What greetings are appropriate on Purim?
On Purim, we can greet one another with “Chag Purim sameach!” (Happy Purim!)
The Music of the Shofar Service
Tekiah! Teruah! Shevarim! Tekiah Gedolah!
Un’taneh Tokef: The Awesome Sanctity of This Day
In the traditional liturgy, the special character of each holiday is particularly conveyed by the piyyutim (hymns, liturgical poems) that are recited or chanted on that day. Most of these piyyutim have been omitted in Reform liturgies since the nineteenth century, out of a sense that their Hebrew diction is too arcane and their theology too medieval. Yet, some of these poems have routinely been retained in Reform High Holy Day prayer books, particularly for Yom Kippur.
Ahashverosh
King of Persia (modern-day Iran) and a main character in the Purim story. When his queen, Vashti, refuses to entertain guests at the king’s feast, he banishes her.
Vashti
Former queen of Persia (modern-day Iran) and a main character in the Purim story. Vashti refuses to entertain guests at King Ahashverosh’s feast, and is banished.
On Purim, Let's Get Vulnerable - Whether or Not We Get Drunk
Drunk on Purim: What Are We Teaching Our Kids?
Purim festivities don't square with what I know about the harmful side of alcohol: It destroys people’s lives. What message are we sending our children?
Kids, Costumes, and the Boundlessness of the Imagination - at Purim and Beyond
The possibilities are only limited by imagination, and children’s imaginations are not limited.
Book of Esther: A Poem
Reform Jewish poet Stacey Z. Robinson wrote this original poem for Purim, painting a much different picture of Esther than we knew as children.