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People watch the Purim parade in Jerusalem, Monday, March 25, 2024. For the first time after 42 years and amid the Israel-Hamas war, Jerusalem holds a Purim parade on Monday. 
Israel-Hamas war

‘Our joy is limited’: A subdued Purim in Israel during wartime 

Jews around the world just celebrated the holiday of Purim, which is said to mark the survival of Jews in ancient Persia. In Israel, it is known for being a raucous holiday with parties, costumes, sweets and drinking. But for many Israelis, the war meant this year’s holiday felt different.

The World

People watch the Purim parade in Jerusalem, Monday, March 25, 2024. For the first time after 42 years and amid the Israel-Hamas war, Jerusalem holds a Purim parade on Monday. 

Leo Correa/AP

Over the weekend, 20- and 30-somethings dressed up in costumes in Jerusalem’s central market to celebrate the Jewish holiday of Purim. 

A group of friends in the Nachlaot neighborhood of Jerusalem gets ready to go out on the evening of Shushan Purim — the beginning of Purim in Jerusalem, which is celebrated one day later than everywhere else.
A group of friends in the Nachlaot neighborhood of Jerusalem gets ready to go out on the evening of Shushan Purim — the beginning of Purim in Jerusalem, which is celebrated one day later than everywhere else.Sarah Ventre/The World

The story of Purim is a classic tale of good defeating evil with the help of God. The holiday marks the survival of Jews in ancient Persia and is known for raucous parties, costumes and drinking. 

Mahane Yehuda Market in Jerusalem, on the evening of Shushan Purim.
Mahane Yehuda Market in Jerusalem, on the evening of Shushan Purim. Sarah Vente/The World

But this year many Israelis wondered what was appropriate under the circumstances.

“In this particular year, our joy is limited or is held back by the fact that there are still 134 Israeli hostages in Gaza, by the fact that we have many soldiers fighting in Gaza and on the northern border. And by the fact that there are hundreds of thousands of Israelis who have been displaced from their homes,” said Rabbi David Golinkin, president of the Schechter Institutes Incorporated, an organization that supports a number of Jewish schools, mostly in Israel. 

Still, Israeli Jews found ways to celebrate. 

Judy and Chaim Freud, who live in the West Bank settlement of Efrat, deliver mishloach manot (Purim gift packages) to Israeli soldiers guarding the edge of the settlement on its border with Bethlehem, a Palestinian city.
Judy and Chaim Freud, who live in the West Bank settlement of Efrat, deliver mishloach manot (Purim gift packages) to Israeli soldiers guarding the edge of the settlement on its border with Bethlehem, a Palestinian city.Sarah Ventre/The World

Festivities typically include reading the Purim story as written in the megillah (the Book of Esther). 

A megillah scroll, which contains the Book of Esther and is read on Purim.
A megillah scroll, which contains the Book of Esther and is read on Purim.Sarah Ventre/The World

Some people attend costume parties and exchange mishloach manot (baskets of food and drinks). 

A street party in the West Bank settlement of Efrat. Sarah Vente/The World
A street party in the West Bank settlement of Efrat. Sarah Ventre/The World

The holiday also includes eating cookies known as hamantaschen — said to be shaped like the three-cornered hat of Haman, the villain of the Purim story — and enjoying the seudah (“feast”), which can include lots of drinking.

Hamantaschen are traditional Purim cookies, and are said to look like the shape of the villain's three-cornered hat.
Hamantaschen are traditional Purim cookies, and are said to look like the shape of the villain’s three-cornered hat. Sarah Vente/The World

Inside one school gym in Jerusalem, dozens of families gathered to read the megillah and celebrate the holiday with Rabbi Ezra Ende, the leader of Kehilat HaDror and Kehilat Mevakshei Derech congregations.

Little kids roamed around in costumes, snacked on sweets and played with colorful noisemakers. 

A child dressed in costume attends a megillah reading in a school gym in the Jerusalem neighborhood of Kiryat Yovel.
A child dressed in costume attends a megillah reading in a school gym in the Jerusalem neighborhood of Kiryat Yovel.Sarah Ventre/The World

“This year, celebrating Purim was a challenge. It was very important for us to continue living our Jewish lives in Jewish rhythm because Purim is a way for us to express many emotions that we have.”

Rabbi Ezra Ende, Kehilat HaDror and Kehilat Mevakshei Derech congregations, Jerusalem, Israel

“This year, celebrating Purim was a challenge,” Rabbi Ende said. “It was very important for us to continue living our Jewish lives in Jewish rhythm because Purim is a way for us to express many emotions that we have.”

A festive Purim noisemaker used during the reading of the Book of Esther on Purim.
A festive Purim noisemaker used during the reading of the Book of Esther on Purim. Sarah Ventre/The World

Rabbi Ende decided to include one extra prayer in his Purim service — a prayer for peace called Oseh Shalom. 

It translates to, “May the One who makes peace in the high heavens make peace for us and to all Israel.” After it was sung, one extra phrase was added — v’al kol b’nai Adam — which translates in English: “…and on all the children of Adam.”

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