Tag Archive for Purim

Iran’s 1968 Jewish Community Bought the Tomb of Esther & Mordechai

In addition to the tomb-purchasing initiative, the Jewish community also planned to build a vocational school named after Cyrus the Great, as well as a hospital and an exhibition dedicated to Cyrus’ achievements.

By CHEN MALUL/NATIONAL LIBRARY OF ISRAEL

 

It is not entirely clear whose idea it was, but in 1968, a vigorous correspondence developed between Jewish representatives in the Iranian parliament and officials from the regime of Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, Iran’s ruler at the time. The focus of this exchange was an attempt to purchase the Tomb of Esther and Mordechai at Hamedan. The pretext? Celebrations marking the 2,500th anniversary of the Edict of Cyrus, which were to be held in 1971. Continue Reading »

15K IDF Purim/Halloween costumes for kids almost sent to Iran

 

A ‘human-error’ mixup at a company in China between countries with similar codes, ‘IRN’ for the Islamic Republic and ‘IRS’ for the Jewish state, nearly resulted in an uncomfortable situation in Iran with Purim costumes ordered for Israel.

By Ofer Petersburg

 

15,000 police, soldier and pilot costumes all bearing the Israeli flag and an “IDF” patch were nearly sent to Tehran by mistake instead of Israel.

The bizarre mistake begins with an Iranian businessman who ordered thousands of costumes to sell at stores he owns throughout Iran for the Iranian holiday of Nowruz. The company’s country code designation for shipping to Iran is listed as IRN. Continue Reading »

Brussels Police Cancel Purim

 

Following the Islamic terrorist attacks  Belgian police requested that the Jewish community cancel their Purim celebrations due to the police’s fear of additional terrorists in the area, and their inability to protect the Jewish community.

By Kobi Nachshoni

 

Following the attacks at the airport and subway station in Brussels Tuesday morning, the Jewish community has cancelled its Purim celebrations at the behest of the police.

Brussels metro bombing

Over a thousand members of the Jewish community were supposed to attend the megillah reading (reading of the Book of Esther – ed.) at the Great Synagogue of Europe followed by a performance by the Gat Brothers who arrived from Israel for the occasion. Continue Reading »

Jews Dress Up on Purim as Arabs to Ascend the Temple Mount

Jewish worshippers this Purim dressed up as Arabs in order to get around the police’s restrictions on Jews praying on the Temple Mount.

By Ben Ariel, Canada

 

A group of Temple Mount activists were spotted dressed up as Arabs on Friday in order to be able to enter the compound.

The Jewish activists did not do this in the spirit of Purim, which was celebrated in the capital on Friday. They did it in order to get around a ban on Jewish prayer which was imposed by the police.

Despite a court ruling earlier this week which said that police “must make sure that Jews are able to pray on the Temple Mount”, officers have been restricting Jewish prayer at the compound since Wednesday, telling worshippers that the restrictions are in accordance with a decision by the political leadership following pressure from Jordan.

Continue Reading »

Purim’s atmosphere of merriment & glee spreads across Israel

View ‘Harlem Shake’ from Tel Aviv,  Purim Style

Women of the Wall to hold Megila reading at the Kotel (Western Wall)

 

Purim’s carnival atmosphere spread out across the country on Sunday, with revelers of all types and ages soaking up the holiday cheer, many bedecked in bright, loud and extravagant costumes.

Tel Aviv on Purim, 2013.

Tel Aviv on Purim, 2013. – Photo: REUTERS

As in every year, traditional ‘Adloyada’ Purim parades were held the length and breadth of Israel in cities and towns throughout the country, wending their way through town centers and major urban thoroughfares.

Holon’s Ad’deloyada, one of the most renowned, included more than 4,500 participants making merry, including dancers, artists, musicians and other performers from around the country who all marched through the streets of the city.

Continue Reading »

3 Books of Esther Survived the Holocaust from Warsaw Ghetto

Just in time for Purim, Shem Olam Institute presents holy items found in Warsaw Ghetto attic decades after surviving the Holocaust

By Kobi Nahshoni

 

Three Books of Esther kept in the attic of a house in the Warsaw Ghetto during World War II have been returned to Jewish hands.

Scroll survives fire inside metal cylinder Photo courtesy of Shem Olam Institute

Scroll survives fire inside metal cylinder – Photo courtesy: Shem Olam Institute

In honor of Purim, the Shem Olam Institute for Holocaust education, documentation and research unveiled the rare holy items which were in Polish possession for dozens of years and were located and brought to Israel in the past year. Continue Reading »

Sara Netanyahu sought out Lady Gaga for the latest fashion advice

Pop superstar to have a serious sit-down with PM Netanyahu to discuss his comb-over before his upcoming meeting with Obama.

Happy Purim!

By PAY WITH CASH MAN

 

 

Following the drubbing in the media that she took earlier this month for her questionable attire at the inauguration of the 19th Knesset, Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu’s wife, Sara, is making sure no repeat faux pas will take place when US President Barack Obama visits Israel next month.

SARA NETANYAHU looks to her mentor pop artist Lady Gaga

SARA NETANYAHU looks to her mentor pop artist Lady Gaga – Photo: Steve Linde

She’s turned to the queen of couture fashion – music superstar Lady Gaga – for a crash course in style and elegance ahead of the much-anticipated presidential visit.

Continue Reading »

Purim Starts Tonight with the Reading of the Megillah

Few people know that Purim, the ‘Holiday of Costumes & Merriment’ is one of Judaism’s most Holy days.

By Gil Ronen and Rochel Sylvetsky

 

Purim, 5773, officially began Saturday evening as the Megillah of Esther is being read in hundreds of synagogues in Israel alone. The holiday celebrates the defeat of one of Israel’s worst enemies, Haman the Wicked, in ancient Persia.

In Jerusalem, the Purim celebration will only begin Sunday evening. This has to do with the fact that Jerusalem was surrounded by walls from the time of the conquest of the Land of Israel by Joshua. Jewish tradition has it that Jews in the walled city of Shushan – the capital of ancient Persia – fought against their enemies for an extra day before defeating them, and therefore people living in walled cities begin celebrating Purim a day later than others. Continue Reading »

Rare Video of Israeli Rabbi in Iran

A rare video shows last year’s visit to the tomb of Queen Esther and Mordechai in Iran. Tehran airport officials asked him, “Pray for us.”

Rabbi Yisroel Gabbai’s self-appointed mission is saving Jewish graves all over the world. A rare video shows his visit last year to Iran and the tomb of Queen Esther and Mordechai, the central Jewish figures iin the story of Purim, which Jews celebrate this week.

A member of the Breslov stream of Chassidism and now living in Israel, Rabbi Gabbai travels with a passport from France, where he was born and married. He has visited Gaza and Lebanon during wars and also has been to Damascus. Continue Reading »

Fast Day in Memory of Esther’s ‘Life-Threatening Request’

Wednesday’s “Fast of Esther” is in memory of her risking her life by approaching the Persian king, her husband, to save the country’s Jews.

Wednesday’s “Fast of Esther” is in memory of her risking her life by approaching the Persian king, her husband, to save the country’s Jews.

The “Fast of Esther” begins Wednesday morning in memory of her risking her life by approaching the Persian king, her husband, in order to launch a series of events that ended with her asking him to save the Jews from the king’s wicked second-in-command, Haman.

The fast day started at 4.29 a.m. in Israel and ends at 6:04 p.m., Continue Reading »