BY TRAVELUJAH— Purim commemorates the events described in the Book of Esther. In Esther 3:8, the anti-Semitic Haman, Grand Vizier of the Persian Empire, tells Persian King Ahasuerus that, “There is a certain people scattered abroad and dispersed among all the peoples… in your kingdom. Their laws are different from those of every people, neither…
BY RON JAGER— In a article published last week on a Yeshiva University affiliated website called “The Beacon”, entitled “Why its time for Jews to Get Over the Holocaust”, it was suggested that now is the time that Jews move on and stop making the Holocaust the most pivotal event in Jewish history. The author…
BY KLEROS MINISTRIES— Esther 3:1 – “After these events, King Xerxes honored Haman son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, elevating him and giving him a seat of honor higher than that of all the other nobles.” Haman the Agagite was the main enemy of God’s people in the book of Esther. He was apparently a descendent…
BY UNITED WITH ISRAEL— The festive holiday of Purim commemorates Israel’s salvation from extermination by the mighty Persian Empire, some 2500 years ago. Jews in Israel and all over the world celebrate Purim on the 14th day of Adar (this year March 8th) as a time of “Light, Gladness, Joy and Honor for the Jewish…
BY MARK STOVER, JEWS FOR JESUS— Purim is the Jewish holiday which is most carnival-like. Children drown out Haman’s name with greggers. Young Jewish girls participate in Queen Esther beauty pageants. Plays are enacted called Purimspiels. And everyone noshes on poppyseed and prune hamantaschen. Yet, behind the feasting and drinking and partying lies a somber…
Purim is the holiday when Jews (and many Christians) remember the story of Esther. Esther was an ordinary Jewish girl who became Queen of the Persian Empire. God placed Esther in the right place at the right time. When the evil Haman issued a plan for all the Jews in the Empire to be killed,…
BY BILL LEVINSON— Hanukkah is often called “the Jewish Christmas” because it takes place at about the same time of year. There is in fact a very strong connection between the two holidays; had it not been for the events that Hanukkah commemorates, there would be no Christmas. Hanukkah is about standing up to those…
BY TRAVELUJAH (SIGN UP FOR THE ISRAEL TRAVEL NEWSLETTER)— The period preceding the Jewish New Year is marked by special penitential prayers, recited before the regular morning prayers, and the blowing of the ram’s horn (shofar in Hebrew) after the morning prayer service. Jews of North African and Middle Eastern origin began to recite these special…
BY DOROTHY BERMAN , JPOST In early November 1947, Dorothy (Devora) Berman of Glasgow, aged 20, set sail for Palestine to participate in the “Machon LeMadrichei Chul” (Institute for Diaspora Youth Leadership) training program of the Jewish Agency in Jerusalem. The program was held in conjunction with the Jewish National Fund. This was one of the…
