L’Chaim! You’ve probably heard that phrase before, but do you know what it means? L’Chaim is often used as a simple toast during Jewish feasts and celebrations, and it means “To life!” This time of year, we say L’Chaim just about any chance we get because we’re preparing to celebrate Purim!

Purim is one of the most festive and lively holidays in Jewish tradition. It’s ​​filled with laughter, music, food, drinks, and even sometimes costumes and short plays— all to celebrate life and how God delivered the Jewish people in ancient Persia as told in The Book of Esther.

The story centers on Queen Esther, a Jewish woman who became queen of Persia, and her cousin Mordechai, who worked together to defeat the plan of an evil man named Haman. Haman’s intent was to use his position in Ahasuerus’s kingdom to destroy all the Jews in the Persian Empire because he was enraged that Mordechai would not bow down to him and acknowledge his power. To determine the date of destruction, Esther 3:7 tells us that Haman cast “lots”— which is essentially the ancient equivalent of rolling dice. The lots fell on the month of Adar (which is the second month of the Jewish Calendar), and Haman issued a decree to destroy, kill, and annihilate all Jews on the 14th day of the month (the holiday’s name comes from the Persian word Pur, which means "lot," to reference the methodology used to determine the day of destruction). But thanks to Mordechai’s wisdom and Esther’s courage, Haman’s plan failed. That is why we celebrate Purim on the 14th day of Adar every year! We believe in a God Who can turn the darkest of days into the most joyful of days, and that’s what we celebrate during Purim.

This year, Purim begins at sundown on Thursday, March 13th, and ends at sundown on Friday, March 14th, but because it falls on Shabbat this year, Purim will be celebrated in Jerusalem throughout the weekend! All over the world, Jewish people will celebrate by reading the Megillah, which is the Book of Esther. As it's read aloud, it’s tradition to hiss or scream or use a special noisemaker called a “gragger” any time Haman appears. In addition to reading the Megillah, many others will mark the holiday by giving to the needy, sending gifts of food to loved ones, or enjoying a Seudat Purim (the feast associated with Purim). Hamantashen (which are triangular pastries filled with poppy seeds, fruit, or chocolate) are popular treats during the month of Adar; they symbolize Haman’s hat or pockets and are a sweet reminder of victory over evil.

Others will celebrate this holiday by dressing in costumes and masks, symbolizing the hidden nature of God’s miracles in the Purim story. Though God is never mentioned by name in the Book of Esther, it's clear that He was working behind the scenes.

So how will you celebrate Purim this year? Maybe you’d like to make your own gragger, or simply read through the Book of Esther. You might consider making a charitable donation on Purim, or maybe you’d like to host a celebratory dinner with friends and family (complete with Hamantashen, of course!). At a minimum, here at JH Israel, we invite you to consider the ways that God has shown up for you this year. Purim celebrates survival, unity, and triumph over adversity, and it encourages us with this much-needed reminder: God is always working even when it might seem like He’s not there at all!