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Purim

Home Living Humanistic Judaism Celebrate Holidays Purim

Like most Jewish holidays, Purim began as a nature holiday, a welcoming of spring and its triumph over winter.  It came to commemorate the saving of the Jewish people in the Fourth Century BCE from the Persian king’s vizier, Haman, who plotted to kill them.

Many scholars believe that the story of Purim originated in Babylonia and represented a battle between their gods, which may be one reason why the Book of Esther is the only book in the Bible that does not mention God. Traditionally, the Book of Esther was written on a scroll called a megillah. The story celebrates the intervention of Esther and her uncle Mordecai in the court of King Ahasuerus to save the Jews from extermination.

For Humanistic Jews, Purim is a celebration of the heroic in Jewish history and a tribute to ethical role models. Like in most Jewish communities, Humanistic Jews celebrate the heroes and chastise the villains of the world through modern Purim plays (shpiels). Reading the megillah is accompanied by noise makers (gragers) to drown out the evil name of Haman. Costume parades are often held.

The symbolic food of Purim is hamantaschen, a three-cornered cookie supposedly reminiscent of Haman’s hat. The holiday also includes a community service component; the custom of giving gifts to the poor (shalakh manot) translates in some communities to preparing food for a soup kitchen or shelter. Light-hearted activities are paired with the  serious notions of recalling the heroism of individuals and the organized resistance to the oppression of the Jewish people; the power of people working together.

Click here to see a sample Purim Adult & Youth Service [Member Access Only].

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Latest on Purim
2.21.2025
The Purim Shpiel

Rabbi Eva Goldfinger reflects on the origins and the expression of the Purim Spiel (or Play). The Purim Play was a way to mock both church (in Christian tradit

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3.13.2024
The Shushan Files – A Purim mockumentary spiel for all ages!

This fun “mockumentary” style Purim spiel will be a great addition to your holiday entertainment! Produced by Rabbi Jeffrey L. Falick for the Congre

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9.6.2023
Symbolic Holiday Foods: Humanistic Judaism Journal

Only SHJ members and/or magazine subscribers have access to this content. Please log in or, if you haven't joined our movement, click here to access our members

Read more

Read all Purim entries

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Humanistic Judaism Makes Life Better

Thankfulness and mindfulness without dogma. Faith in our fellow people. Modern meaning in ancient traditions. Using only the words that match our beliefs. Humanistic values of equality, honesty, and integrity. Good food. Jewish humor. Links to a fascinating history and peoplehood. Support from like-minded sojourners. Powerful lifecycle events. Rituals to keep us grounded. Rich cultural heritage. Fun holidays. Connection to the natural universe. Ethical values in action. Bringing light through learning and laughter. AND… celebrating our full diversity, including Jewish, Jew-ish, not yet Jewish, never gonna be Jewish; atheist, agnostic, secular, humanist, freethinker, spiritual-not-religious; in-married, intermarried, interculturally married, single, divorced, nontraditional, polyamorous; multiracial, people of color, all heritages and backgrounds; people with and without disabilities and neurodiversity; lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, heterosexual, nonconforming; and all who come in kindness and sincerity!

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