"Purim: Exploring Its Significance Amidst Modern Challenges"

Purim, a Jewish holiday celebrating joy and salvation, begins Saturday evening and ends Sunday evening. It surrounds a story about how Persian King Achashverosh wanted to kill all Jewish people, but the plan was thwarted when his wife Esther convinced him otherwise and executed his advisor Haman during a feast. Celebrations include reading the book of Esther, wearing costumes, feasting on triangular sweets, and engaging in charitable acts. The holiday holds religious significance as it commemorates the Jews being saved from mass murder. Purim is celebrated from evening to evening and often involves treats and dressing up for children. The ongoing Israel-Hamas war has drawn parallels to the holiday, with hopes for an end to the fighting and concerns for safety in the West Bank and Jerusalem.