The Fast of Esther (Purim)

Next observance: sunset of Monday, the 9th of March 2009

Traditional Holiday
Purim is one of the most joyous and fun holidays on the Jewish calendar. Although it is not one of the eight God appointed times outlined in Leviticus 23; it is scripturally anchored in the Book of Esther and commemorates a time when the Jewish people living in Persia were saved from extermination. Purim is celebrated on the 13th & 14th day of Adar, which is usually in March. The word "Purim" means "lots" and refers to the lottery that Haman used to choose the date for the extermination of the Jewish people.

The Purim holiday is known as the Fast of Esther. It commemorates Esther's three days of fasting in preparation for her meeting with the king.
It is traditional to send out gifts of food or drink, and to make gifts to charity. A common treat at this time of year is Hamantashen. These triangular fruit-filled cookies are supposed to represent Haman's three-cornered hat.

It is customary to hold carnival-like celebrations on Purim, to perform plays and to hold contests. During Purim, children come to the synagogue dressed in costume, often as Haman, Mordecai or Esther.

Scriptural Foundation – Esther 9:18-22:
NIV Esther 9:18 The Jews in Susa, however, had assembled on the thirteenth and fourteenth, and then on the fifteenth they rested and made it a day of feasting and joy. That is why rural Jews-- those living in villages-- observe the fourteenth of the month of Adar as a day of joy and feasting, a day for giving presents to each other. Mordecai recorded these events, and he sent letters to all the Jews throughout the provinces of King Xerxes, near and far, to have them celebrate annually the fourteenth and fifteenth days of the month of Adar as the time when the Jews got relief from their enemies, and as the month when their sorrow was turned into joy and their mourning into a day of celebration. He wrote them to observe the days as days of feasting and joy and giving presents of food to one another and gifts to the poor.

The primary commandment related to Purim is to hear the reading of the book of Esther. Traditionally, it is customary to boo, hiss, stamp your feet and rattle noisemakers whenever the name of Haman is mentioned in the service. The purpose of this custom is to "blot out the name of Haman."

Application for Today
This was one of the many episodes of God’s dealings with his people. The Jews were saved physically at this time in their history. The time of their full salvation and the complete fulfillment of God’s propheicies given to Abraham was drawing nigh. It happened five hundred years later with the coming of adon Yeshua HaMashiach (the Lord Jesus, the Messiah). 

Mordecai and Esther knew for certain that Haman’s decree was not an accident of history, but a consequence of failings within the Jewish people.
Just as the Jews were rescued, we are redeemed by our Righteous Messiah.