

An obligatory part of the holiday are gifts to relatives and friends in the form of treats. Along with the gift, congratulations on Purim and wishes for a happy holiday are said. In addition, all members of the community must provide assistance to the poor.

And the fourth tradition of the holiday - In different communities, tradition has completely different manifestations. For example, in Russia they usually limit themselves to a small theatrical production. IN European countries ah there was a tradition of street performances for which tickets were sold. Also in the Old World, full-fledged carnival processions began to be held, which especially flourished in Israel.

The rest can be manifested absolute freedom, since it is also the most democratic Jewish holiday, in which the main commandment is fun and joy. Everyone sings songs on Purim, dances and enjoys the holiday.

Traditional dishes for Purim

Culinary traditions for the day of Purim are quite conventional. However, in every source describing the festive table, there are common dishes.

Among them is the One Pot Roast Lamb, which is cooked with green beans and herbs. Chicken which is prepared not from traditional flour, but from ground matzo. In addition, dishes from beef tongue cooked with various sauces. Baked or stewed zucchini or eggplant are also common on the holiday table.

Pies with with different fillings: with meat, potatoes, cabbage, cottage cheese or jam.

Of the traditional Russian Jewish dishes, it is worth adding to this list tzimmes (a dish of prunes and carrots) and stuffed fish, without which not a single holiday table is complete.

Carnival on Purim

This is one of the most interesting parts of the holiday, which has only been a tradition for the last couple of centuries. In the old tradition, a small theatrical production of several actors was enough. However, over time, the script for Purim became more complex, more voluminous and lengthy productions were created with big amount actors.

Now an integral part of the holiday are large Jewish performances dedicated to the dramatic history of the holiday. In addition, each community creates theatrical performances. However, the theatrical performance is only part of the feast.

Full-fledged carnival processions can be called the freshest stream of the holiday, which is gaining more and more high speed. First of all, this tradition took root in Israel, where Purim acquired a truly grand scale. But communities in other countries are not far behind, where carnivals and processions are also beginning to gain popularity.

Purim in Israel

Purim is a holiday in Israel, comparable in scope only to the Russian New Year. The brightness of this celebration is associated with the beginning of spring. Every city hosts carnivals and colorful processions. There are a huge number of theatrical concert venues throughout the country. People take to the streets, congratulate each other on Purim, saying the phrase “Chag Purim Sameach” (happy Purim holiday) to everyone they know and just meet along the way.

The holiday of Purim is widely celebrated in Israel; its history, in fact, began anew. In all countries of the world during the dispersion of the Jewish people, this important day was celebrated semi-underground. Now it has spilled onto the streets of the country and has become one of the brightest holidays. Visiting Israel on this day means getting a lot more positive emotions than could be expected.

It is worth visiting this country just to see the Purim holiday with your own eyes. What is this? And why does everyone, young and old, love him so much?

The most joyful holiday

How is Purim celebrated? How would you celebrate it if you survived the threat of death and were saved from it at the last moment? This day would probably be remembered as one of the most important in life. But for some reason this holiday seems strange and incomprehensible to many.

But in fact, every person needs at least one day a year when he could forget about all his problems and troubles in life and rejoice just in the fact that he is alive. This is the whole philosophy and meaning of this slightly crazy and very happy holiday. At least, this is the conclusion that a person from another country who finds himself at this festival can draw.

Purim is such a bright and positive holiday that it begins to seep into other cultures; more and more often, representatives of other nationalities mark it in red on their calendar and send it with Purim.

Is that all dates are set depending on the Torah, in addition the calendar is based on certain calculations, which also meet the requirements of the Torah. Thus, the beginning of each month coincides with the new moon, and its duration is 29-30 days.

Jewish New Year 2016

An interesting fact is that Israel has not one, but 4 New Years, and it is worth noting that none of them are celebrated on the first of January. This is due to the fact that even before the dispersion of the Jewish people, there were 4 annual cycles that depended on certain dates, hence 4 New Years - 1 Nisan, 1 Elul, 15 Shevat (Tu Bishvat) and 1 Tishrei Rosh Hashanah.

1 Nissan in 2016 is celebrated on April 9- begins in the spring and is intended to count the reign of all the Kings in Israel. In fact, Nissan is a month in Israel. Another feature of Israel is that even if the King began his reign a month before Nissan, then the second year of his reign began already on the first day. This New Year they do not particularly celebrate the holiday, but prepare for the very important date in the Jewish calendar - the 14th of Nisan is the holiday of Passover, that is, Easter.

1 Elul in 2016 falls on September 4- usually celebrated in summer in August or autumn in September. Elul is also the name of the month. This New Year dedicated to one of the most important customs of Israel - the separation of a tenth of the livestock that was born during the current year. It is worth noting that livestock that was born last year was prohibited from being included in the tithe, and the animals must be “clean” (“clean” animals include oxen, sheep, goats, deer, chamois, buffalo, fallow deer, bison, antelope , Mountain sheep).

Tu Bishvat in 2016 is celebrated on January 25- This new year is celebrated in the month of Shevat on the 15th. The Bible says that it is necessary to separate a tenth of the fruit from the harvest and donate it to the priests, Levites, the poor and the needy. According to tradition in Israel, this New Year it is customary for the whole family to plant at least one tree. And on the table on Tu Bishvat there must be at least seven types of fruits.

Rosh Hashanah 2016 begins on October 2 and ends on October 4- 1 Tishrei is celebrated and is considered the main one among the 4 New Years. It is intended for calculating years, and is also considered the day of the creation of the world. According to Jews, this is the day when the Lord decides the fate of people. Jews believe that God is good and merciful, so he will show mercy and compassion. Like us, it is customary to give gifts, arrange festive dinner and wish you a Happy New Year. If Rosh Hashanah does not fall on Saturday, then the shofar is blown on this holiday as a symbol of the fact that the Lord reigns over the entire Earth.

Jewish Passover (Passover) in 2016

This is one of the most important holidays in Israel. They celebrate seven days from Nisan 15 to Nisan 21. This is the period when Moses led the people out of Egyptian slavery. The holiday begins on the 14th of Nisan in the evening, when the whole family gathers for festive table. On this evening, it is customary to read the Haggadah - the story of how Moses led Israel out of Egypt. It starts the next day holiday week, when it is customary to pray, meditate on God and free oneself from routine work. Enterprises generally do not work all seven days, and for the rest the working day lasts only until noon.

Yom Kippur in 2016

Celebrated on the tenth day of the month of Tishrei and is a symbol of Judgment Day. On this holiday, according to the Torah, it is necessary to analyze and reason about your actions throughout the year. Even on the eve of Yom Kippur, Jews arrange a rich family meal, after which it begins strict fast until the very end doomsday. Everyone tries to visit the synagogue. As on many holidays, work is prohibited on Yom Kippur, so all businesses and institutions are closed, and the city streets are often empty. The holiday ends with each Jew saying a final prayer at sunset.

Purim in 2016

Purim is celebrated on the 14th of Adar and is dedicated to the salvation of the Jewish people from oppression in the Persian kingdom. Purim is translated as lot, and it was through the lot that the advisor of Ahasuerus (king of Persia) determined the day on which it was necessary to exterminate all the Jews. However, fortunately, the king’s wife just happened to be a Jewish woman (Esther), who subsequently persuaded the king to change his decision regarding the people of Israel. On this day, it is customary for Jews to show performances that tell the story of Esther’s feat, and on the streets they sell gomentashi - triangles with jam inside, a rich feast is also arranged and everyone exchanges various treats.

Sukkot in 2016

Sukkot is also called the Feast of Tabernacles and begins on the 15th of the month of Tishrei. It lasts all week and is a reminder of wandering through the Sinai desert. Initially, it was customary to live all week in so-called huts or, as they are also called, sukkahs. However, today this custom is not performed this way. During the holiday, as before, you can see huts in courtyards and on balconies, but few people spend the whole week there. Israelis often have festive family meals in these tents throughout the week. And before the holiday, in cities you can find special markets where they sell decorations for the sukkah, palm branches, devices for building a hut, and so on.

Shavuot in 2016

Shavuot is celebrated on the 6th of Sivan and is a reminder of the giving of the Ten Commandments by the Lord on Mount Sinai. The harvest also ripens for this holiday. That is why on Shavuot it is customary to decorate houses with fruits, green branches and flowers. Parents send their children to school and gardens wearing wreaths and with baskets full of various fruits. And in synagogues they read the Holy Scriptures and pray to God.

Israeli Independence Day in 2016

This can also be classified as the main holiday in the country and is celebrated on the Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday closest to the 5th of Iyar. On Israel's Independence Day, it is customary to organize noisy parades and processions, sometimes with military equipment. Holiday prayers are said in synagogues, and on the streets you can enjoy evening concerts with dancing, interesting performances and fireworks.

Hanukkah in 2016

Israel is a country that captivates with its mystical aura, riddles and secrets. It is believed that it was here that Tarot cards with Jewish symbols were invented, which fortune tellers use to predict the future even today. They became the ancestors of modern playing cards and give predictions much more accurately than simple playing deck. But let's return to Jewish culture. It has its own holidays, a special calculation of time, as well as dates that are also worth celebrating. Here are the Jewish holidays in 2016, the Jewish calendar for 2016.

Current year calendar

Its peculiarity is that all months do not follow the classical calendar, tied to individual numbers, but according to the lunar calendar. Thus, each month in the Jewish calendar begins with the new moon and ends on the last day of the lunar cycle, which lasts from 28 to 30 days. Every new month begins on the new moon and these dates are all different.

It is also interesting that the Jewish calendar has not 1, but 4 new years. It's connected with historical fact, in which there were 4 annual cycles with clear dates. Therefore, in 1 year in Israel they celebrated 4: the beginning of the month of Nisan, Elul, Shevat and Tishrei Rosh-o-Shana. In addition, each month corresponded, according to a different calculation, to one of the 12 signs of the Zodiac. However, this is a controversial opinion among experts. Here are the months in the Jewish calendar.

1. The beginning of Nissan is April 9. On this date, the reigns of all the kings of Israel begin to count. Even if the reign begins a few days before the beginning of this month of Nissan, it is considered that the ruler remains on the throne for 2 years. Passover is celebrated on the 14th day of Nisan, only according to the Jewish calendar. It is for this reason that it is not customary to celebrate the New Year and the beginning of Nissan. The main holiday in this quarter is Easter (according to the Jewish calendar, it comes a week earlier than the Orthodox calendar). It is believed that on this day Israel was freed from slavery. Therefore, those who celebrate this day have hope that someday they will be able to atone for their sins and get rid of all the troubles that today seem insoluble and complex.
2. Elul. The beginning of this month in 2016 falls on September 4th. This New Year is associated with the giving of tithes, as written in the law of the Torah. Animals that have appeared in your home during the year, as well as non-kosher species, are not used in the rituals of this day. Oxen, goats, sheep and many other animals are considered kosher. By giving tithes to God, Jews fulfill the law in which it is necessary to make sacrifices to the poor in order to preserve their own material well-being continue to succeed in life. But this applies to those who keep livestock and can keep animals. Everyone else donates a tenth of their income to charity on this day.

3. Tu Bi Shevat on January 25 is already in the New Year (the annual cycle in the Jewish calendar begins in September of each year and falls on different dates). This New Year, 10th part is donated plant food, fruits grown on summer cottages. Usually they are distributed to the poor, the Levites, and anyone in need. Since, unlike Russia and European countries, January in Israel is the beginning of summer according to climatic conditions, on this day it is customary to plant at least one tree (so that prosperity does not leave the house), and there should be at least 7 types of fruits and fruits of the earth on the table. Usually there are more of them during the holiday. Jews who do not live in Israel plant a lemon or ornamental orange tree in a pot on this day.
4. Rosh-o-Shana is one of the main Jewish holidays. It is usually celebrated depending on the lunar cycle and falls on different dates each year. Some consider it the main Jewish New Year. In 2016 it falls on October 2. It begins to be celebrated after sunset, like all Jewish holidays. Unless it falls on Saturday, it is customary for Jews to blow the shofar at this time as a sign that God reigns everywhere on Earth. On this day, it is also customary to treat each other with pomegranates, which symbolize the commandments of the Torah. It is believed that the number of berries symbolizes the commandments of the Torah. Also, this New Year it is customary to give each other gifts and make a beautiful table.
5. Jewish Passover. In 2016 it falls on April 22 and lasts until the 30th calendar month. At this time, it is customary to eat a special dish - matzah, made from unleavened dough. It was she who became the prototype of modern Christian Easter. It is believed that it was during these days that Moses was able to lead the Jews out of Egyptian slavery. It was this prophet who became the prototype of the Savior of the world in Judaism. The holiday begins to be celebrated after sunset on April 21. It is at this time that a new day begins on the Israeli calendar. At this time, all major institutions in Israel are closed, and the working hours of shops and medical institutions ends at noon. IN Easter week It is not customary to plan big things. It is considered favorable to use it in discussions about the universe, prayers and faith.

6. Purim. One of the main Jewish holidays, which is usually celebrated every year on the 14th of Adar. It is dedicated to an event related to the rescue of Jews from the Persian kingdom. The very name of the holiday is translated as lot, and it was he who determined the fate of the Jews in this kingdom. A day was set on which they were all to be executed. However, since the king himself had a Jewish wife, Esther, she persuaded her husband to cancel this decision and saved thousands of lives of innocent people. On this day, it is customary to remember her feat and hold various performances and holidays reminiscent of this event. At this time, on the streets of Israel you can buy gomentashi - special triangles of dough with aromatic fillings, jam, have a feast and exchange gifts.
7. Jon Kippur. It always falls on the 10th day of the month of Tishrei and is considered a reminder of the day of judgment. In 2016, it falls from October 11 to 12. They begin to celebrate it with a rich feast, after which a strict fast usually begins until the end of the next day. It is at this time that it is customary to go to the synagogue, remember your sins and try not to commit them again. This is a time of repentance and positive deeds, contrition for sins, so it is customary to celebrate the holiday alone after the feast is over.

8. Sukkot. This year it starts on October 16 and ends on October 23. This day in Israel is customary to remember the days when people wandered in the desert and lived in huts. Many people begin to spend a week there in Israel in order to honor the memory of their ancestors. The very name of the holiday means tents (sukkahs, as they are called in Hebrew)
9. Shavuot. This holiday in 2016 falls from June 10 to 13. It is believed that it was on these days that Moses gave the 10 commandments to the Jews. It is also customary to harvest on this day. It is for this reason that the people of Israel decorate their homes with flowers, beautiful fruits and the fruits of the earth. It is also customary to organize a noisy feast on this holiday.
10. Hanukkah. In 2016, it is customary to celebrate it from December 24 to January 1. He falls on new year holidays and is dedicated to ancient events. This is a day of fire and candles associated with miracles. The Jews ran out of oil for their lamps. There was only one container left, but it would have been enough for a day. And then God performed a miracle: the oil burned for 8 days. It is for this reason that these days it is customary to burn candles, give lamps as gifts, light fireplaces and spend time in the beauty of natural, not artificial, fire.

These are the main holidays that are usually celebrated in Israel. You can also add to them the national holiday of May 12, on which various performances are held throughout the country. On this day it is customary to visit synagogues and spend time with relatives and friends.

Shalom everyone... And we have holidays again))) It's no secret that almost all Jewish holidays are based on the fact that "they wanted to kill us, but we won, let's drink and eat."

And here we are on the threshold of the holiday of Purim... On March 22, 2016, the Fast of Esther begins and this good time to unite with Israel in fasting and prayer against their enemies, and to intercede that the Lord will grant victory over those who desire the destruction of His people.

On the evening of 23 2016, at the end of the post, celebrations begin... Israel will once again celebrate the victory of the Jewish people. This holiday is still relevant today; there will always be someone who will shout “death to the Jews.” I see in this holiday an act of faith, when, despite the circumstances, despite the pressure and intifada that we see in Israel today, Jews find confidence in God and in His protection.

Considering the situation, Israel has not abandoned the celebrations, the only thing is that the readiness of Israeli law enforcement agencies will be raised these days to the “Gimel” level (this is the third of four levels)... There will be many police officers in civilian clothes, so as not to overshadow the holiday with an abundance of military personnel and the police...Will increased level protection in crowded places. And if it is in your heart, then pray for the protection of people in Israel and beyond these days, against terrorist attacks.

So Purim, a holiday in memory of the miraculous salvation of Jews in the Persian kingdom more than 2400 years ago, during the reign of King Ahasuerus (Artaxerxes), who ruled the Persian Empire. This holiday got its name from the word “pur”, which means “lot”. This story is described in the book of Esther (Esther). And this holiday was established by Queen Esther and Mordecai, in memory of how God saved the Jewish people from extermination.

Esther 9:26 That is why these days were called Purim, from the name: pur. Therefore, in accordance with all the words of this letter and with what they themselves saw and what they had reached, 27 the Jews decreed and took it upon themselves and on their children and on all who joined them, irrevocably, to celebrate these two days, according to prescribed for them and at their proper time, every year; 28 And that these days may be remembered and celebrated throughout all generations, in every tribe, in every region, and in every city; and so that these days of Purim are not canceled among the Jews, and the memory of them does not disappear from their children. 29 Queen Esther the daughter of Abihail also wrote, and Mordecai the Judah, with all perseverance, that they should fulfill this new letter concerning Purim; 30 And they sent letters to all the Jews in the one hundred and twenty-seven regions of the kingdom of Ahasuerus with words of peace and righteousness, 31 so that they would firmly observe these days of Purim in their own time, as Mordecai the Jew and Queen Esther had appointed for them, and as they themselves had appointed them for themselves. and for his children on days of fasting and crying. 32 So the command of Esther confirmed this word about Purim, and it was written in the book.

These days, the book of Esther, which tells about this deliverance, is read in synagogues. The Israelis carefully preserve the memory of these events so that children remember how God saved their people. This holiday is an act of faith and thanksgiving to God for protection and salvation from destruction! Not just what happened, but for every year. After all, in every generation of the Jewish people there arises its own Haman, who seeks to destroy the Jews, but God always turns the enemy’s plans on his own head. In Jewish history there is a lot of evidence of how it was on the eve of the holiday of Purim that God delivered the Jews from trouble. Therefore, the entire Jewish people celebrates the new deliverance with faith.

The counters are littered carnival costumes, baked goods in the shape of “Haman’s ears” and a lot of sweets, as well as drinks. What a “sin to hide”. On this day (I would even say on the only day of the year), Jews are required to get so drunk that they cannot distinguish Haman from Mordechai. The spectacle is not for the faint of heart, but it is what it is.

I invite everyone to join the celebration of Purim, and not get drunk with wine, but be filled with the Holy Spirit and pray for the deliverance of Israel, and all of us, from enemies who want our spiritual death. The Lord has endowed His Body with authority and power. We are the letter that the King gave for the salvation of the Jews ( Esther 8:8-13). The letter issued to save the Jews is an image of the Gospel. We were all sentenced to death, but God performed a miracle and saved us. I believe that we are to spread these "good news letters" throughout the world, in "every region" and in every language, so that when people receive the news of deliverance they will be clothed with power and defeat the enemy. The Jews defeated their enemies and called a celebration. We, in turn, have victory in Christ Jesus, and this victory is our faith...

More details about this holiday on our website in the section

Pesach (from 15 to 21 Nisan) - Jewish Passover

Passover is the central Jewish holiday in memory of the Exodus from Egypt. . Starts on day 15 spring month Nissan In Israel Passover - seven day holiday, first and last days which are full-fledged holidays and non-working days. The intermediate days are called chol ha-mozd (“holiday weekdays”). Outside of Israel, the holiday lasts 8 days, of which the first two and the final two are full-fledged holidays.
Word Passover (Easter) means "passing by". The holiday received this name in memory of how the angel of death passed by the houses of the Jews, striking only the Egyptian firstborn. So that the angel could distinguish Jewish houses from Egyptian ones, each Jewish family was ordered to slaughter a lamb and anoint its doorposts with its blood. Only after the death of all the Egyptian firstborns did Pharaoh allow the Jews to leave Egypt. Passover is based on two of the most archaic agricultural holidays: the holiday of the new offspring of livestock, when a one-year-old lamb was sacrificed, and the holiday of the first harvest (barley harvest), when old bread was destroyed and new bread was baked from unleavened dough - matzo. Subsequently, these holidays were combined. The culmination of Passover is the evening meal, Seder (“order”), which takes place on the first and second nights of the holiday. During the seder, the story of the Exodus is read in a certain sequence (according to the book of Haggadah) and special symbolic dishes are eaten. The remaining days of Passover are reserved for various kinds holiday activities. As a rule, on these days they do not work or resolve business issues (although, in principle, this is not prohibited). They do not comply homework- washing, cleaning the house, etc. Cooking is naturally permitted. And the freed time is used for deeper study of the Torah. Spend more time with family. They go to visit. Traveling through the land of Israel. Those who do not live in Jerusalem try to visit this one-of-a-kind city.
Based on the instructions of the Torah, on the holiday of Passover, everyone had to make a pilgrimage to the Jerusalem Temple and there, on the second day of the holiday, sacrifice a lamb and a sheaf of barley. On the seventh day of Passover, Jews celebrate their final liberation. In the synagogue, during the Easter service, the Song of Songs is read, reflecting the agricultural origins of the holiday. This day ends the celebrations of Passover and is considered a non-working day. It is celebrated in a joyful atmosphere, with singing and dancing. At midnight in synagogues and religious educational institutions A ceremony of “dividing the sea waters” is held. And in families, as evening approaches, a division is made between the holiday and weekdays. They drink the last symbolic glass of wine and then say: Next year - in Jerusalem!