Jewish communities celebrate Purim
Purim is a Jewish holiday commemorating the saving of the Jewish people from genocide. The story is recorded in the Book of Esther.
Purim is celebrated among Jews with costumes, gifts of food and drink, donations to the poor and public recitation of the Book of Esther.
- Jewish Ultra-Orthodox men and children wearing costumes, read the Book of Esther, which tells the story of the Jewish festival of Purim, in Bnei Brak, Israel, Wednesday, March 23, 2016. The Jewish holiday of Purim commemorates the Jews’ salvation from genocide in ancient Persia, as recounted in the Book of Esther. (AP Photo/Oded Balilty)
- Jewish Orthodox men and children of the Tzanz Hasidic dynasty community read the Book of Esther, which tells the story of the Jewish festival of Purim, in Netanya, Israel, Wednesday, March 23, 2016. The Jewish holiday of Purim commemorates the Jews’ salvation from genocide in ancient Persia, as recounted in the Book of Esther. (AP Photo/Ariel Schalit)
- An acrobat jumps from the top of a school building during a performance for foreign migrant workers children to celebrate the Purim festival in Tel Aviv, Israel, Tuesday, March 22, 2016. The Jewish holiday of Purim commemorates the Jews’ salvation from genocide in ancient Persia, as recounted in the Book of Esther, which is read in synagogues. Other customs include: sending food parcels and giving charity; dressing up in masks and costumes; eating a festive meal; and public celebrations. (AP Photo/Ariel Schalit)
- An acrobat performs for foreign migrant workers children to celebrate the Purim festival in Tel Aviv, Israel, Tuesday, March 22, 2016. The Jewish holiday of Purim commemorates the Jews’ salvation from genocide in ancient Persia, as recounted in the Book of Esther, which is read in synagogues. Other customs include: sending food parcels and giving charity; dressing up in masks and costumes; eating a festive meal; and public celebrations. (AP Photo/Ariel Schalit)
- Foreign migrant workers children to celebrate the Purim festival in Tel Aviv, Israel, Tuesday, March 22, 2016. The Jewish holiday of Purim commemorates the Jews’ salvation from genocide in ancient Persia, as recounted in the Book of Esther, which is read in synagogues. Other customs include: sending food parcels and giving charity; dressing up in masks and costumes; eating a festive meal; and public celebrations. (AP Photo/Ariel Schalit)
- A Jewish Ultra-Orthodox boy wears a costume as others read the Book of Esther, which tells the story of the Jewish festival of Purim, in Bnei Brak, Israel, Wednesday, March 23, 2016. The Jewish holiday of Purim commemorates the Jews’ salvation from genocide in ancient Persia, as recounted in the Book of Esther. (AP Photo/Oded Balilty)
- An acrobat performs for foreign migrant workers children to celebrate the Purim festival in Tel Aviv, Israel, Tuesday, March 22, 2016. The Jewish holiday of Purim commemorates the Jews’ salvation from genocide in ancient Persia, as recounted in the Book of Esther, which is read in synagogues. Other customs include: sending food parcels and giving charity; dressing up in masks and costumes; eating a festive meal; and public celebrations. (AP Photo/Ariel Schalit)
- Boys in costume play out side a synagogue of the Tzanz Hasidic dynasty community as others read the Book of Esther, which tells the story of the Jewish festival of Purim, in Netanya, Israel, Wednesday, March 23, 2016. The Jewish holiday of Purim commemorates the Jews’ salvation from genocide in ancient Persia, as recounted in the Book of Esther. (AP Photo/Ariel Schalit)
- Jewish Orthodox men and children of the Tzanz Hasidic dynasty community read the Book of Esther, which tells the story of the Jewish festival of Purim, in Netanya, Israel, Wednesday, March 23, 2016. The Jewish holiday of Purim commemorates the Jews’ salvation from genocide in ancient Persia, as recounted in the Book of Esther. (AP Photo/Ariel Schalit)
- Jewish Ultra-Orthodox men and children, read the Book of Esther, which tells the story of the Jewish festival of Purim, in Bnei Brak, Israel, Wednesday, March 23, 2016. The Jewish holiday of Purim commemorates the Jews’ salvation from genocide in ancient Persia, as recounted in the Book of Esther. (AP Photo/Oded Balilty)
- An Ultra-Orthodox Jewish young man prays next to a dressep up kid before before reading the book of Esther at a synagogue in the Israeli city of Beit Shemesh on March 23, 2016 during the feast of Purim. The carnival-like Purim holiday is celebrated with parades and costume parties to commemorate the deliverance of the Jewish people from a plot to exterminate them in the ancient Persian empire 2,500 years ago, as recorded in the Biblical Book of Esther. (AFP Photo/Menahem Kahana)
- A girl walks to a synagogue of the Tzanz Hasidic dynasty community to read the Book of Esther, which tells the story of the Jewish festival of Purim, in Netanya, Israel, Wednesday, March 23, 2016. The Jewish holiday of Purim commemorates the Jews’ salvation from genocide in ancient Persia, as recounted in the Book of Esther. (AP Photo/Ariel Schalit)
- Ultra-Orthodox Jews and dressed up children read the book of Esther at a synagogue in the Israeli city of Beit Shemesh on March 23, 2016 during the feast of Purim. The carnival-like Purim holiday is celebrated with parades and costume parties to commemorate the deliverance of the Jewish people from a plot to exterminate them in the ancient Persian empire 2,500 years ago, as recorded in the Biblical Book of Esther. (AFP Photo/Menahem Kahana)
- Ultra-Orthodox Jewish children play before reading the book of Esther at a synagogue in the Israeli city of Beit Shemesh on March 23, 2016 during the feast of Purim. The carnival-like Purim holiday is celebrated with parades and costume parties to commemorate the deliverance of the Jewish people from a plot to exterminate them in the ancient Persian empire 2,500 years ago, as recorded in the Biblical Book of Esther. (AFP Photo/Menahem Kahana)
- An Ultra-Orthodox Jew and his children read the book of Esther at a synagogue in the Israeli city of Beit Shemesh on March 23, 2016 during the feast of Purim. The carnival-like Purim holiday is celebrated with parades and costume parties to commemorate the deliverance of the Jewish people from a plot to exterminate them in the ancient Persian empire 2,500 years ago, as recorded in the Biblical Book of Esther. (AFP Photo/Menahem Kahana)
- Ultra-Orthodox Jewish children play before reading the book of Esther at a synagogue in the Israeli city of Beit Shemesh on March 23, 2016 during the feast of Purim. The carnival-like Purim holiday is celebrated with parades and costume parties to commemorate the deliverance of the Jewish people from a plot to exterminate them in the ancient Persian empire 2,500 years ago, as recorded in the Biblical Book of Esther. (AFP Photo/Menahem Kahana)
- Ultra-Orthodox Jewish men read the book of Esther at a synagogue in the Israeli city of Beit Shemesh on March 23, 2016 during the feast of Purim. The carnival-like Purim holiday is celebrated with parades and costume parties to commemorate the deliverance of the Jewish people from a plot to exterminate them in the ancient Persian empire 2,500 years ago, as recorded in the Biblical Book of Esther. (AFP Photo/Menahem Kahana)
- Ultra-Orthodox Jews and a dressed up boy read the book of Esther at a synagogue in the Israeli city of Beit Shemesh on March 23, 2016 during the feast of Purim. The carnival-like Purim holiday is celebrated with parades and costume parties to commemorate the deliverance of the Jewish people from a plot to exterminate them in the ancient Persian empire 2,500 years ago, as recorded in the Biblical Book of Esther. (AFP Photo/Menahem Kahana)
- Ultra-Orthodox Jews and dressed up children read the book of Esther at a synagogue in the Israeli city of Beit Shemesh on March 23, 2016 during the feast of Purim. The carnival-like Purim holiday is celebrated with parades and costume parties to commemorate the deliverance of the Jewish people from a plot to exterminate them in the ancient Persian empire 2,500 years ago, as recorded in the Biblical Book of Esther. (AFP Photo/Menahem Kahana)