Purim is a holiday established by Chazal in the period before the building of the Second Beis Hamikdash, and is mentioned in Tanach in Megillas Esther. In most places in the world it falls on the 14th of Adar, and in cities that were walled from the time of Yehoshua bin Nun, like Yerushalayim, the holiday falls on the 15th of Adar. The eve of the holiday, the 13th of Adar, is Taanis Esther.

The holiday was established to commemorate the miracle that Hashem performed for us during the Persian exile between the destruction of the First Beis Hamikdash and the building of the Second Beis Hamikdash, under the rule of Achashverosh, when He saved the Jewish people from Haman's decree to destroy all Jews - men, women and children. This salvation came about through the actions of Mordechai HaYehudi and Queen Esther.

The holiday has four unique mitzvos: reading the Megillah at night and day, having a feast and celebration, mishloach manos (sending food portions), and matanos l'evyonim (gifts to the poor). Additionally, there is Torah reading about destroying Amalek, saying 'V'al Hanissim' in prayer and bentching, and a prohibition against eulogies and fasting. There are also many customs - like costumes, making noise at Haman's name, drinking 'ad d'lo yada' and more. The Rebbe initiated Mivtza Purim, through which Chabad Chassidim help as many Jews as possible fulfill the holiday's mitzvos.

Uniquely, the joy of Purim was established in halacha as unlimited joy - "ad d'lo yada", unlike the limited joy of other holidays. This joy stems from the virtue of the Jewish people who, even in a dark exile period like the days of Mordechai and Esther, awakened of their own will and chose to connect to Hashem with mesiras nefesh. Because of the unique level of Purim joy, this holiday will be the only one that will not be nullified in the future, in the times of Moshiach.

Origin and Historical Background

The background of Purim takes place during the Babylonian exile after the destruction of the First Temple in the year 3338. Near the end of this exile in 3392, the Jews were under the rule of King Achashverosh of Persia. After Queen Vashti was killed, Achashverosh took Queen Esther, who was Jewish, as his wife. This event later proved to be the remedy that would save the Jews from a terrible decree years later.

Years later, in 3404, Haman, Achashverosh's minister, cast lots ("pur") to determine the date for destroying all Jews in the Persian Empire. The lot fell on the 13th of Adar. Haman's anger stemmed from Mordechai's refusal to bow to him, which according to our Sages would have constituted idol worship.

The miracle of salvation occurred through the prayers and fasts of the Jewish people, along with Esther's intervention with the king. This led to the reversal of the decree - instead of Mordechai and his people being killed, Haman and his ten sons were hanged. On the day of the planned genocide, the Jews defended themselves and defeated their enemies on the 13th of Adar, with an additional day of victory in Shushan on the 14th.

Establishing the Holiday

The establishment of Purim is described in detail in the Book of Esther. Mordechai wrote down these events and sent letters to all Jews in Achashverosh's provinces, both near and far, establishing the 14th and 15th of Adar as days of celebration each year. These days were to be observed with feasting, joy, sending portions of food to one another, and gifts to the poor.

Esther and Mordechai later sent additional letters to strengthen the observance of these days of Purim, and their words were recorded in a book.

Holiday Obligations and Customs

Main Obligations

Reading the Megillah - One must hear the reading of the Book of Esther both at night and during the day. Two blessings are recited before the reading. The custom is to read the Megillah during evening services after Maariv, and in the morning after Torah reading following Shacharit.
Sending Portions (Mishloach Manot) - This obligation involves sending at least two portions of food with different blessings to at least one person. Men send to men and women to women. It's proper to send through a messenger.
Gifts to the Poor - One must give monetary gifts to at least two poor people, enough for each to buy a minimal holiday meal. Maimonides writes that one should give more to this obligation than to Mishloach Manot and the feast.
Feasting and Joy - This is the main obligation of the holiday. Generally, one must drink and rejoice throughout the day, but the main focus is the Purim feast. The Sages determined that one should drink wine on Purim until they cannot distinguish between "cursed is Haman" and "blessed is Mordechai."

Prayer Order

Before evening and morning prayers, eating is forbidden until reading the Megillah. In all holiday prayers and Grace After Meals, we add the "Al Hanisim" prayer thanking God for the miracles. We don't say Tachanun or "E-l Erech Apayim" in prayer.

In the morning prayer, we read from the Torah about the war with Amalek. Three people are called up, with three verses read for each. One who hasn't heard Parshat Zachor can fulfill their obligation with this reading.

Purim Operations

The Rebbe instructed to bring joy to as many Jews as possible during the holiday and help them fulfill its obligations. Accordingly, Chabad Chassidim strive to reach every possible location on this day to read the Megillah and fulfill the mitzvot with every Jew. The Rebbe established this campaign in 1961.

Purim Customs

Costumes - Children wear costumes to increase joy and symbolize that even when a Jew sins, it's only an "external costume."
Striking Haman - We make noise when Haman's name is mentioned in the Megillah using noisemakers.
Purim Money - It's customary to give children "Purim money."

Cities with Walled Cities from Joshua's Time

The only certain city that was walled during Joshua's time (year 2489) is Jerusalem. However, there are many cities that might have been walled then, such as Safed, Tiberias, Acre, and others.

This distinction matters for celebrating Purim, as walled cities celebrate on Shushan Purim. The Rebbe instructed Rabbi Tanchum Dunin to celebrate Purim in Haifa on both days due to doubt.

Triple Purim

When Purim falls on Shabbat, the holiday's obligations are spread across three days: Friday, Shabbat, and Sunday. In the current Jewish calendar, this can only happen in walled cities where Purim is celebrated on the 15th of Adar.

The order of obligations in a Triple Purim is:

Friday (14th of Adar): Reading the Megillah and giving gifts to the poor
Shabbat (15th of Adar): Special Torah reading and "Al HaNisim" prayer
Sunday (16th of Adar): Purim feast and sending portions

The Rebbe emphasized that gifts to the poor should also be given on Sunday.

Small Purim

In a leap year with two months of Adar, Purim is celebrated in the second Adar. The 14th of the first Adar is called "Small Purim" and is marked by a special feast and not saying Tachanun.

Purim in the Future Era

The Sages teach that while all holidays will be nullified in the Messianic era, Purim will remain eternal. Similarly, while all prophetic books will be nullified then, the Book of Esther will remain.

In Chassidic teaching, this doesn't mean complete nullification. Rather, compared to the great divine revelation of the future, the holidays' light will be insignificant - like a candle at noon. However, Purim's revelation is unlimited and will therefore remain significant even then.

In Chassidic Teaching

Chassidic philosophy explains a deep connection between Purim and Yom Kippur, reflected in Yom Kippur's name "Ki-Purim" (like Purim). The Alter Rebbe wrote: "Purim and Yom Kippur are one aspect; Yom Kippur means 'like Purim'."

The Rebbe explains that Purim has an even greater advantage than Yom Kippur. Both days involve the concept of "lots" (in Purim, Haman's lot; in Yom Kippur, the lots for the goats), representing something above nature. However, while Yom Kippur achieves this through fasting, Purim achieves it through wine and joy.

Chassidic teaching explains that Purim is named after the "pur" (lot) because Haman tried to prosecute the Jews at a level above natural order. However, since God's essential choice of the Jewish people is above even the concept of lots, the holiday is named Purim to express this higher revelation of God's love for Israel.

The holiday's Persian name, rather than Hebrew, teaches that even when Jews deal with mundane matters with non-Jews, God relates to them in supernatural ways.

The Baal Shem Tov explained that reading the Megillah "backwards" (seeing it as merely historical) doesn't fulfill the obligation because the Megillah's purpose is to guide us today. It's the only holiday that occurred in exile, teaching us how to act in exile - that even when God's connection to Israel seems hidden, the inner connection continues.

With Our Rebbes

Purim was one of the regular occasions when the Rashab (Rabbi Shalom DovBer) would hold farbrengens with Chassidim each year, a tradition that continued in later generations.

Notable Purim celebrations include:

Purim 1920 - The Rashab's last Purim, two weeks before his passing. Under Bolshevik rule, he held a 12-hour farbrengen. When armed police entered, he remained calm and said, "We'll say Chassidus and they'll be nullified."
Purim 1921 - Despite health risks, the Rayatz (Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak) held his first Purim farbrengen as Rebbe, giving a 2.5-hour discourse.
Purim 1927 - Despite threats from secret police, the Rayatz held a 15-hour farbrengen speaking against Soviet education restrictions.

With the Rebbe

Notable Purim celebrations with the Rebbe include:

Purim 1953 - Unusually, the Rebbe gave two discourses and told a heavenly story about the Rashab. Later it became known that Stalin died at that exact time.
Purim 1955 - The Rebbe asked participants to raise their right hand to accept the test of wealth.
Purim 1958 - The farbrengen was unique, with the Rebbe speaking personally with Chassidim, including words of rebuke. Special blessings were given during the 9+ hour gathering.
Purim 1966 - The Rebbe distributed much 'L'chaim', ordering all bottles emptied as it was a time of "whoever extends their hand, we give to them." Blessings continued until the Rebbe entered his home.
Purim 1971 - President Shazar visited and attended the Megillah reading, followed by a 4+ hour private audience with the Rebbe.
Purim 1976 - The Rebbe first encouraged the practice of wearing Rabbeinu Tam's tefillin.

Community Purims Throughout Jewish History

Various communities established their own Purim celebrations commemorating local salvations:

Purim Castile
Purim Yemen
Purim Amstislav
Purim Istanbul
Purim Frankfurt
Purim Tripoli
Purim Egypt
Purim Hebron
Purim Prague
Purim Passona

These local Purims preserved the memory of miraculous deliverances experienced by different Jewish communities throughout history.

This completes the full translation of the document. Each community Purim represents a unique story of Jewish survival and divine protection, following the pattern established by the original Purim story