Seasons of the Soul
The Other Purims

Purim, as we all know, is the joyous festival celebrated each year on the 14th of Adar, commemorating the miraculous salvation of the Jewish people from Haman's plot to massacre all the Jews in a single day more than 2,300 years ago. But the Jewish calendar contains other "Purims" as well--days of celebration so called because, like the original Purim, they commemorate the salvation of Jews from their enemies. Many a Jewish community boasted such a "Purim" on its communal calendar; there were also "Purims" that were traditional within a particular family, commemorating the miraculous salvation of an ancestor. Here we bring you the story of some of these Purims, which were celebrated by their respective communities for many generations. Some of them are celebrated to this very day.

Purim of the Curtains

Purim Hebron

Purim Fossano

Purim Yemen

Purim Vincent

Purim Saragossa