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Continuity of Jewish Holidays and Festivals
Exodus 12:17-18: “You shall observe the Feast of Unleavened Bread… In the first month (Nisan), from the 14th day of the month at evening, you shall eat unleavened bread until the 21st day of the month at evening.” From the first mention of a Passover celebration in 419 BCE, to an eyewitness account of the […]
American Presidents and Haman References to this ageless story of God’s divine intervention against evil have been made on several occasions by early American presidents. On December 17, 1778 (then General) George Washington wrote to Joseph Reed, newly-elected President of Pennsylvania: “I would to God that one of the most atrocious of each State […]
As we know from the Book of Esther, the casting of lots – known as ‘Pur’ – was used by Haman to establish the date on which he intended to attack and murder the Jews of Shushan. Purim is a plural of that term. Scholars note that the date of Purim falls during a Persian […]
The Festival of Purim is the celebration of God’s intervention to save the Jews of Persia from the evil Haman in the 5th Century BCE. Based on a document in the Vatican Archives we learn that the festival of Purim was celebrated in Jerusalem in the year 78 BCE. Similarly, from the Theodosian Code dated […]
Haman and Ahasuerus visit Esther, Rembrandt, Pushkin State Museum, Moscow “”So the king and Haman came to feast with Queen Esther. On the second day, the king again asked Esther at the wine feast, ‘What is your wish, Queen Esther? I shall be granted you…’” Esther 7:1-2 (JPS Tanakh) The Triumph of Mordecai, Rembrandt, Collection […]
Archaeological evidence, historical documents and famous works of art combine to paint a picture of the continuity of celebration of Jewish holidays and festivals from ancient times until contemporary Judaism. Throughout the long history of the Jewish people, through trials and tribulations, in Israel and in exile, wherever Jews have lived, they have celebrated their […]
The story of Purim is told in the biblical Book of Esther and is celebrated today much in the way that the book delineates. But what happened between now and then? Although not commonly known, there is textual, archaeological and artistic evidence of the celebration of Purim from ancient times until today. A document found in the […]
Jewish Mysticism The Holy One, blessed be He, is very great and the essence of His abundant greatness cannot be seen by the eye nor spoken of by the mouth. That which was written in the Sefer ha-Merkavah concerning the measure of the [divine] stature is in accord with prophetic vision… Thus does the glory […]
Greco-Roman Period The Passover Seder was originally a Temple ritual. After the destruction of the Second Temple in 70 C.E. it became a home ritual and one of Judaism’s central educational tools. The mishnah presents a basic outline of its rituals. 10-2 They mixed for him the first cup [of wine]- The House of Shammai […]