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The Purim feast is celebrated every year on the 14th day of the Hebrew month of Adar. The Purim of this year begins on the night of March 20 and continues through the next day. The feast ends with the sunset on March 21.
The story of the Purim is recorded in the Biblical Book of Esther (Megillat Ester in Hebrew). According to the story recounted in the book, the feast commemorates the salvation of the Jewish people from Persian King Achashverosh's vizier Haman, who was planning to kill all the Jews.
The Turkish-Jewish Community account run by the Turkish Rabbinate Foundation has also shared a message on Twitter for the Purim feast:
İbrani takvimine göre, her yıl Adar ayının 14’ünde kutlanan Purim Bayramı, Yahudilerin en neşeli ve en eğlenceli bayramlarından biridir. Bayramda, Purim olaylarının anlatıldığı, deri parşömen üzerine yazılmış “Megilat Ester” isimli kitap okunur. Purim Sameah pic.twitter.com/9Wc02msaCX
— Türk Yahudi Toplumu (@tyahuditoplumu) 20 Mart 2019
In the message of the Foundation, it has been stated, "The Purim Feast celebrated every year on the 14th day of Adar according to the Hebrew calendar is one of the the most cheerful and enjoyable feasts of the Jews. During the feast, the book 'Megilat Ester', where the incidents of Purim are recounted and which was inscripted on parchment, is read. Purim Sameah."
Gratitude felt, costumes and masks worn
When Purim is celebrated, the book of Esther (keriat ha-megillah) is publicly read, prayers of gratitude are recited after meals, gifts of food and beverages (mishloach manot) are exchanged, donations are made to the needy (mattanor la-evyonim) and a banquet of feast is thrown (seudat Purim). During Purim, wine is also drunk, costumes and masks are worn.
According to the Book of Esther, the plot of Persian King Achashverosh's vizier Haman was uncovered by Mordehay and Queen Esther and, since then, this day has been celebrated with feasts. (PT/SD)
