The PurimLit. "Lots." A carnival holiday celebrated on the 14th of the Jewish month of Adar, commemorating the Jewish victory over the Persians as told in the Book of Esther. Purim is celebrated by reading the megilla (Book of Esther), exchanging gifts, giving money to the poor, and holding a festive meal. At the megilla reading, merrymakers are dressed in costumes, people drink, and noisemakers (graggers) are sounded whenever the villain Haman's name is mentioned. story, as told in the Biblical Scroll of EstherHeroine of the Purim story and Megillat (the scroll of) Esther. She is married to the king by her cousin Mordecai and ultimately saves her people from execution., is about a Persian Jewish beauty queen who conceals her identity from King Ahashueros and thwarts a plan for Jewish genocide. With her uncle Mordecai’s help, EstherHeroine of the Purim story and Megillat (the scroll of) Esther. She is married to the king by her cousin Mordecai and ultimately saves her people from execution. defeats the intentions of the villainous Haman. Before embarking on her dangerous strategy of approaching the king, however, EstherHeroine of the Purim story and Megillat (the scroll of) Esther. She is married to the king by her cousin Mordecai and ultimately saves her people from execution. asks the community to pray and fast for three days. Ta’anit EstherHeroine of the Purim story and Megillat (the scroll of) Esther. She is married to the king by her cousin Mordecai and ultimately saves her people from execution., the fast of EstherHeroine of the Purim story and Megillat (the scroll of) Esther. She is married to the king by her cousin Mordecai and ultimately saves her people from execution., is commemorated before PurimLit. "Lots." A carnival holiday celebrated on the 14th of the Jewish month of Adar, commemorating the Jewish victory over the Persians as told in the Book of Esther. Purim is celebrated by reading the megilla (Book of Esther), exchanging gifts, giving money to the poor, and holding a festive meal. At the megilla reading, merrymakers are dressed in costumes, people drink, and noisemakers (graggers) are sounded whenever the villain Haman's name is mentioned. and honors Esther’s bravery and communal leadership.
More than a Beauty Queen
EstherHeroine of the Purim story and Megillat (the scroll of) Esther. She is married to the king by her cousin Mordecai and ultimately saves her people from execution. is both obedient and proactive. An outsider on the inside, she is clever and pious, asserts authority, and speaks truth to power. Although her beautiful features won the heart of the Persian king, Esther’s story is hardly a fairy tale. Taken away from her homeland, she joins thousands of other women to become part of the king’s harem. In this Biblical fantasy, all’s well that ends well. But the threat of genocide hangs over the romance. EstherHeroine of the Purim story and Megillat (the scroll of) Esther. She is married to the king by her cousin Mordecai and ultimately saves her people from execution. must conceal being Jewish to win the beauty contest. Women are represented as objects of desire. EstherHeroine of the Purim story and Megillat (the scroll of) Esther. She is married to the king by her cousin Mordecai and ultimately saves her people from execution. uses her brains—she makes a plan. As she identifies the threat against her people, she takes action and finds her own voice.
In our modern-day reality in which rape is a weapon of war and women are trafficked away from their countries of origin, we see Esther’s story in a different light. We therefore call attention to the realities of kidnapping and sexual exploitation and dedicate Ta’anit EstherHeroine of the Purim story and Megillat (the scroll of) Esther. She is married to the king by her cousin Mordecai and ultimately saves her people from execution. to recognizing those who are silenced.
Why the Jewish Day for Justice?
As Jews, it is our responsibility to make Judaism meaningful in our own time. By observing Ta’anit EstherHeroine of the Purim story and Megillat (the scroll of) Esther. She is married to the king by her cousin Mordecai and ultimately saves her people from execution., we reclaim a time-honored solemn occasion that has always preceded the revelry of PurimLit. "Lots." A carnival holiday celebrated on the 14th of the Jewish month of Adar, commemorating the Jewish victory over the Persians as told in the Book of Esther. Purim is celebrated by reading the megilla (Book of Esther), exchanging gifts, giving money to the poor, and holding a festive meal. At the megilla reading, merrymakers are dressed in costumes, people drink, and noisemakers (graggers) are sounded whenever the villain Haman's name is mentioned. but has been neglected in the progressive Jewish community.
In many religious traditions, carnival and contrition are partners, and the PurimLit. "Lots." A carnival holiday celebrated on the 14th of the Jewish month of Adar, commemorating the Jewish victory over the Persians as told in the Book of Esther. Purim is celebrated by reading the megilla (Book of Esther), exchanging gifts, giving money to the poor, and holding a festive meal. At the megilla reading, merrymakers are dressed in costumes, people drink, and noisemakers (graggers) are sounded whenever the villain Haman's name is mentioned. story is about both danger and escape. We aim to restore the rhythm of reflection before revelry so that we may fully understand why we celebrate. Before we can turn the world upside down with masquerade, we look beneath the façade. We ask the questions: Who are we? And what is our responsibility?
On Ta’anit EstherHeroine of the Purim story and Megillat (the scroll of) Esther. She is married to the king by her cousin Mordecai and ultimately saves her people from execution., we devote ourselves to addressing the issues of our own time. We use this story to be mindful of what we must do and empower ourselves to make change in the world.
Today’s EstherHeroine of the Purim story and Megillat (the scroll of) Esther. She is married to the king by her cousin Mordecai and ultimately saves her people from execution.
We celebrate the Esthers of today: women who speak out because they know it is the right thing to do; who identify suffering and bring it to the public eye; who commit to awareness and education. We honor those who take risks and put themselves on the line.
The Jewish Day for Justice honors the “Esthers” of our time and calls us to action to work for social change.
We proudly reconstruct Ta’anit EstherHeroine of the Purim story and Megillat (the scroll of) Esther. She is married to the king by her cousin Mordecai and ultimately saves her people from execution. as the Jewish Day for Justice and invite you to take part in this very special experience.
