Observances
Like Hanukkah, Purim has more of a national than a religious character, and its status as a holiday is on a lesser level than those days ordained holy by the Torah. Accordingly, business transactions and even manual labor are allowed on Purim. A special prayer ("Al ha-Nissim"—"For the Miracles") is inserted into the Amidah during evening, morning and afternoon prayers, as well as is included in the Birkat Hamazon ("Grace after Meals.")
The four main mitzvot (obligations) of the day are:
- Listening to the public reading, usually in synagogue, of the Book of Esther in the evening and again in the following morning (k'riat megillah)
- Sending food gifts to friends (mishloach manot)
- Giving charity to the poor (matanot la'evyonim)
- Eating a festive meal (se`udah)
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Famous quotes containing the word observances:
“... if it be true that death is annihilation, then the man who believes that he will certainly go straight to heaven when he dies, provided he has fulfilled certain simply observances in this life, has a cheap pleasure which will not be followed by the least disappointment.”
—Charles Sanders Peirce (1839–1914)