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Purim

Purim

The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed. | 2008 | Copyright

Purim [Heb.,=lots], Jewish festival celebrated on the 14th of Adar, the twelfth month in the Jewish calendar (Feb.-March). During leap years it is celebrated in Adar II. According to the book of Esther (Esther 3.7; 9.24,26) it commemorates the deliverance of the Persian Jews from a general massacre; however, the festival may have arisen in the pagan celebration of the advent of spring. Preceded by a day of fasting, Purim is celebrated as a day of joy, marked by merrymaking and feasting. The Book of Esther is read in the synagogue, and it is customary for children to make noise to blot out the name of the evildoer Haman. Other customs related to the festival included the exchange of gifts, especially of food, the giving of alms to the poor, the presentation of Purim plays, and the wearing of costumes, especially by children. In Israel, a Purim carnival is held. Purim is considered a minor festival, and work is permitted.

Bibliography: See A. J. Rosenberg, Megillath Esther (1984); P. Goodman, Purim Anthology (1988).

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Purim

World Encyclopedia | 2005 | Copyright

Purim Ancient Jewish celebration of thanksgiving, held on the 14th day of the Jewish month of Adar (in February or March). It commemorates the deliverance of the Jews of Persia from a plot to destroy them. The story, which appears in the Old Testament Book of Esther, is read on this festival in all synagogue services. The gift of alms to the poor is obligatory, and the festival is associated with a carnival atmosphere.
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Purim

The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable | 2006 | | Copyright

Purim a lesser Jewish festival held in spring (on the 14th or 15th day of Adar) to commemorate the defeat of Haman's plot to massacre the Jews as recorded in the book of Esther. The name is a Hebrew word, plural of pūr, explained in the book of Esther (3:7, 9:24) as meaning ‘lot’, with allusion to the casting of lots by Haman to select the day on which the Jews were to be killed.
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ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "Purim." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. 10 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "Purim." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. (February 10, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O214-Purim.html

ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "Purim." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 2006. Retrieved February 10, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O214-Purim.html

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Purim

A Dictionary of the Bible | 1997 | | Copyright

Purim A Jewish festival. According to Esther 3: 6 all Jews were to be exterminated in a holocaust. The date was to be chosen by lot (Hebrew, purim), but before this took place Queen Esther, a Jewess, was able to foil the schemes of the antisemitic chancellor Haman. Purim is therefore observed as an annual holiday.
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W. R. F. BROWNING. "Purim." A Dictionary of the Bible. 1997. Encyclopedia.com. 10 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

W. R. F. BROWNING. "Purim." A Dictionary of the Bible. 1997. Encyclopedia.com. (February 10, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O94-Purim.html

W. R. F. BROWNING. "Purim." A Dictionary of the Bible. 1997. Retrieved February 10, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O94-Purim.html

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Purim

The Concise Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church | 2000 | | Copyright

Purim. A Jewish festival celebrated in the spring. It commemorates the deliverance of the Jews from massacre under the Persian Empire (473 BC), as related in the Book of Esther. The ‘feast of the Jews’ mentioned in Jn. 5: 1 was formerly thought to have been the Feast of Purim.
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E. A. LIVINGSTONE. "Purim." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church. 2000. Encyclopedia.com. 10 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

E. A. LIVINGSTONE. "Purim." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church. 2000. Encyclopedia.com. (February 10, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O95-Purim.html

E. A. LIVINGSTONE. "Purim." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church. 2000. Retrieved February 10, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O95-Purim.html

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Purim

The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English | 2009 | Copyright

Pu·rim / ˈpoŏrim; poŏˈrēm/ • n. a lesser Jewish festival held in spring (on the 14th or 15th day of Adar) to commemorate the defeat of Haman's plot to massacre the Jews as recorded in the book of Esther.

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"Purim." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. 10 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

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Purim

The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions | 1997 | | Copyright

Purim (Heb., ‘lots’). Jewish feast commemorating the deliverance of Jews, as recorded in the book of Esther. The feast is celebrated on 14 Adar; it was established by the 2nd cent. CE, and the Mishnah tractate Megillah discusses its observance.
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JOHN BOWKER. "Purim." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions. 1997. Encyclopedia.com. 10 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

JOHN BOWKER. "Purim." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions. 1997. Encyclopedia.com. (February 10, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O101-Purim.html

JOHN BOWKER. "Purim." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions. 1997. Retrieved February 10, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O101-Purim.html

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Purim

Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes | 2007 | Copyright

Purim •bedim, brim, crim, dim, glim, grim, Grimm, gym, him, hymn, Jim, Kim, limb, limn, nim, prim, quim, rim, scrim, shim, Sim, skim, slim, swim, Tim, trim, vim, whim •poem • goyim • cherubim • Hasidim •seraphim, teraphim •Elohim • Sikkim • Joachim • prelim •forelimb • Muslim • Blenheim •paynim • minim • pseudonym •homonym • anonym • synonym •eponym • acronym • antonym •metonym • Antrim • megrim •Leitrim • pilgrim • Purim • interim •passim • maxim • kibbutzim •Midrashim • literatim •seriatim, verbatim •victim •system • ecosystem • subsystem •item • Ashkenazim

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Free newspaper and magazine articles

Purim in Boston: Celebrating Redemption.
Newspaper article from: The Jewish Advocate (Boston, MA); 3/11/1993
Events/Purim.(COMMUNITY EVENTS)(Calendar)
Newspaper article from: The Jewish Advocate (Boston, MA); 3/11/2011
JCDS to celebrate Purim with spirit: students learn meaning of holiday.
Newspaper article from: The Jewish Advocate (Boston, MA); 3/21/2008

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