Make Your Celebration Special and Meaningful

Purim is one of the most festive holidays on the Jewish calendar, commemorating the salvation of the Jewish people from Haman's plot of destruction as recorded in the Book of Esther. Here are the key customs that make this celebration special and meaningful.

1. Matanot La'evyonim (Gifts to the Poor)

On Purim, we fulfill the mitzvah of giving charity to at least two people in need, a practice rooted in Megillat Esther. Mordechai established matanot la'evyonim, "gifts to the poor.” The verse states that the Jews should observe these days as "days of feasting and gladness, and sending portions one to another, and gifts to the poor" (Esther 9:22). By giving to at least two individuals in need, we not only uphold this biblical command but also ensure that everyone can partake in the joy of the holiday. The mitzvah is meant to be performed on Purim itself, in keeping with the Megillah’s emphasis on observing these customs on the very "days" of Purim, enabling recipients to use the gifts for their immediate celebration.

2. Kriat Megillah (Reading the Megillah)

On Purim, we read the Megillah twice—once at night and once during the day—with every word carefully heard. The obligation to read the Megillah twice is noted in the Talmud (Megillah 4a).This dual reading mirrors the Purim story itself, when the Jews cried out to God both day and night in their time of crisis, reinforcing the themes of deliverance and remembrance.

3. The Grogger and Drowning Out Haman's Name

The custom of making noise when Haman's name is read derives from the biblical commandment "You shall blot out the memory of Amalek" (Deuteronomy 25:19). Since Haman was a descendant of Amalek, we symbolically "erase" his name through noise. The earliest written record of this practice comes from the 13th century, where Rabbi Meir of Rothenburg (the Maharam) describes children writing Haman's name on stones and erasing it. The grogger (ra'ashan in Hebrew) became popular in medieval European communities around the 13th century. Different communities developed various noisemaking traditions – some bang on prayer books, some stomp their feet, while others use special wooden clappers. 

4. Mishloach Manot (Sending Food Gifts)

Some people go all out for Mishloach Manot, creating elaborate themed gift baskets that match their Purim costumes and overflow with treats. But at its core, the mitzvah is actually quite simple. The obligation comes straight from the Megillah (Esther 9:22), where Mordechai establishes the practice of “sending portions one to another” (mishloach manot ish l’re’ehu). The Talmud (Megillah 7a) clarifies that fulfilling this mitzvah requires sending at least two different types of ready-to-eat foods to at least one person.

This can be as simple as two types of fruit or a piece of cake and a beverage. The simplicity of the original mitzvah highlights its deeper purpose: ensuring everyone has food for their Purim feast while strengthening communal bonds. Just as the Jews in the Purim story found unity when they “gathered themselves together” (Esther 9:16), Mishloach Manot reminds us that the heart of Purim is not extravagance, but communal connection.

5. Seudat Purim (Festive Meal)

The obligation to have a festive meal on Purim comes directly from the Megillah (Esther 9:22), which commands us to make these days "yemei mishteh v'simcha" - days of feasting and joy. The Talmud (Megillah 7b) specifies that this feast must be held during the day, deriving this from the words "yemei" (days) in the verse. 

6. Drinking Wine

Many serve wine at the feast, stemming from the central role wine plays throughout the Megillah's narrative - from King Ahasuerus's initial banquet to Esther's own strategic feasts. The Talmud (Megillah 7b) famously states that one should drink "ad d'lo yada" - until they cannot distinguish between "cursed be Haman" and "blessed be Mordecai," though many fulfill this through drinking moderately and taking a short nap.

7. Wearing Costumes

The custom of wearing costumes on Purim, while not mentioned in the Megillah itself, has deep historical roots dating back to at least the 13th century. 

Several reasons are given for this custom. The Levush (Rabbi Mordechai Yaffe, 16th century) connects it to the theme of "venahafoch hu" - "and it was turned upside down" (Esther 9:1) - where everything in the story was reversed, from tragedy to celebration. Rabbi Yitzchak Weiss (Siach Yitzchak) links it to the many instances of hiding and revealing in the Megillah: Esther hiding her identity, Mordecai discovering the assassination plot, and most significantly, God's hidden presence throughout the story. While God's name isn't mentioned explicitly in the Megillah, His orchestration of events is evident throughout.

8. Traditional Purim Foods

The special foods eaten on Purim often carry deep symbolic meaning connected to the holiday's story. Hamantaschen (Oznei Haman) are three-cornered pastries are traditionally filled with poppy seeds (mohn in Yiddish), which may have led to the name "mohn-taschen" or "poppy pockets," later becoming "Hamantaschen." Some say they represent Haman's three-cornered hat, while others connect them to the shape of his ears, based on a medieval tradition of cutting off criminals' ears before execution. The hidden filling is said to represent the hidden nature of God's miracles in the Purim story. Many also eat Kreplach,  dumplings filled with ground meat represent another instance of "hidden" food, corresponding to the hidden miracles of Purim. Some Sephardic communities have a custom of eating bean soup on Purim, connected to the rabbinic tradition that Esther maintained a vegetarian–and kosher–diet while in the palace. 

9. Changes to Our Prayer 

Special additions are made to the daily prayers and Birkat HaMazon (Grace After Meals) to acknowledge the miraculous salvation of Purim. The Al HaNissim prayer, inserted into the Amidah and Birkat HaMazon, recounts the Purim story and expresses gratitude for God's intervention. Unlike other festivals, however, Hallel is not recited on Purim. The Talmud (Megillah 14a) offers several explanations for this omission, including the idea that the miracle of Purim took place outside the Land of Israel and that the Jewish people remained under Persian rule even after their salvation. Instead, the public reading of the Megillah serves as our form of praise, retelling the story of deliverance in a way that ensures its remembrance for generations.

10. Machatzit HaShekel

Before Purim, it is customary to give three coins in the local currency as a remembrance of the half-shekel donation given annually in Temple times. This practice is based on the Torah's commandment (Exodus 30:11–16) that every adult male contribute a half-shekel for communal offerings. The Talmud (Megillah 13b) notes a connection between this obligation and Haman’s offer of ten thousand talents of silver to destroy the Jews (Esther 3:9), suggesting that the merit of the machtzit ha-shekel helped counteract his decree. Many synagogues provide special commemorative coins for this purpose, ensuring the continuity of this symbolic act.