Purim Food

Purim Foods

Jews around the world enjoy a variety of foods on Purim.

Purim 101

Purim is a joyous holiday that celebrates the saving of the Jews from a threatened massacre in ancient Persia.

Purim in the Community

The megillah reading, mishloach manot and more

The Book of Esther

There are many unique aspects to the biblical book that tells the Purim story.


PURIM is COMING

The annual holiday of revelry begins at sundown on March 23

Reading the Megillah

The Scroll of Esther, which tells the Purim story, is chanted in synagogue twice on Purim.

9 Things You Didn’t Know About Purim

From Esther’s vegetarianism to the Jewish leap year, things that might surprise you.

How To Make Your Own Gragger

Instructions for constructing a Purim noisemaker

The Fast of Esther

The fast that precedes the holiday of Purim.

The Purim Meal (Seudah)

Eat, drink, and be merry is not without controversy.

Vashti: The Forgotten Queen of Persia

The rabbis imagined the Bible’s Vashti as both evil villain and tragic heroine.

Next Torah Portion

Summary

In this Torah portion, God describes the laws of animal sacrifice. God explains the different sacrifices that atone for guilt or sins, and distinguishes between sins committed inadvertently and sins committed on purpose.

FULL SUMMARY
HAFTARAH SUMMARY

Parashat Vayikra

Leviticus 1:1-5:26; Deuteronomy 25:17-19

Shabbat Zachor: I Samuel 15:1-34

Parashat Vayikra: I Give, Therefore I Love

This Torah portion teaches that it’s better to give than receive.


Deepen your Jewish Spiritual Practice

How to Talk to God

The Hasidic prayer practice of hitbodedut — talking to God freely in one’s native tongue — helps to build intimacy over time.

How Hasidic Wisdom Can Elevate Mealtime

Hasidic philosophy on how to eat “for the sake of heaven.”

How to Experience Shabbat as Redemption

The sea of Sabbath rules and restrictions can be overwhelming. Here’s how to experience them as joy and freedom.


recharge now

Our weekly Shabbat newsletter, Recharge, features a thoughtful, timely essay to enrich your Shabbat. Here are a few of our recent pieces:

Celebrating Spring

Jewish tradition is replete with legends both uplifting and ominous about the vernal equinox.

What’s Truly Precious

The Israelite women who contributed to the tabernacle recognized the deeper gift God had given in the lengthy, exacting instructions for its construction.

War and Remembrance

The Torah commands us to remember the evil of Amalek — but also to forget.


MORE from MY JEWISH LEARNING

Who Was Asenath Barazani?

Asenath Barazani (also spelled Asnat or Osnat) led a yeshiva in 17th century Kurdistan.

Natan Sharansky

A former Soviet dissident, Sharansky spent nine years in prison and became the face of the movement to free Jews living under communism.

English Words of Hebrew Origin

From cabal to camel, a list of English words that derive from Hebrew.

How to Find a Jewish Grave

Tips for locating your family’s burial sites.

Regina Jonas

How one of the first female rabbis was almost forgotten.

Dreams in Jewish Tradition

Dreaming was a major source of prophetic insight in the Torah, but Jewish texts also betray a certain anxiety about dreaming.