Editing Jewish holidays (section)

===Purim—Festival of Lots===
{{Main|Purim}}
* Fast of Esther: normally 13 [[Adar]]
* Purim: 14 Adar
* Shushan Purim: 15 Adar
* In [[Leap year#Hebrew calendar|leap years on the Hebrew calendar]], the above dates are observed in the Second Adar ''(Adar Sheni)''. The 14th and 15th of First Adar ''(Adar Rishon)'' are known as ''Purim Katan''

====Purim Katan====
''Purim Katan'' ({{Script/Hebrew|פורים קטן}}) (lit., "small Purim") is observed on the 14th and 15th of First Adar in leap years. These days are marked by a small increase in festivity, including a prohibition on fasting, and slight changes in the liturgy.

====Ta'anit Esther–Fast of Esther====
{{Main article|Fast of Esther}}
[[File:Megillat Esther (1).jpg|thumb|250px|The opening chapter of a hand-written scroll of the Book of Esther, with reader's pointer]]
[[File:2 Mishloach Manot.jpg|thumb|[[Mishloah manot]]]]

''Ta'anit Esther'' ({{Script/Hebrew|תענית אסתר}}), or "Fast of Esther", is named in honor of the fast of [[Esther]] and her court as Esther prepared to approach the king unbidden to invite him and [[Haman (Bible)|Haman]] to a banquet.<ref>See {{Bibleverse||Esther|4:16|HE}}.</ref> It commemorates that fast, as well as one alluded to later in the [[Book of Esther]],<ref>{{Bibleverse||Esther|9:2|HE}}</ref> undertaken as the Jews prepared to battle their enemies.

This fast is observed like other minor fasts (see [[#Tzom Gedalia|Tzom Gedalia]], above). While normally observed on 13 Adar, the eve of Purim, this fast is advanced to Thursday, 11 Adar, when 13 Adar falls on Shabbat.

====Purim and Shushan Purim====
{{Main article|Purim}}
Purim ({{Script/Hebrew|פורים}}) commemorates the events that took place in the [[Book of Esther]]. The principal celebrations or commemorations include:<ref name="E9">See {{bibleverse||Esther|9|HE}}.</ref>
* The reading of the ''[[Book of Esther|''Megillah'']]''. Traditionally, this is read from a scroll twice during Purim–once in the evening and again in the morning. Ashkenazim have a custom of making disparaging noises at every mention of [[Haman (Judaism)|Haman]]'s name during the reading.
* The giving of [[Purim#Food gifts and charity|''Mishloakh Manot'']], gifts of food and drink to friends and neighbors.
* The giving of [[Purim#Food gifts and charity|''Matanot La'evyonim'']], gifts to the poor and the needy.
* The [[Purim#Purim meal (se'udah) and festive drinking|Purim meal]] (''Se'udat Purim'' or ''Purim Se'udah''). This meal is traditionally accompanied by consumption of alcohol, often heavy,<ref>[[Megillah (Talmud)|Megillah]] 7b</ref> although Jewish sages have warned about the need to adhere to all religious laws even in a drunken state.<ref group=Note>The requirement to drink at the Purim Se'udah does not create license for dangerous or immoral behavior. See [[Purim#Purim meal (se'udah) and festive drinking|''Se'udat Purim'']], as well as {{cite web|url=http://www.koltorah.org/Volume%2013/24%20Tetzaveh%20and%20Purim.htm#Author4|title=Baruch Haman, Arur Mordechai|author=Josh Rossman and Shlomo Yaros|date=March 6, 2004|work=Kol Torah, Vol. 13 No. 24|publisher=Torah Academy of Bergen County|access-date=August 8, 2012|archive-date=July 18, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110718063005/http://koltorah.org/Volume%2013/24%20Tetzaveh%20and%20Purim.htm#Author4|url-status=dead}} and {{cite web|url=http://www.myjewishlearning.com/holidays/Jewish_Holidays/Purim/At_Home/Meal/Drinking_on_Purim.shtml|title=Drinking on Purim|author=Jeffrey Spitzer|website=MyJewishLearning.com|access-date=August 8, 2012|archive-date=January 9, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150109090647/http://www.myjewishlearning.com/holidays/Jewish_Holidays/Purim/At_Home/Meal/Drinking_on_Purim.shtml|url-status=dead}}</ref>
Several customs have evolved from these principal commemorations. One widespread custom to act out the story of Purim. The [[Purim spiel]], or Purim play, has its origins in this, although the ''Purim spiel'' is not limited to that subject.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://judaism.about.com/od/purim/a/purim_play.htm|title=Purim Shpiels|author=Lisa Katz|website=about.com Judaism|access-date=December 26, 2012|archive-date=January 17, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130117072754/http://judaism.about.com/od/purim/a/purim_play.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref> Wearing of costumes and masks is also very common. These may be an outgrowth of Purim plays, but there are several theories as to the origin of the custom, most related in some way to the "hidden" nature of the miracles of Purim.<ref group=Note>One common suggestion is that the custom comes from Esther's hiding her family background when first brought to the palace.{{bibleverse||Esther|2:10|HE}}). See {{cite web|url=http://judaism.about.com/od/holidays/a/Purim.htm|title=Purim–Jewish Holiday of Purim|author=Ariela Pelaia|website=about.com Judaism|access-date=December 26, 2012|archive-date=November 18, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121118220116/http://judaism.about.com/od/holidays/a/Purim.htm|url-status=dead}} See {{cite web|url=http://www.vosizneias.com/50116/2010/02/25/new-york-purim-costumes-%E2%80%93-a-history-%E2%80%93-reasons-and-origins|title=New York–Purim Costumes–A History–Reasons and Origins|author=Rabbi Yair Hoffman|date=February 25, 2010|website=Vos iz Neias.com|access-date=December 26, 2012}}, for another theory.</ref>

Purim carnivals of various types have also become customary. In Israel there are festive parades, known as ''Ad-D'lo-Yada'',<ref>Literally, "until you don't know", a phrase from (Babylonian Talmud) Megillah 7b about drinking on Purim. See [[Purim#Purim meal (se'udah) and festive drinking|Purim (Purim meal [se'udah] and festive drinking)]].</ref> in the town's main street. The largest and most renowned is in [[Holon]].<ref>See, for example, {{cite web|url=http://www.theicenter.org/resource/adloyadah-%E2%80%93-purim-parade-israel |title=ADLOYADA-The Purim Parade in Israel |website=theicenter.org |access-date=June 2, 2017 }}</ref>

Most Jews celebrate Purim on 14 Adar, the day of celebration after the Jews defeated their enemies. Because Jews in the capital city of [[Shushan]] fought with their enemies an extra day, Purim is celebrated a day later there, on the day known as {{Script/Hebrew|שושן פורים}}, [[Purim#Sushan Purim|Shushan Purim]]. This observance was expanded to "walled cities",<ref name="E9"/> which are defined as cities "walled since the time of [[Joshua]]".<ref>Babylonian Talmud: ''Megillah'' 2b, 3b, 10b.</ref> In practice, there are no Jews living in Shushan ([[Shush, Iran]]), and Shushan Purim is observed fully only in [[Jerusalem]]. Cities like [[Safed]] and [[Tiberias]] also partially observe Shushan Purim. Elsewhere, Shushan Purim is marked only by a small increase in festivity, including a prohibition on fasting, and slight changes in the liturgy.

'''Purim Meshulash'''

If 15 Adar falls out on Shabbos, Jews in Jerusalem celebrate a unique 3-day Purim known as Purim Meshulash. The reading of the Megillah and the giving of ''Matanot L'evyonim'' occur on Friday; the Torah Reading for Purim is read on Shabbos and ''Al-Hanisim'' (the liturgical addition for Purim) is said; and the Purim Meal and the giving of ''Mishloach Manot'' occur on Sunday.