Purim

Purim is a significant celebration in the Jewish calendar, commemorated to remember the deliverance of the Jewish people from the threat of extermination in the ancient Persian Empire as recorded in the Book of Esther. The observance is marked with customs such as reading the Megillah (Book of Esther), sending food gifts to friends (mishloach manot), giving to the poor (matanot l'evyonim), and holding a festive feast (seudah). The holiday is also characterized by buoyant festivity; it encourages dressing up in costumes and the use of masks, which differentiates it from other Jewish holidays.

In relation to South Africa's historical context, which is marred with the struggle against apartheid, Purim's account of liberation from oppression resonates deeply. The narrative of Queen Esther, who braved coming out to the Persian king about her Jewish identity and pleading for her people's safety, sends a powerful message about the courage it takes to contest injustice. South African Jews, many of whose forebears escaped harsh conditions in Lithuania and other parts of Eastern Europe in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, can certainly relate to the story of survival and freedom that Purim celebrates.

In South Africa, families and synagogues come together for joyful Purim festivities, mirroring the global Jewish practice. Apart from the traditional rituals such as hearing the Megillah read, sending food parcels, and indulging in festive meals, carnivals and costume parties are also commonplace. Most of these activities take place at sundown, following the Jewish lunar calendar, making it different from the Gregorian calendar typically used in South Africa. Purim generally falls in the month of March or early April, but specific dates can vary year to year.