The Jewish calendar has many holidays. One of the holidays is right around the corner – this Wednesday night to be precise. It’s called “Purim” and it celebrates the day the Jews were saved many years ago from the most terrible of decrees. How it comes to this forum is the party we’re planning to celebrate in the Bed-Stuy area. But let me tell you the story first:
The original Purim story happened 2,300 years ago.
The situation seemed bleak. The Holy Temple in Jerusalem was destroyed seventy years earlier, the Jews were exiled to Babylon and then to Persia, and the Land of Israel lay in ruins and desolation.
Find out what's happening in Bed-Stuywith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Dispersed throughout Persia (today's Iraq and Iran), many Jews lost faith in the prophecies predicting their eventual redemption from exile and return to Israel. Instead of taking pride in their Jewish heritage, they became impressed by alien kings and lifestyles, palaces and parties, losing vision of their own future.
At this point, the vicious Jew-hating Haman became the Persian Prime Minister, and schemed to solve "the Jewish problem," by annihilating every Jewish man, woman and child. A shrewd and devious manipulator, Haman received the King's approval for his wicked plan.
Find out what's happening in Bed-Stuywith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Haman's horrible plan almost worked, were it not for the intervention of Esther, the heroine, and Mordechai, the righteous Jewish leader.
Sensing the danger, Mordechai wore sackcloth and ashes and cried through the streets, rallying Jews to return to G-d.
By Divine Providence and exceptional circumstances, Mordechai's niece, Esther, was chosen as the new Queen. Mordechai urged her to go the King and plead with him to save her people.
Before approaching the King, Queen Esther proclaimed a fast, prayer and penitence. She then went to the palace and invited the king to a party.
That night, the restless King was reading his memoirs. As the pages turned, he recalled a forgotten episode, how Mordechai the Jew had saved the king's life from two plotting courtiers trying to poison him.
The King immediately ordered Haman to pay public tribute to Mordechai by dressing him up with the royal garments and parading him on the Royal horse through the Capital.
Queen Esther pointed out Haman as the arch villain, and King Ahasuerus ordered Haman hung on the same gallows he had prepared for Mordechai.
The fortunate turn of events aroused the Jews to return to their heritage and unite with their traditions, faith and observance. They rallied against their enemies on the 13th day of the month of Adar, the day chosen by Haman to execute his "final solution." The Jews eventually returned to the Holy Land to rebuild the Second Temple.
To celebrate this miraculous victory, the Rabbis, so many years ago, instituted a holiday called Purim. On this day, the Jews commemorate the miracle and thank G-d for saving them by eating a festive meal, sending food gifts to one another, and giving charity to the poor. In addition, a scroll called the “Megillah,” that relates the entire story, is read for all to hear.
So… We are happy to announce that in Bed-Stuy there will be festivities as well. We will be hosting a Purim Party “Drink n’ Draw” event right on St. Marks Ave. You can RSVP right here. It’s exciting to be offering this venue in the neighborhood, and we hope to see many of the local Jewish people come by! In addition, we will be reading the Megillah at the Pacific Oasis Cafe at 3pm this Thursday.
See you all there!
