H a p p y P u r i m!
The Mitzvas of Purim
Purim Seudah – having a festive meal the day of Purim
Mishloach Manot – Sending food packages to friends & family
Megillah – Hearing the reading of the Megillah
Matanot La’evyonim – giving charity to needy
One of the Great Mitzvot is to learn Torah on Purim. Also don’t forget Mahatzit Hashekel – taking a silver coin of the equivalent of 10 grams of silver – and saying “zecher le Mahatzit ha Shekel” – In remembrance of the Half- Shekel. Then giving the money / or equivalent (about $6 for each family member to a poor person or worthy Torah charity).
Some Segulas / Amulet-Like Reccomendations – for Purim.
Queen Esther Prays for Downfall of Nazis
Rabbi Yudin and Rabbi Levi said in the name of Rabbi Yohanan, every instance of the phrase “King Ahashverosh” in the Megillah / Book of Esther refers to King Ahashverosh himself. But in every instance of the Word “King” alone, it has a double meaning. It refers to The Holy One (G-d) or Ahashverosh. (Midrash Rabbah Esther Chapter 3, Section 10). In the Megilah Esther 9:13, it says “Esther replied `If it pleases His Majesty allow the Jews who are in Shushan to act tomorrow as they did today, and let Haman’s ten sons be hanged on the gallows'”
The obvious question is – why would it help to hang the 10 sons of Haman again. They are already dead. One of the interpretations of this verse is that Queen Esther – had Ruach HaKodesh / a spirit of holiness and foresaw the Nazi’s downfall. She was praying for the Nazis to be hung also by the gallows.
— In the Megillah – the Book of Esther (9:6-10), where the 10 sons of evil Haman are killed, three Hebrew letters are written smaller than the rest. These letters [Taf (400), Shin (300), Zayin (7)] when added to 5000 (Hay”), add up to 5707. This is the Hebrew year (1946-1947 C.E.) when 10 Nazi war criminals were hung in Nuremberg, Germany (October 16, 1946) for their atrocious crimes against humanity.
There are several parallels of the Nazi’s judgment and the son’s of Haman’s Judgment. Haman had a daughter. She saw two people walking in the street. Mordechai on a horse and Haman leading him – a reward to Mordechai for having saved the king’s life. Haman’s daughter did not know who was leading and who was riding. She saw them from her window and emptied out her bedpan upon the leader. When the leader – Haman – showed his face – she was so astonished that she did such a thing to her father, she committed suicide.
At Nuremburg, There were eleven scheduled to be hung. One night before the hanging of the Nazis at Nuremburg, one committed suicide. He was also scheduled to be hanged on that day, but committed suicide using a potassium cyanide capsule the night before. Some say he was a transvestite.
Also, at the Nuremburg hangings, one of the Nazis stared at the witnesses facing the gallows and shouted “Purimfest 1946.” (Newsweek, October 28, 1946, page 45)