Subject Guide: Holidays

Purim is the joyous holiday that “marks the period Jews were barely snatched from the hangman’s noose,” as it is explained in Jayne Cohen’s holiday cookbook. The word “Purim” means “lots,” as the evil Haman cast lots to determine the time when the Jews were to be killed. It is said that Purim and Hanukkah—which are sometimes called the “Diaspora Festivals”—were “instituted by the Sages to commemorate miracles and bring to mind aspects of spiritual potential that come to the fore in time of danger to our national existence” (from “Purim—its observance and significance…”).

Purim Association Collection, I-20

The collection consists of two minutes books, a scrapbook, and a folder. It is valuable to researchers interested in Philanthropy, Purim observance, relations with non-Jews, societies for men, and the New York German-Jewish community in the late 1800s. In March 1862, a group of wealthy Jewish young men conducted the first Purim ball on Shushan Purim. Soon after the ball, they held a meeting and decided to form an organization which provided social entertainments for charitable purposes. Although the Purim Association was founded by Jews, people of all faiths could be invited by the Association's members. Over the years, the Association raised approximately $180,000 for over 25 educational and religious organizations.

Shifra Epstein Papers, RG 220

This collection originated as a YIVO project to collect materials on the Bobover purim shpil (a play performed traditionally on Purim day) in Boro Park, Brooklyn. The project director was Shifra Epstein.

Papers of Edna Cogan, RG 549

The collection relates to Cogan's teaching career and includes such teaching materials as school plays, Purim plays, Yiddish songs and poems.

Art & Objects:

Megillat Ester. AR 994 A. [Digitized]

Mordechai Purim mask. 2016.046 [Digitized]

Plate of Hamantaschen. Fiber sculpture. 2016.044. [Digitized]

Purim. Oil Painting by S. (Zvi) Raphaely. 1991.001. [Digitized]

Purim Ball, Synagogue Center, Heidelberg, 1947. 2016.005.001. [Digitized]

Purim beer token. 1988.052. [Digitized]

Purim noisemaker.  1993.060. [Digitzed]

Purim noisemaker depicting "Wicked Haman". 2004.045. [Digitized]

Purim Plate, 1795. 1981.018. [Digitized]

Purim Poster. 1998.676 [Digitized]

Photos:

Purim at ORT School 1954. [Italy] RG 380. [Digitized]

Purim celebration at the Juedische Schule Soest: Institutions; Educational; Schools; Portraits; Groups. F 3025. [Digitized]

Purim parade, Berlin 1938. F 22533. [Digitized]

Purim parade: Assembling at the door. Berlin, 1938. F 22529 [Digitized]

Purim play at Zweites Jüdisches Waisenhaus in Berlin-Pankow. F 22502. [Digitized]

Rose Fischer and friend in Purim costumes. 1986.091. [Digitized]

DVD:

Ester A-Malká (Ladino Purim Play) Ladino Players; directed by David F. Altabé.

Esther's Legacy: Celebrating Purim around the World / Barbar Vinick (editor). 2002.

Das Verbotene Purim-Spiel: "Le-Haman" aus Frankfurt am Main / eingeleitet und herausgegeben von Andreas Lehnardt.

From Jester to Gesture: Eastern European Jewish Culture and the Re-imagination of Folk Performance / Zehavit Stern. Thesis (Ph.D.) University of California, Berkeley, 2011.

Happy Purim with Fishele and Fraydele / story by Fagie Shain; pictures by Harriet Skaist. Monsey, N.Y.: F & F Publishing.

Make Noise, Make Merry: The Story and Meaning of Purim / Miriam Chaikin; illustrated by Demi. New York : Clarion Books, c1983.

The Book of Esther [Megilat Ester] / illustrated by Arthur Szyk. [Tel Aviv?]: Maariv Book Guild & American-Israel Pub. Co., c1974.

The Purim Anthology / Philip Goodman. Philadelphia: Jewish Publication Society of America, 1949.

Purim shule bleṭl = פורים שולע בלעטל / New York: Center for Cultural Jewish life [of] the Workmen's Circle / Arbeter Ring, 2008.

The Sacred Soil of America-A Purim Celebration on Ward's Island in 1882 / David Geffen. 1982.

Seder Purim: niḳbetsu bo kol ha-tefilot ṿeha-piyuṭim ha-nehugim be-yom ha-zeh be-tseruf ḳeriʼat ha-Torah: gam Megilat Ester: u-meturgam Ashkenazit. סדר פורים : נקבצו בו כל התפילות והפיוטים הנהוגים ביום הזה בצרוף קריאת התורה ; גם מגלת אסתר ; ומתורגם אשכנזית / . [Digitized] 1887.