#megillah esther

[eretzyisrael]

The Washington Megillah (Megillat Esther, The Book of Esther), Scroll on Parchment, Illuminated, Italy eighteenth century Hebraic Section.

Depicted in the panels at the top and the bottom of this scroll are vignettes illustrating the story of Purim.

#Megillah Esther #Judaism #Purim #Jewish

[magnetothemagnificent]

This is your reminder that Vashti was an antisemite and not your feminist icon and that Esther was likely a child when she was kidnapped and brought to the palace and her marriage to the infamous antisemite Achashverosh is not a love story but a horror story.

#tired of people oversimplifying the megillah #purim #i know purim is months away but I'm still thinking about it #antisemitism #child marriage #judaism #megillat Esther #jumblr

[girlactionfigure]

Talmud Megillah Daf Yomi  תלמוד דף יומי מסכת מגילה

The Megillah of Esther (megillah means “scroll” in Hebrew) is one of the five megillahs that are included in the biblical canon. Esther is the only one to be commonly read from a handwritten parchment scroll. 

Esther is the heroine of the Purim story, in which the Jewish people who live in the sprawling Persian Empire are saved from Haman’s evil scheme to annihilate them. The dramatic saga was written down so that Jewish people could read about the amazing turn of events every year on the holiday of Purim, the anniversary of the Jews’ victory over their enemies. 

A Jewish orphan named Esther, who was raised by her cousin or uncle, Mordecai is taking to King Ahasuerus, ruler of the Persian Empire, and he decides to crown her the new queen, but does not reveal her Jewish heritage. Shortly afterwards, Mordecai discovers a plot by two courtiers, Bigthan and Teresh, to assassinate Ahasuerus. The conspirators are apprehended and hanged, and Mordecai's service to the King is recorded.

Ahasuerus appoints Haman as his viceroy. Mordecai, who sits at the palace gates, falls into Haman's disfavor, as he refuses to bow down to him. Haman discovers that Mordecai refuses to bow on account of his Jewishness, and in revenge plots to kill not just Mordecai, but all the Jews in the empire. He obtains Ahasuerus' permission to execute this plan, against payment of ten thousand talents of silver, and casts lots ("purim") to choose the date on which to do this – the thirteenth of the month of Adar. A royal decree is issued throughout the kingdom to slay all Jews on that date. 

When Mordecai discovers the plan, he goes into mourning and implores Esther to intercede with the King. But she is afraid to present herself to the King unsummoned, an offense punishable by death. Instead, she directs Mordecai to have all Jews fast for three days for her, and vows to fast as well. On the third day she goes to Ahasuerus, who stretches out his scepter to her to indicate that she is not to be punished. She invites him to a feast in the company of Haman. During the feast, she asks them to attend a further feast the next evening. She reveals that she is Jewish and that Haman is planning to exterminate her people, including herself. Overcome by rage, Ahasuerus leaves the room; meanwhile Haman stays behind and begs Esther for his life, falling upon her in desperation. The King returns in at this very moment and thinks Haman is assaulting the queen; this makes him angrier and he orders Haman hanged on the very gallows that Haman had prepared for Mordecai.

Unable to annul a formal royal decree, the King instead adds to it, permitting the Jews to join together and destroy any and all of those seeking to kill them. On 13 Adar, Haman's ten sons and 500 other men are killed in Shushan. Upon hearing of this Esther requests it be repeated the next day, whereupon 300 more men are killed. Over 75,000 people are slaughtered by the Jews, who are careful to take no plunder. Mordecai and Esther send letters throughout the provinces instituting an annual commemoration of the Jewish people's redemption, in a holiday called Purim (lots) (9:20–28). Ahasuerus remains very powerful and continues his reign, with Mordecai assuming a prominent position in his court.

#Purim #Megillah of Esther #Judaism #Youtube

[frumdyke]

fascinated by the art in illustrated megillos. why are you drawing haman with all the jewish caricatures.

#when haman is the only non white person in the whole megillah. real and true that is definitely what persia looked like huh #the one i was using tonight literally had a drawing of the jews (white) fighting against arabic stereotypes like what #i wanna study all the different esthers. what does this artist think a mindblowingly beautiful woman looks like

[anonymousdandelion]

#jumblr #jumblr poll #polls #poll #judaism #purim #megillah #megillat esther #dandelion polls

[istodayajewishholiday]

24 March 2024 - 14 Adar II 5784

Yes, today is Purim! The festival celebrating the survival of the Jewish people in Persia.

The entire story is recorded in the Book of Esther (Megillat Esther), wherein the Jews Esther and Mordechai defeated the evil Haman’s plot to kill all of the Jews in Persia.

In planning his plot, the Persian official Haman threw Purim (”Lots”) to choose the date, it came up as 13 Adar. However, Esther and Mordechai managed to convince the King not to allow Haman’s plan, and allowed the Jews to fight against their enemies. On the 13th of Adar that year the Jews defeated their enemies, and we celebrate on the next day.

In the walled city of Shushan, the fighting continues on the 14th, and they celebrated on 15 Adar. Because of this, cities which were walled at the time celebrate Purim a day later (this is called Shushan Purim). Observances of Purim include listening to a reading of the Megillah, baking triangle cookies called Hamentaschen (shaped after the hat Haman wore), partying, giving gifts to friends, giving tzedakah (charity), wearing costumes, and joyful partying.

Shushan Purim, Purim in walled cities, begins at sunset tonight.

#judaism #jumblr #purim

[tikkunolamresistance]

Anti-Zionism & Purim:

Purim is a wonderfully joyous, often colourful and very tasty, Jewish holiday celebrated every year on the 14th of the Hebrew month of Adar (which corresponds to late winter/early spring). A holiday where drinking is a mitzvah, some dress up as characters from the Book of Esther, we gift good food and most definitely argue about which hamantaschen filling is best. Purim is about Jewish joy, resistance and outliving those who wish for our destruction.

Purim starts the evening of Saturday 23rd March, and ends at sundown the following day, Sunday 24th.

What’s the Purim story?

It is a story of salvation, of Jewish survival and being against all odds. The story of Purim comes from the salvation of the Jewish from Haman’s plot “to destroy, kill and annihilate all the Jews, young and old, infants and women, in a single day”. Haman, or Haman the Agagite, was a royal vizier in the court of the Persian empire, to King Ahasuerus/Xerxes I (465 BCE) who was agrivated by Moredcai, of the tribe Benjamin, and his refusal to bow down to his demands— thus Haman seeked revenge on his rejection and convinces the King to issue a decree to kill all Jews in the Persian empire. However the genocidal plot would soon be thearted by Hadassah, or as we know her, Queen Esther.

Queen Esther was an incredible Jewish woman whom the King Ahasuerus (transliteration of Xerxes) had fallen in love with. The Queen revealed her Jewish identity and pleaded with the King to spare her people, to which then, the King was appalled by Haman’s treachery— ordering his execution and granting Jews permission to defeat their enemies.

This story is apart of the Five Melligot (Melligah meaning “scroll” in Hebrew), the Book of Esther.

How is Purim celebrated?

Celebrating Purim depends on minhagim (customs) amongst Jewish cultural and ethnic communities: Ashkenazim may celebrate differently from Sefardim, who celebrate different from Middle Eastern, North African, South Asian and Ethiopian Jewry!

However, these are some universal rituals:

• Listen to the Purim story, the Book of Esther, typically at a Synagogue.

• Eating good for Seudah, a meal had during the day of Purim. Including foods such as pomegranate and wine brisket, hamantaschen, boyosa, challah with various toppings, rugelach, onion and poppy seed rings, hojuelas, kreplach, pickled vegetables and so much more.

• Mishloach Manot, gifting food to friends and/or family.

• Tzedakah, charity, and Metanot L’evyonim, supporting those in need.

• Haka’at Haman: during Megillah reading, there is a custom to make noise at the reading of Haman’s name. From stomping your feet to booing, this minhag is associated with Jewry of France and Provence, though has roots in Talmudic sources. You can read more here.

• Drinking lots of wine!

If you have any specific cultural Purim traditions, leave a comment! Traditions vary from family, to minhag, to cultures!

So, what do we learn from the story of Queen Esther?

Where our Rabbis may dress as Queen Esther, and we get drunk because it’s might be your favourite mitzvah, where we stick to tradition and try a new hamantaschen filling, and hearing the megillah like it’s the first time, all over again. Purim is where we introspect through our celebration; the very expression of joy, against all odds, is where we seek our growth. We exercise our liberty, our bravery and boldness— like Esther, we do not hide our Jewishness, instead we decorate ourselves. We do not stand in the face of adversity and let it through, we crush it and celebrate our resilience. Purim is a reminder of pride, of resistance and using your voice for those who may have theirs silenced. Like Queen Esther, we must not allow genocide and violence, and certainly not in our name as a people who have faught against it through out history. In honour of Purim, we must use what power we have to call for Tikkun Olam— a better future, for all.

Purim is where live to see ourselves dance and sing, the complete expression of G!d— HaShem, the Divine, the Universe, our collective human spirit— we live to build a future of many more Purims, many more celebrations of collective resistance. We dance and sing, and dress up, and drink, as is written, so that there is no world without this freedom.

Families often get creative in teaching their children, and communities, the importance of Purim, by making decorative masks to communicate the importance of identity, or dressing up in fun costumes inspired by strong characters, wether from the Purim story or just fictional worlds. Art is an incredible and important way to communicate, so if you want to get creative and make your own mask, costume or simply create artwork inspired by the story of Purim— tapping into your creative liberty is a wonderful ritual to add to your own traditions.

You can also show your gratitude to people, such as friends, family, service workers, activists, with gifts and letters to celebrate them and their bravery, their selflessness. Do you have anybody you’re greatful for, who’s inspired you to be more selfless, to give back?

What can I reflect on for Purim?

Think about how you show your Jewish pride, how you express your Jewish joy. Do you want to be more loud, more unapologetic, more open? How can you show up for others in need, who are in need for their voices to be uplifted? How can you do your part in building a future that celebrates total liberation from what tries to destroy us? Purim is about celebration, about joy, so as you join in on the festivities however you celebrate, remember that this full expression of your Jewish self is an act of resistance against a history of Jew hatred, a history of antisemitism, and that our existence will outlive the powers that pretend to be on our side.

How can I incorporate Palestine into my Purim celebrations?

Following traditions of donating and tzedekah, you can donate funds to GoFundMes of Palestinian families seeking refuge outside of Gaza, to ensure these families can make it to safety and eat well. We’ll be reposting and sharing GoFundMes and other calls for aid all day on Purim, if you’re looking to do some tzedekah.

As millions of Palestinians in Gaza are imminently facing starvation, you could aim to organise protests and rallies with your communities to demand action to be taken for immediate food distribution into Gaza. Be vocal on Purim, we’ll try to update you with any anti-Zionist events that may be happening across the world.

If you live near a Mosque/Masjid or Islamic community centre, you coulf drop off some Halal-safe food packages for Ramadan celebrations; sweets, pre-packaged/cooked foods and pastries. Your local Islamic food stores can definitely offer more guidance, and be sure to look out for the Halal logo! But, importantly, it’s always good to contact the Mosque or Community centre beforehand to see what donations they’re accepting!

If you’re visiting Shul, now more than ever is your time to challenge the narrative. Why must we turn away blind eye to a genocide whilst we celebrate our survival? Why must we allow the pain we have felt, pass to another, in the name of our survival? If you feel it is safe to do so, it is so irrevocably important to challenge the Zionist narratives that use our history, our holidays, our peoplehood to inflict harm that we once felt. As Queen Esther did, we must speak, and we must not be afraid to do so.

Further Purim readings:

The History of Purim

Laws and Customs of Purim

History of Purim costumes

We’re wishing everyone a happy, safe, healthy and beautiful Purim— please share with us how you’ll be celebrating this year, and keep an eye out for tzedekah posts to donate to Palestinians in need!

#purim #anti zionist jews #anti zionist purim #purim 2024 #purim ideas #purim celebrations #what is purim #free palestine #purim for anti zionist jews #jewish holidays #info: purim

[thosefaroffconstellations]

Have people who are calling Vashti a feminist girlboss read the same Megillah as me cause last time I checked she was a vile antisemite who would deliberately go out of her way to be awful to Jewish women and girls and I mean AWFUL awful

If you really want a girlboss to look up to I’d suggest none other than the one who saved our people from LITERAL GENOCIDE, Queen Esther, you can’t get more girlboss than Esther

#jumblr #frumblr #jew stuff #judaism #orthodox jewish #purim #megillat esther

[mariacallous]

Every Jewish holiday has its rules, and the foods you should eat. And Purim is no different. We’re expected to listen to its story during the reading of the Megillah. We are obliged to remember those less fortunate by giving tzedakah, or charity. We are told to enjoy a celebratory feast. And, finally, we are commanded to share our joy by sending festive food packages to at least one other person.

Each of those packages should contain a minimum of two items, one of which is baked. It’s most traditional to find hamantaschen in these little packages, but there is no rule that it must be, which is good news for those eager to try something else.

Cookbook author and baker, Katja Goldman, prepares breads in the shape of a crown and stuffs them with foods that are both healthy and savory, referencing the crown worn by Queen Esther, the title character and heroine of the Purim story. Katja’s stuffing is a reminder of the foods that tradition tells us Esther allowed herself to eat while living in the palace with her Persian husband, King Ahasuerus. Esther was a Jew, but she kept her religion and true identity from her husband a secret. She kept the laws of kosher eating (kashrut) by eating a vegetarian diet, one rich in seeds and beans.

This savory bread recipe is a cross between a challah and a bialy, stuffed with onion and poppy seeds and topped with more beautiful poppy seeds. So if hamantaschen aren’t quite your thing, this stuffed challah might be a delicious, festive alternative.

[bobemajses]

Reading the Megillah (Scroll of Esther) in the lobby of a synagogue in Budapest, Hungary, 1981

#jewish #hungary

[leroibobo]

part of an illuminated megillah (scroll/book of esther) dating to the 19th century, featuring both the hebrew text of the original along with gujarati and marathi inscriptions. the artist was likely a member of the jewish community of mumbai, maharashtra who was commissioned by a wealthy baghdadi patron.

#india #items #jewish #mizrahi #my posts

[thebeautifulbook]

HA-MELEKH SCROLL (Ottoman Empire, c.1800)

‘This scroll opens with an elaborate depiction of the Signs of the Zodiac, a recurrent motif in decorated megillot. According to a midrash, when Haman plotted to destroy the Jewish nation, he consulted the zodiac to determine an auspicious time to carry out his scheme. He decided that the month of Adar, which corresponds with the sign of Pisces (fish), would be the best time because Haman would be able to devour and destroy the Jews just as big fish swallow small ones. God, however, was infuriated by Haman and thwarted his plans, stating “Fish sometimes swallow their prey, but they too can be swallowed” (Esther Rabbah 7:11).

In this image of the zodiacal wheel, which turns clockwise around the sun, the artist emphasized the role that Pisces/Adar played in the Purim story. He depicted the fish as larger in scale than the other signs, and placed them outside the circle, next to the signs that precede it, Capricorn and Aquarius. The decorative border above and below this panel ex- tends as continuous bands throughout the megillah, with similar designs framing the sides of each text column

This type of scroll is known as a ha-melekh scroll because most of the columns begin with the word ha-melekh (the king) as a result of a deliberate ar- rangement of the text. In the book of Esther, this appellation refers to King Ahasuerus. Rabbis suggest- ed, however, that emphasis be placed on the word ha-melekh as an allusion to God, the King of Kings, whose name is not mentioned explicitly in the scroll.’

source

#beautiful books #book blog #books books books #book cover #books #19th century #ottoman #book design #judaica #ha-melekh scroll

[ofpd]

chana i’m slightly tipsy so i will ask u a cancelable question is costume wearing a part of purim is it like halloween adjacnet

it is a part of purim there are actually 4 commandments for purim that all start w the letter m: megillah (reading the book of esther in the evening and during the next day), mishloach manot (giving gifts to your friends—also halloween adjacent as u get to collect candy from so many ppl), matanot le'evyonim (giving to the poor), and masechot (literally masks, but it means costumes more generally). so it is kinda halloween adjacent in those ways. idk how it's halloween adjacent thematically bc idk if halloween has coherent themes. purim isn't scary it's silly. but also purim is about everything so. maybe there's something to be said about them being about being someone you're definitely not but again idk if halloween has a coherent purpose to what the costuming represents

#hope u enjoy this info vee #vee tag #asks

[girlactionfigure]

🎭 PURIM late night - ISRAEL REALTIME - Connecting to Israel in Realtime

🎉 Happy Purim! May we merit miracles like Purim today, may the blessings of Purim bring our hostages home, our soldiers complete success, and the downfall of our enemies like Purim past.

A day to hear the Megillah Esther, to celebrate, but also to pray for our hostages, our soldiers, our survival!

🔅Following the terrible attack in Moscow carried out by ISIS - we call on the Russians to exercise restraint and act only according to international law.

🔸We call for an immediate ceasefire between the parties.

🔸Also, a free ISIS state must be established in Russia, meaning 2 countries for 2 peoples.

🔸We call on the Russians to ensure a regular supply of trucks with food, fuel, and medical equipment to ISIS members until the issue is resolved.

🔸The international community wishes no harm to befall non-involved ISIS civilians.

(( We note supposed videos showing Russian soldiers capturing terror suspects and publicly torturing and dismembering them, and WE DEMAND the UN Human Rights Council immediately intervene, and the Russia be immediately taken before the International Court of Justice to get a ruling that such actions are illegal and must be stopped - with Russia to report weekly on measures to prevent public torture and dismemberment. ))

▪️HAMAS ANNOUNCES MURDER OF A HOSTAGE.. Yagev Buchshtab, 34. May G-d avenge his blood! There is no confirmation or body.

▪️CEASEFIRE LEAKS.. Interesting change, we now hear Hamas complaining that Israel’s position is too negative.

.. Al Jazeera from a Hamas official on the negotiations for the deal: Israel's position that was conveyed to us through the Egyptian and Qatari mediators was extremely negative and aimed at creating difficulties for the negotiations.

.. A senior Hamas official told the French news agency about the talks in Qatar: The differences in positions between the parties in the negotiations are very large. Israel is trying to blow up the negotiations.

▪️ATTEMPTED TERROR - SAMARIA.. Saraya al-Quds (Islamic Jihad) Tulkarm Battalion publishes documentation and takes responsibility for a shooting attack yesterday evening towards the town of Einab in Samaria. In the documentation, two terrorists are seen shooting at the settlement.

.. The Az ad-Din Al-Ksam battalions of the Jenin battalion take responsibility for the shooting attack this evening at 18:00 at the Salam checkpoint near Jenin.

▪️EARTHQUAKE! (Mild) .. At 8:40 PM, a mild earthquake impacted northern Israel and was felt into the Sharon region.

#Israel #October 7 #Hamas Massacre #Gaza #Israel/HamasWar #Real Time Updates

[bijoumikhawal]

The Talmud pays lip service to prophetesses (and numbers among them biblical characters such as Sarah and Abigail who are not obviously prophetesses) but makes every effort to denigrate them and reduce their power. According to the Talmud, there were seven prophetesses: Sarah, Miriam, Deborah, Hannah, Abigail, Huldah, and Esther. The Talmud makes sure to mention that Miriam's only prophecy is that her brother Moses will be born and redeem the people. Particularly harsh words are reserved for Huldah and Deborah:

Rabbi Nachman said: Haughtiness does not become women. There were two arrogant women, and their names are hateful: one is called hornet [Deborah, bee] and the other weasel [Huldah, weasel].

-- Babylonian Talmud, Megillah 14b

The Talmud also indicates that Huldah was consulted about the scroll in the Temple only because her cousin Jeremiah was out of town. The Talmud is uncomfortable with prophecy in general because spontaneous prophecy overturns the rabbis' ideas about law and interpretation. Women prophets are particularly troublesome, and so they become targets for particularly sharp barbs and criticism.

However, the Talmud does acknowledge one "female prophet"- a divine one. The sages of the Talmud (200-600 CE) believed that the age of prophecy had come to an end. Nevertheless, sometimes it was possible to hear a bat kol- literally, the daughter of a divine voice. This daughter-voice was an echo of the divine word, declaring God's wishes in times of uncertainty. The sages believed the bat kol was the last remnant of the prophetic gift.

Pg 66-67, The Hebrew Priestess

#cipher talk #Kohenet Judaism

[jewishicequeen]

Oh wait wait wait

You know who I headcanon as Jewish and would go all out on Purim???

G3 Frankie Stein.

It's their first purim, and they have to do EVERYTHING.

They must have the most perfect costume. They have to saw it themself of course, and build a huge frame, and it should be big and colorful and have a mask!! Of course it must have a mask. But wait!!

During purim, they need to give mishlochei manot!! Oh, they love baking! They'll make each of their friends a mishloach made just for them, with their favorite food! Let's see, chocolate for Draculara, sweet pastries for Cleo, and for Clawdeen they could search how to make- oh no!!

On Purim, you must hear the megillah! Does Monster High have a reading planned? Frankie better make sure there's a minyan picking up, and oh!! They have the vocal cords from a Chazan, they could read it themself! How hard can learning the te'amim for 10 chapters be? And of COURSE they can do a later reading too. Different monsters have different sleeping needs and habits, it's a given that there would be a few readings! Yes, Frankie would start training right now-

There's a Purimshpiel being planned??? Frankie always DREAMED to take part in a Purimshpiel!! They have to audition! Who would they like to play? How do you choose, how do you choose...

Oh no, they haven't finished their costume and purim's coming up! They'll have to saw into the morning again- bolts! Their reading isn't ready, they need to practice it some more! What time is it- it's already Ta'anit Esther? But they haven't started working on the food yet...

Oh no, oh no, did they mess up?? They need to have a perfect purim, they must! It's their first one...

Cue their friends coming in. They felt like something was going on all week but Frankie wouldn't tell them anything, what's wrong?

What does Frankie need?

They need a costume? Cleo's on it. Don't worry babe, her scarabs can saw at the speed of light, and she already knows Frankie's measurements!

Mishlochei manot? Draculara and Clawdeen don't need Frankie to make one specifically for each of them, they want to get a mishloach manot from Frankie, one that'll show who Frankie is! Let's make a list of things, we can get most of it from the creepiteria.

Also, Frankie, you do realize there's a communal megillah reading every year, right? We tried to get you on the list to read one of the chapters but you were so busy we couldn't get a hold on you! What chapter do you like the most?

And as for the Purimshpiel... how do you feel about the role of Charvona? It's not too big, but the lines are easy to learn and it's one of the most vital, after all.

#fuck. i wanna write a fic now #hsiyidiyddo why do i ALWAYS think of the holiday fics after the holidays are done #judaism #purim #frankie stein #monster high #monster high g3 #frankie stein g3 #i put clankie there cause how could i not #jewish headcanons