History of Purim in Timeline
Purim is a Jewish holiday celebrating the deliverance of the Jewish people from Haman's plot to exterminate them in ancient Persia, as told in the Book of Esther. Celebrated annually on the 14th of Adar (or Adar II in leap years), it is marked by joyous festivities. Key traditions include reading the Megillah (Book of Esther), sending gifts of food (mishloach manot), giving charity to the poor (matanot la'evyonim), and enjoying a festive meal (seudah). Costumes and noisemakers (graggers) are used during the Megillah reading to mock Haman's name. The holiday emphasizes themes of resilience, community, and the triumph over adversity.
November 1938: Julius Streicher's speech
In November 1938, following Kristallnacht, Nazi Julius Streicher referenced the Purim story to suggest Jews would inflict similar harm on Germans if they had the chance. Streicher implied that the Jews would institute a new Purim festival in Germany.
1942: Nazi attacks on Purim
On Purim in 1942, ten Jews were hanged in Zduńska Wola as supposed revenge for the hanging of Haman's ten sons. In 1942, on Purim, Nazis murdered over 5000 Jews, mostly children, in the Minsk Ghetto. All of the victims were shot and buried alive by the Nazis.
1943: Nazi attacks on Purim
In 1943, the Nazis shot ten Jews from the Piotrków ghetto. On Purim eve in 1943, over 100 Jewish doctors and their families were shot by the Nazis in Częstochowa. The following day, Jewish doctors were taken from Radom and shot nearby in Szydłowiec.
January 1944: Hitler's "Second Purim" Speech
In a speech on January 30, 1944, Hitler stated that if the Nazis were defeated, the Jews would celebrate "a second Purim".
October 1946: Nuremberg executions
On October 16, 1946, which was Hoshana Rabbah, ten Nazi defendants were executed by hanging after the Nuremberg Trials.
1947: Aftermath of Nuremberg Trials
In 1947, Hermann Göring, an eleventh Nazi official sentenced to death, committed suicide, which some have paralleled to Haman's daughter in Tractate Megillah.
March 1953: Stalin's paralysis and death
In March 1953, corresponding to Purim 1953, Joseph Stalin was suddenly paralyzed on March 1, and died four days later. Some connect this to metaphysical intervention during a Chabad Rabbi's Purim farbrengen, averting pogroms against Jews in the Soviet Union.
1960: Release of "Esther and the King" film
In 1960, the film "Esther and the King," starring Joan Collins as Esther and Richard Egan as Ahasuerus, was released.
1994: Cave of the Patriarchs massacre
In 1994, the Cave of the Patriarchs massacre took place during Purim.
March 1996: Dizengoff Center suicide bombing
In March 1996, on the eve of Purim, the Dizengoff Center suicide bombing took place, resulting in 13 deaths.
2006: "For Your Consideration" film released
In 2006, the comedy film "For Your Consideration" was released, featuring a film-within-a-film called "Home for Purim".
2006: Release of "One Night with the King" movie
In 2006, the movie "One Night with the King," chronicling the life of Esther, was released.
