Your Purim Celebration

Purim is the celebration of Jewish deliverance as told in the Book of Esther. After the destruction of the Kingdom of Judah, the Jews were taken into the seventy-year Babylonian captivity. When ancient Persia took control, Haman, royal vizier to King Ahasuerus, planned to kill the Jews, but his plans were foiled by Esther and Mordecai.

The Book of Esther is called the Megillah. It is traditional to read the Megillah in the synagogue the eve of Purim as well as the following morning. Jewish custom prescribes how the Megillah should be read. This includes boisterous congregational participation complete with noise-makers called groggers.

Below is a summary of how to read the Book of Esther. While it is traditional to read the Megillah on Purim in your place of worship, you can do this with any group, any time of year you want to honor the miracles of Esther.

When the Book of Esther is read there are several verses that are delivered with different tones, speeds, with the audience, and with the audience making raucous noise. If you make a guide for your audience to follow, it will be a wonderfully fun and spiritual time for all!

1) The first and most well known traditon is to make noise every time the villain’s name, Haman, is read. This is when you get to use your groggers. Groggers can home-made or purchased – they just need to make a loud noise to block out the name being heard. In most translations Hamman is mentioned 49 times so there are lots of chances to use your groggers! See below for a fun home-made grogger idea!

2) The reader changes the chant to be slower and sadder for five verses which refers to the exile of the Jews from the Kingdom of Judah to Babylonia. These verses are Esther 2:6, 3:15, 4:1, 4:3 and 7:4.

3) There are four verses speaking of the Jew’s redemption, the reader pauses allowing the audience to read along. These verses are Esther 2:5, 8:15-16, and 10:3.

4) The verse which marks the beginning of the salvation of the Jews is read in a louder, deeper voice. This verse if Esther 6:1 and is very important as it is the essence of the miracle.

5) The names of Haman’s sons are read in one breath, without pause thereby indicating that they were all killed at one time. These verses are Esther 9:6-10.

6) There are four verses in which the name of G-d is hidden. These verses are to be read in a higher key and emphasized. They are Esther 1:16. 1:20, 5:4, and 5:13.

The purpose for these customs is to intensify the joy so that the story of the great miracle performed on Israel's behalf during the time of Mordechai and Esther will enter the hearts of all who listen.

You can make your own groggers! It’s a great way to get your kids involved in the story of Esther.

Materials

2 sturdy paper plates
Dry, uncooked rice or beans
Popsicle stick (or other small stick)
Double faced tape
Markers, crayon, and stickers

Instructions

On the bottom of the paper plates decorate them with the markers, crayons and stickers. The brighter and more decorative the better!

Once both plates are decorated, put one plate face up on the table like you are going to eat off it. Take the double faced tape and put it all the way around the rim of the plate.

Take the popsicle stick and press one end of it on the tape so it is sticking out of the plate towards you – this will be the handle (it will look like a lollipop). Put a small piece of double faced tape over the handle to secure it to the plate.

Place about 1 cup of rice or beans in the plate.

Take the other plate and put it face down on the tape that is on the first plate. This will place the front side of the plates facing each other and the decorated sides out. Press hard to make sure the tape secured to both plates and the rice or beans don’t come out.

Now, shake, shake your grogger and make some noise!