JACKSON, Wyo. — Purim, the Jewish holiday celebrating the salvation of the Jewish people in the ancient Persian empire, begins March 6 at sundown until March 7 at sundown.
Purim, pronounced POO-REEM or PUH-RIM, celebrates the day after Prime Minister Haman of the Persian Empire convinced the king to issue a decree to kill all Jewish people and was ultimately overthrown by the secretly Jewish queen Esther and Mordechai, the leader of the Jewish people.
Purim is similar to Halloween in that people may dress in costume to commemorate Esther hiding her Jewish identity from the Persian king. Instead of candy, hamantaschen are a traditional Jewish cookie eaten during the holiday with three sides that represent the hat of the evil Haman. Many people fast the day before the holiday starts as a reminder of the fasting and praying that Esther, Mordechai and the Jewish people did before Esther revealed her identity to her king husband and compelled him to execute Haman.
This past Friday, March 3, the Jackson Hole Jewish Community (JHJC) hosted a joint Purim and First Friday shabbat service for families and children to come together and celebrate.
On Tuesday, March 7, at 5:30 p.m. the Chabad Jewish Center of WY will host a family friendly Purim Sushi Bash and costume party in Jackson Hole at the Chabad Jewish Center. RSVP here.
