Purim

Many Jewish families have also had "family Purims" throughout the centuries, celebrated at home, whereby they celebrate their escape from persecution, an accident, or any other type of misfortune. Other Mazda factories are in Hofu and Flat Rock, Michigan. According to some sources, the influential Rabbi Moses Sofer (the Hatam Sofer), who was born in Frankfurt, celebrated Purim Vintz every year, even when rabbi in Pressburg. The Mazda CX-7 is slated to be built here in early 2006. This commemorates the Fettmilch uprising (1616-1620), in which one Vincenz Fettmilch attempted to exterminate the Jewish community [1]. Mazda makes many models in Hiroshima for worldwide export, including the popular MX-5/Miata and Mazda RX-8. The best known is Purim Vintz, traditionally celebrated in Frankfurt am Main, one week after the regular Purim. Mazda Motor Company, now controlled by the Ford Motor Company, is by far Hiroshima's dominant company.

Many cities have until recently had local "Purims", all commemorating the deliverance of the local community from a particular anti-semitic ruler or group. The total area is 741.75 km². Shushan Purim, is celebrated by those in Jerusalem the day after Purim. As of 2003, the city has an estimated population of 1,136,684 and the density of 1532.44 persons per km². Orah Hayyim, 697). Hiroshima has 8 wards (ku):. 46b; comp. Hiroshima is known for its version of okonomiyaki, called "Hiroshima-yaki" or "Hiroshima pancake." The Hiroshima version of okonomiyaki is unique for its inclusion of yakisoba noodles.

i. Although it lies outside the city of Hiroshima, it is accessible by streetcar or railroad (and ferry) from the central train station. The distinctions between the first and the second Purim in leap years are mentioned in the Mishnah (Meg. Its large red "floating" gate is one of the best known sights of Japan. The respective days of the first Adar being then called Purim Katan ("Little Purim" in Hebrew), for which there have been set forth certain observances similar to those for Purim proper, with the exception of reading the Megillah, sending gifts to the poor, and fasting on the 13th of the month. Itsukushima ("Miyajima") Shrine is in the town of Miyajima, on the island of Itsukushima, across from Hiroshima. In leap years on the Hebrew calendar, Purim is celebrated in the second month of Adar, but by the Karaites in the first month of Adar. Hiroshima's rebuilt castle (nicknamed Rijō, meaning Koi Castle) houses a museum of life in the Edo period.

The fast on the 13th is still commonly observed; but when that date falls on a Sabbath, the fast is put back to Thursday, Friday being needed to prepare for the Sabbath and the following Purim festival. League football team. Some, however, used to fast three days in commemoration of the fasting of Esther; but as fasting was prohibited during the month of Nisan, the first and second Mondays and the Thursday following Purim were chosen. Sanfrecce Hiroshima is the city's J. 2a, "The 13th was the time of gathering", which gathering is explained to have had also the purpose of public prayer and fasting. Six-time champions of Japan's Central League, the team has gone on to win the Japan Series three times. 18 and Meg. Baseball fans immediately recognize the city as the home of the Hiroshima Toyo Carp.

ix. Tens of thousands of people marked the 60th anniversary of the atomic bombing of the city on August 6, 2005. The first who mentions it is Rabbi Aḥa of Shabḥa (8th cent.) in "She'eltot", iv.; and the reason there given for its institution is based on an arbitrary interpretation of Esth. foreign policy and urge the president to visit Hiroshima. The Fast of Esther, celebrated before Purim, on the 13th of Adar, is not an original part of the Purim celebration, nor was it later instituted "in commemoration of the fasting of Esther, Mordechai, and the people", since this fasting fell, according to rabbinical tradition, in the month of Nisan and lasted three days. It has often been used as an occasion to criticize U.S. This custom is no longer practiced. Every year on August 6, the mayor of Hiroshima gives a speech called "The Peace Declaration" to commemorate the atomic bombing of the city.

The Rabbis themselves, to avoid danger, tried to abolish these customs, often even calling the magistracy to their aid, as in London in 1783. For the most part, however, Hiroshima has updated its streetcars over the years. 309, 317, and Cassel, l.c.). Some streetcars that survived the war - and the nuclear attack - were put back into service, and four of these are still running today. ii. (After World War II, Japanese cities - like British ones - were anxious to get rid of their streetcar systems due to damage to the infrastructure, and so there were plenty of streetcars available to give away.) Hiroshima thus rebuilt its streetcar system along with the rest of the city, and thus Hiroshima is the only city in Japan with an extensive streetcar system (although other cities have streetcar lines). Schudt, l.c. Also, as a result of the atomic bombing, Hiroshima began to receive donations of streetcars from all over Japan.

These customs often aroused the wrath of Christians, who interpreted them as a disguised attempt to ridicule Jesus and the cross; prohibitions were issued against these displays; e.g., under the reign of Honorius (395-423) and of Theodosius II (408-450; comp. In 1994, the city of Hiroshima hosted the Asian Games. As soon as the reader began to read the Megillah, the house with all its occupants was set on fire to the enjoyment of the spectators. As part of that effort, the Hiroshima Interpreters' and Guide's Association (HIGA) was established in 1992 in order to facilitate translation services for conferences, and the Hiroshima Peace Institute was established in 1998 within the Hiroshima University. The whole was then put on the almemar, where stood also the wax figures of Zeresh (Haman's wife) and two guards — one to her right and the other to her left — all attired in a flimsy manner and with pipes in their mouths. As a result, the city of Hiroshima was receiving more international attention as a desirable location for holding international conferences on peace as well as social issues. In Frankfurt am Main, Germany, it was customary to make a house of wax wherein the figures of Haman and his executioner, also of wax, were placed side by side. 1968).

In Italy, Jewish children used to range themselves in rows, and pelt one another with nuts; while the adults rode through the streets with fir-branches in their hands, shouted, or blew trumpets round a doll representing Haman and which was finally burned with due solemnity at the stake. 1905-d. As early as the fifth century, and especially in the Geonic period (9th and 10th centuries), it was a custom to burn Haman in effigy on Purim. In 1949, Hiroshima was proclaimed a City of Peace by the Japanese parliament, at the initiative of its mayor Shinzo Hamai (b. Some of them date from the Talmudic period. Several civic leaders and scholars were consulted about the rebuilding plan. Outside the synagogue the pranks indulged in on Purim by both children and adults have been carried even to a greater extreme. Hiroshima was rebuilt after the war, with new modern buildings rising all over the city.

In some congregations, people who do not dress up have to perform a forfeit, such as having to sing a song, or being squirted with a water pistol. They have written a letter of protest every time a nuclear weapon has been detonated anywhere in the world since 1968. Jews are also encouraged to dress up, with many people dressing up as pop stars, animals or even nuns. The city government continues to advocate the abolition of nuclear weapons, and has advocated more broadly for world peace. For example, many congregations will read the prayers in ways which would be considered sacrilegious on any other occasion during the year - for example, asking the congregation to have a race, where the prayers would be read as fast as possible, or singing some prayers to the tune of widely-known songs, which may even be Christian, to add to the stupidity. After the nuclear attack, Hiroshima was rebuilt as a “peace memorial city”, and the closest surviving building to the location of the bomb's detonation was designated the "Atomic Bomb Dome," a part of the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park. Purim is also a time for other unusual goings-on. The American atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki are commonly believed to be the major factor leading to the surrender of the Japanese government six days after the latter attack.

The custom of using noisemakers in synagogue on Purim is now almost universal. It was the second such device to be detonated, and the first ever to be used in military action. Some of the rabbis protested against these uproarious excesses, considering them a sinful disturbance of public worship, but did so in vain. Air Force B-29 bomber which was altered specifically to hold the bomb, killing an estimated 80,000 civilians and heavily damaging the city. For noisemaking, others used a noisy rattle, called "gragger" or "greggar" (from Polish grzégarz). On August 6, 1945 the nuclear weapon Little Boy was dropped on Hiroshima by the Enola Gay, a U.S. Some wrote the name of Haman on the soles of their shoes, and at the mention of the name stamped with their feet as a sign of contempt. This role continued until World War II.

Ultimately, the stones fell into disuse, with the knocking alone remaining. During the First Sino-Japanese War, Hiroshima emerged as a major supply and logistics base for the Japanese military. 19) is explained to mean "even from wood and stones", the rabbis introduced the custom of writing the name of Haman, the offspring of Amalek, on two smooth stones and of knocking or rubbing them constantly until the name was blotted out. After the han was abolished the city became the capital of Hiroshima prefecture. xxv. Finally Asano was appointed the daimyo of this area and Hiroshima served as the capital of Hiroshima han during the Edo period. In accordance with a passage in the Midrash, where the verse "Thou shalt blot out the remembrance of Amalek" (Deut. The winner Tokugawa Ieyasu deprived Mori Terumoto of most of his fiefs including Hiroshima and gave Aki province to another daimyo who had supported him.

For example, during the public service in many congregations, when the reader of the Megillah mentions Haman or his sons, there is boisterous hissing, stamping, and rattling This practice traces its origin to French and German rabbis of the 13th century. About a half century later, after the Battle of Sekigahara, his grandson and the leader of the West Army Mori Terumoto was on the losing side. Indeed, Purim was an occasion on which much joyous license was permitted even within the walls of the synagogue itself. Hiroshima was founded by Mori Motonari as his capital. This pastry's triangular shape is recognized as a symbol, representing the tri-cornered hat which Haman (Purim's chief villain) wore. The city is almost entirely flat and only slightly above sea level; to the northwest and northeast of the city, some hills rise to 700 feet. These are flattish triangular pastries, with a pocket in the center, traditionally filled with a sweet poppy seed (or sometimes prune) based filling, but more recently made with almost any sweet filling, including fruit or chocolate. The city is located on the broad, flat delta of the Ota River, which has 7 channel outlets dividing the city into six islands which project into Hiroshima Bay.

During Purim, it is traditional to eat festive meals and to serve hamantaschen (taschen [pockets] of mon [poppy seed]). Hiroshima was founded in 1589, on the coast of the Seto Inland Sea, and became a major urban center during the Meiji period. A popular song is "Ani Purim". . For the children's sake certain verses from the Book of Esther have been sung in chorus on Purim. As of 2004, the city's mayor is Tadatoshi Akiba. Purim songs have been introduced even into the synagogue. Hiroshima gained municipality status on April 1, 1889 and was designated on April 1, 1980 by government ordinance.

In Israel there are Purim parades, and men, women, boys and girls frolic publicly in costumes and masks, and indulge in all kinds of jollity. It is most known throughout the world as the first city in history subjected to nuclear warfare. The custom is still practiced today amongst religious Jews of all denominations, and among both religious and non-religious Israelis. Geographical location 34°23′07″N, 132°27′19″E (City Hall). Although some rigorous authorities issued prohibitions against this custom, the people did not heed them, and the more lenient view prevailed. The city of Hiroshima (広島市; -shi) is the capital of Hiroshima Prefecture, and the largest city in the Chugoku region of western Honshu, the largest of Japan's islands. He expresses the opinion that, since the purpose of the masquerade is only merrymaking, it should not be considered a transgression of the Biblical law regarding dress. John Hersey, Hiroshima, ISBN 0679721037.

17, quoted by Moses Isserles on Orah Hayyim, 696:8. Gar Alperovitz, The Decision to Use the Atomic Bomb, ISBN 067976285X. 1508 at Venice) in his Responsa, No. 1961. The first among Jewish authors to mention this custom is Judah Minz (d. ed. From Italy, this custom spread over all countries where Jews lived, except perhaps the Orient. Robert Jungk, Children of the Ashes, 1st Eng.

The custom of masquerading on Purim was first introduced among the Italian Jews about the close of the fifteenth century under the influence of the Roman carnival. The author shows why the Japanese were preparing to continue the fight for an indefinite period and why they expected that a bloody defense of their main islands would lead to something less than unconditional surrender and a continuation of their existing government. In remembrance of how God remained hidden throughout the Purim Miracle, Jews dress up on Purim and many hide their faces. Uses newly declassified US military intelligence records and other primary sources from many countries to make the case that bombing had a huge net saving of lives, Japanese and American, over an invasion. Although Jews believe that everything turned out in the end for the best as a direct result of divine intervention (that is, a series of miracles), the Book of Esther lacks any mention of God's name and seemingly appears to have been nothing more than a result of natural occurrences. Frank, “Downfall: The End of the Imperial Japanese Empire” (Penguin, 2001 ISBN 0141001461), a thorough analysis of all the available contemporaneous intel from the perspectives of the various participants during the last months of the war. However, there is also an important concept of hester panim, or "hidden face," a reference to God's role in the Purim miracle. Richard B.

Many commentaries state that Haman's daughter committed suicide after dumping the rotting contents of a trash bin on her father's head, thinking that he was Mordechai). Pacific War Research Society, “Japan's Longest Day”, the internal Japanese account of the surrender and how it was almost thwarted by fanatic soldiers who attempted a coup against the Emperor. Mistaken identity plays an important role in The Book of Esther, as Esther publically hid her cultural origins from the public, Haman was forced to lead Mordechai on horseback through the capital city Shushan (Haman had thought that the King would order Mordechai to lead Haman around, and this led to confusion among Haman's followers. Volgograd, Russia. Costumes and masks are worn to disguise the wearers' identities. Montreal, Canada. Children in particular enjoy dressing up as the characters found in the Scroll of Esther, including King Ahasuerus, Queen Vashti, Queen Esther, Mordechai, and the evil Haman. Honolulu, United States.

Dressing up in masks and costumes is one of the most entertaining customs of the Purim holiday. Hannover, Germany. Some men dress in women's attire and vice versa. The traditional tunes of prayers sung in the synagogue are sometimes altered, always in deliberately humorous ways. Daegu, South Korea. Many kinds of merry-making and mockery have been indulged in on Purim, so that among the masses it has become almost a general rule that "on Purim everything is allowed", even transgressions of certain Biblical laws. Chongqing, China. The Rama effectively pushed a message of moderation, saying that one should only drink a little more that what one is used to drinking and he concludes with "Whether one drinks more or drinks less, the main thing is that his intention is for the sake of Heaven." The Rama encouraged merry-making, but total intoxication was condemned. Saeki-ku.

In response, some commentators like Moses Isserles (The Rama) who worried about the abuse of this rule, developed less literal ways to understand this invitation. Nishi-ku. While Jews have long been noted for a lack of alcohol abuse, drunkenness was licensed on this holiday. Naka-ku. 7b) that one should drink on Purim until he can no longer distinguish "Cursed be Haman" from "Blessed be Mordechai", a saying which was codified in the authoritative code of Jewish law, the Shulkhan Arukh. Minami-ku. The jovial character of the feast was illustrated in the saying of the Talmud (Meg. Higashi-ku.

Thus Ashkenazi Jews eat Hamantaschen and Hamanohren (in Italy, orrechi d'Aman), Kreppchen, Kindchen, etc. Asaminami-ku. Jews developed special pastries for this holiday; cakes were shaped into special forms and were given names having some symbolic bearing on the historical events of Purim. Asakita-ku. Hence it was the rule to have at least one festive meal, called Seudat Purim, toward the evening of the 14th. Aki-ku. The national rather than the religious character of the festival made it appear appropriate to celebrate the occasion by feasting. Mitaki Temple.

In some congregations, it is customary to place a charity box in the vestibule of the synagogue. Shukkei Garden. It was obligatory upon the poorest Jew, even on one who was himself dependent on charity, to give to other poor — at least to two people. Hiroshima Castle. No distinction was to be made among the poor; anyone who was willing to accept charity, even a non-Jew, was to be allowed to participate. Hiroshima Peace Memorial. In the synagogue, regular collections may be made on the festival, and the money is distributed among the needy.

Jews send gifts of food (called "Mishloach manot"), especially pastries, to one another, and Jews give charity to the poor. Over time, this became one of the most prominent features of the celebration of Purim. The Book of Esther prescribes "the sending of portions one to another, and gifts to the poor". The Bobov purimspiel is still performed annually, at midnight, inside the Bobov main synagogue in Brooklyn.

The Bobov Hassidic group has never ceased performing its Purimspiel. Because satire was deemed inappropriate for the synagogue itself, they were usually performed outdoors in its court. By the 18th century in eastern Romania and some other parts of Eastern Europe, Purim plays -- Purimspiels -- had evolved into broad-ranging satires with music and dance, precursors to Yiddish theater, for which the story of Esther was little more than a pretext: indeed, by the mid-19th century, some were even based on other stories, such as Joseph sold by his brothers, Daniel, or the Sacrifice of Isaac. Other writings (dramas, plays, etc.) intended for general edification, both in Hebrew and in other languages, have been composed as well.

These include a large number of hymns intended for the public service. Purim gave rise to many religious compositions, some of which were incorporated into the liturgy. 8-16, the story of the attack on the Jews by Amalek, the progenitor of Haman, is also to be read. xvii.

30b), Ex. According to the Mishnah (Meg. According to Jewish law the Megillah may be read in any language intelligible to the audience. It has been also customary since the time of the Geonim (early medieval era) to unroll the whole Megillah before reading it, in order to give it the appearance of an epistle.

26, 29) to the Book of Esther. ix. In some places, however, it is not chanted, but is read like a letter, because of the name "iggeret" (epistle) which is applied (Esth. The Megillah is read with a traditional chant differing from that used in the customary reading of the Torah.

3, which relate the origin of Mordechai and his triumph. 15-16, and x. 5, viii. The congregation was to recite aloud with the reader the verses ii.

7-10) in one breath, to indicate their simultaneous death. ix. For example, the reader is to pronounce the names of the ten sons of Haman (Esth. The Talmud added other provisions.

However, the Talmud, a later work, prescribed three benedictions before the reading and one benediction after the reading. In the Mishnah, the recitation of a benediction on the reading of the Megillah is not yet a universally recognized obligation. Further, he obliged women to attend the reading of the Megillah, inasmuch as it was a woman, Queen Esther, through whom the miraculous deliverance of the Jews was accomplished. Originally this enactment was for the 14th of Adar only; later, however, Rabbi Joshua ben Levi (3d cent.) prescribed that the Megillah should be read on the eve of Purim also.

2a) to the "Men of the Great Synod", of which Mordechai is reported to have been a member. The first religious ceremony ordained for the celebration of Purim is the reading of the Book of Esther (the "Megillah") in the synagogue, a regulation ascribed in the Talmud (Meg. The siddur (Jewish prayer book) has a special prayer to be said on this festival. The Book of Esther enjoins the annual celebration of the feast among the Jews on the 14th and 15th of Adar, commanding that they should "make them days of feasting and joy, and of sending portions one to another, and gifts to the poor".

5a; Maimonides, "Yad", Megillah). i. Purim has been held in high esteem by Judaism at all times; some have held that when all the prophetical and hagiographical works are forgotten, the Book of Esther will still be remembered, and, accordingly, the Feast of Purim will continue to be observed (Jerusalem Talmud, Meg. Accordingly, business transactions and even manual labor are allowed on Purim, although in certain places restrictions have been imposed on work (Shulkhan Arukh, Orach Chayim, 696).

Like Hanukkah, Purim's status as a holiday is on a lesser level than those ordained holy by the Torah. . (In a small number of cities that were walled in ancient times, it is instead celebrated on the 15th.) As with all Jewish holidays, Purim begins at sundown on the previous day. Purim is celebrated annually on the 14th of the Hebrew month of Adar.

According to that book, the feast was instituted as a national one by the book's protagonists, Mordechai and Esther. Purim (פּוּרִים "Lots", Standard Hebrew Purim, Tiberian Hebrew Pûrîm: plural of פּוּר pûr "Lot", from Akkadian pūru) is a Jewish holiday that commemorates the deliverance of the Persian Jews from the plot of the evil Haman to exterminate them, as recorded in the biblical Book of Esther.