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Home > Resources > A Guide to Jewish Holidays > Purim

Purim

Purim

At the most basic level, Purim is a raucous celebration of the story of Esther. In the biblical book of Esther, the Jews of ancient Persia faced certain annihilation, but they not only survived, but turned the tables on their oppressors. More information on Purim can be found here.

On the lived level, Purim is a raucous holiday filled with groggers, skits, costumes, hamentashen, alcohol and more. It’s a day when everything is reversed and we fully acknowledge and even celebrate the sheer absurdity of existence. 

  • Shalach Manot: One of the central and loveliest customs of Purim is sending Shlach Manot - gifts to friends and neighbors to celebrate the liberation of Purim.  Our Purim Bag Committee will be putting together and delivering Purim bags filled with tasty treats and goodies; Hamantaschen, chocolate, snacks as well as other items to help BHA Members celebrate Purim. 
  • Matanot L'Evyonim: So that nobody is left out of the celebrations, it is a mitzvah to give gifts of food to the poor in our community. It is considered particularly meritorious to give these gifts directly to those in need, but if you would like, worthy places to contribute are the BHA Discretionary Fund, the Hudson Valley Food Bank or American Jewish World Service.   We also will be donating 10% of our Annual Purim Fundraiser to local food pantries.

Finally, on the philosophical level, Purim raises complicated questions about fate, power, gender and more. The book does not directly refer to the Holy One, but the rabbinic tradition understands the Divine presence to be hidden in the book. Ultimately, it is the book's giving of hope to an oppressed and scattered people that they will prevail, no matter how desperate their circumstances, that has made the Book of Esther so beloved in the Jewish community.

Purim comes at the end (we hope!) of winter, pointing the way to spring and Passover. But while that story is a celebration of the Holy One leading the Jews from exile to their own land, Purim reflects the situation of a minority people surviving in a world of moral uncertainty by their own wits.

 

by Rabbi Brent Spodek, Rabbi Emeritus, BHA

Connecting with your community is more important now than ever, and what better way to do that than by sending your fellow BHA community members a greeting.

All BHA Members, Preschool families, Masa families and staff will receive a Purim greeting letter and bag, filled with celebratory Purim props, tasty treats, and heimish goods that tell the story of Purim. 

Here's where you come in: You can contribute by placing an order and adding your name to the greeting letters we send to friends, fellow students, teachers, clergy, or the whole community!

ORDER PURIM GREETINGS

In fulfilling the mitzvah of feeding the hungry on Purim, we will be donating a portion of what we raise to our local organizations in need.

Our goal this year is to raise $9000!

Purim greetings will be in your Purim bag and emailed on Purim, March 3. Please remember, when you receive your Purim Greetings, you will not see your family's name listed. The Purim Greeting campaign software is designed to list everyone sending you Purim Greetings, but excludes you from your own list.  Please be assured your family's names were listed on everyone else's greetings.

The deadline for ordering greetings is Wednesday, February 18.

Sat, March 7 2026 18 Adar 5786