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Today, the city of Jerusalem is rejoicing over the festival of Purim, when the evil Haman of ancient Persia sought to destroy the Jewish people, but the Almighty saved the Jews in a complete turnaround, a true miracle. The month that Haman set aside for grief and mourning was transformed into a month of rejoicing and celebration. Did you know that Purim is celebrated with four specific commandments (mitzvot): the public reading of the Book of Esther; eating a lavish feast; exchanging food packages with friends; and giving charity to the poor. Sadly, for Israel’s 1.7 million citizens living under the poverty line, fulfilling most of these obligations is only a dream. Therefore, Colel Chabad, Israel's oldest continuous charity since 1788, has devoted itself to ensuring that needy Israelis have the opportunity to celebrate Purim with festive joy, just like everyone else.
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