The Adventures of Corey and Sarah

The Festival of Purim

Esther 9:22 - 28
He told them to celebrate these days with feasting and gladness and by giving gifts of food to each other and presents to the poor. This would commemorate a time when the Jews gained relief from their enemies, when their sorrow was turned into gladness and their mourning into joy.
So the Jews accepted Mordecai’s proposal and adopted this annual custom. Haman son of Hammedatha the Agagite, the enemy of the Jews, had plotted to crush and destroy them on the date determined by casting lots (the lots were called purim). But when Esther came before the king, he issued a decree causing Haman’s evil plot to backfire, and Haman and his sons were impaled on a sharpened pole. That is why this celebration is called Purim, because it is the ancient word for casting lots.
So because of Mordecai’s letter and because of what they had experienced, the Jews throughout the realm agreed to inaugurate this tradition and to pass it on to their descendants and to all who became Jews. They declared they would never fail to celebrate these two prescribed days at the appointed time each year. These days would be remembered and kept from generation to generation and celebrated by every family throughout the provinces and cities of the empire. This Festival of Purim would never cease to be celebrated among the Jews, nor would the memory of what happened ever die out among their descendants.

We are blessed to be here in Israel for 2 of the best Jewish Festivals, Purim and Pessach (Passover/Easter).
This weekend is Purim, there's lots of fun for the kids - dressing up, face painting, games - and fun for the adults - lots of food and drinking. Tonight there is a party with a Wild West theme. Also, people give gifts at Purim time too. This evening the story of Esther is read aloud, we will go to that too.

It's amaizing to be here celebrating a very ancient Biblical Festival. It's fun.

Labels: Israel, Kibbutz Yahel, Purim

posted by Corey and Sarah @ 2:07 am