"They called these days "Purim" from the word "pur." Esther 9:26 (Israel365)

For Haman...had plotted to annihilate  the Jews and he cast a pur  (that is, the lot) to terrify and annihilate them.  But when she (Queen Esther) appeared  before the king, he commanded that  (Haman's) wicked scheme... should  recoil on his own head... Therefore  they called these days "Purim"  from the word "pur." ESTHER (9:24-26) כִּי הָמָן ... חָשַׁב עַל הַיְּהוּדִים  לְאַבְּדָם וְהִפִּל פּוּר- הוּא הַגּוֹרָל - לְהֻמָּם  וּלְאַבְּדָם. וּבְבֹאָהּ לִפְנֵי  הַמֶּלֶךְ אָמַר ...יָשׁוּב מַחֲשַׁבְתּוֹ  הָרָעָה  ...עַל רֹאשׁוֹ.... עַל כֵּן קָרְאוּ  לַיָּמִים הָאֵלֶּה פוּרִים עַל שֵׁם הַפּוּר אֶסְתֵּר ט:כד-כו kee ha-MAN ... tzo-RAYR kol ha-yi-hu-DEEM kha-SHAV al ha-yi-hu-DEEM li-ab-DAM vi-hi-PIL pur - hu ha-go-RAL - li-hu-MAN u-li-ab-DAM. u-v'vo-A lif-NAY ha-me-LEKH a-MAR im ha-say-FER ya-SHUV ma-kha-shav-TO ha-ra-A ... al ro-SHO ... al kayn kar-U la-ya-MEEM ha-ay-LE pu-REEM al shaym ha-PUR

Shabbat Inspiration

The book of Esther is the only book of Scripture where God's name is never mentioned, but our Sages teach that wherever the book refers to "the king" as in today's verse, it alludes to the true King above. The book gives beautiful lessons and hope for our days when God's hand is seemingly hidden. 

Today the Jews of Hebron keep miracles alive - a small minority surrounded by Arabs - staying connected to our holy sites and praying in the merit of our forefathers and foremothers buried in Hebron. Bring joy to the Hebron community this Purim by sponsoring their festive meal with the IDF soldiers who protect them, and distributing charity to the needy.

Support the Hebron Fund this Purim »




Purim Story Unveiled
Learn the story of Purim in this dynamic 4 minute video. Esther's heroism saved the Jews and taught eternal lessons relevant to our times.

Watch Here »


Hebron Kids Surprise Anti-Israel Activists
An anti-Israel group often comes to Hebron to “document” Israeli mistreatment of local Arabs. But on a recent visit, they were greeted by an unexpected sight. Read More »

Silver Miniature Torah Crown 

This sterling silver miniature Torah Crown features an antique design which is reminiscent of the style of
Torah that existed in ancient time. The Torah Crown or “Keter Torah” in Hebrew is known to be a
significant part of the Torah reading.

Get this Great Deal and Free Shipping »



Today's Israel Photo
On Purim, the Hebron Fund holds a joyful meal for Hebron residents and the IDF soldiers protecting them. Another joyous highlight is the parade to the Cave of Machpelah, where our Patriarchs and Matriarchs are buried.

Support the Hebron Fund »



Thank You
Today's Scenes and Inspiration is sponsored by Anie Nasir of New Zealand. Toda raba!

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Queen Esther- One Night With The King - full length movie (Purim)

One Night With The King

"One Night With The King" tells the story of the Jewess Hadassah, who became Queen Esther in the Persian Empire. Through her boldness and obedience, she helped save the Jew from extinction, once again. The story of Purim, the Jewish feast.

"From whence comes the purpose of a person's life? Come it by chance, a casting of the lot,or does a call of destiny beckon to each of us? Many have wondered about my little Hadassah and why a simple Jewish orphan was chosen to stand against the annihilation of her people. And yet the mystery of the girl most know as Esther begins not where one might think, but 500 years earlier with a single act of disobedience." Uncle Mordecai

Hadassah/Esther

Haman

King Xerxes

Mordecai

Celebrating Purim in New York 150 Years Ago - Israel's History - a Picture a Day

Israel's History - a Picture a Day (Beta)

---

A Purim Treat from the Archives of the Library of Congress

 -- Celebrating Purim in New York 150 Years Ago

Posted: 10 Mar 2014

Nearly all of our vintage photographs are from the Middle East, 

especially from the Holy Land.

But in honor of the Jewish festival of Purim, joyously commemorated this week by Jews around the world, we bring our readers a print we found in the Library of Congress archives.

The Purim holiday commemorates the victory of Queen Esther and Mordechai over the evil Haman of Persia, saving the lives of the Jewish people.



The picture appeared in an American newspaper on April 1, 1865. The wood engraving is captioned, "The Hebrew Purim Ball at the Academy of Music, March 14." The picture contains a large sign, "Merry Purim," another sign listing the "Order of Dancing," and merrymakers wearing costumes and masks.

The picture was published in Frank Leslie's illustrated newspaper, printed in New York, NY. The Academy of Music was built in 1854 and was located in Manhattan at Irving Place and East 14th Street.


"Chanucka celebration in New York City" 1880

We found another engraving from Frank Leslie's newspaper, also of the Academy of Music, in the Library of Congress archives. It is dated 1880 and captioned "New York City--the Chanucka celebration by the Young Men's Hebrew Association, at the Academy of Music, December 16th--scene of the sixth tableau, 'the dedication of the temple.'"

Click on pictures to enlarge.

The Russians Are Coming! Subbotnik Converts Are Making Aliya

Posted: 09 Mar 2014

Khudera, Russian proselytes (Library of Congress, circa 1906).

Today, the Library of Congress caption reads, "Identified
by researcher as Russian converts to Judaism (Subbotniki)"
Israeli news announced this week that the aliya (immigration) of Russian "Subbotniks" will resume.

Identified and trained by the Shavei Israel organization, the Subbotniks are descendants of a group of Russian Christians who assumed a Jewish lifestyle 200 years ago. They were persecuted by the Czars, Communists and Nazis.

The following feature appeared in Israel Daily Picture two years ago.

The Library of Congress' American Colony photo collection is full of mysterious pictures, some of which have been presented on these pages. Here's one, captioned "Khudera, Russian Proselytes," with the date listed as "between 1898 and 1934." Who or what is "Khudera?"

In the 19th century, a Christian sect in Russia kept Saturday as their day of Sabbath, thus earning the name "Subbotniks." They read the Old Testament and had a loose identification with Judaism.


Yoav Dubrovin (Dubrovin Farm Museum)

In the late 1800s, two emissaries from Eretz Yisrael (one, Meir Dizengoff, would become mayor of Tel Aviv) traveled to Europe to encourage Jews to move to the land of Israel. In Kovno they encountered a successful Subbotnik farmer named Dubrovin who peppered them with questions about the Bible and about farming and weather conditions in the Galilee. The respected sage of Kovno, Rabbi Yitzhak Elchanan Spektor, had befriended Dubrovin and after several years converted Dubrovin, now named Yoav, and his family to Judaism.

In 1903, Dubrovin moved to the land of Israel with his family of 13. In 1909, he established a very successful farm in Yesod HaMa'aleh in the upper Galilee.

So who are the "Russian Proselytes of Khudera?"

According to Yoav Dubrovin's biography, the family lived in Hadera before purchasing their farm in Yesod HaMa'aleh. Elsewhere in the Library of Congress collection there is reference to Jewish towns "Jewish coastal colonies: Herzlia, Ranana, Nathania, Khudeira. Herzlia" -- apparently what we call and spell as "Hadera."

The mystery photo is likely a Dubrovin family portrait (minus Yoav who was in his 70s at this time) and was probably taken around 1906. Yoav Dubrovin lived to the age of 104.

Yoav Dubrovin's son donated the farm to the Jewish National Fund in 1968, and today the farm house has been restored and is the centerpiece of the Dubrovin Farm Museum.