The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1918-02-25
THE JEWISH FEAST OF
PURIM

Editor IlFnes
The Jewish feast or Pur!n. one 81
the minor festivals in the rellgio q
calendar, Will be celebrated this Saar
on February rs. Frin. according to
the scrtptursl Book or Esther, where
in the tale is narrated means lots.
having been case before Hamsn, viz
Ter OF Persia, FOR the purpose Of deter
mining the day most ausp cious for
the contamination ar his plan OF eN-
terminating al the Jews dwelling N
the land. But the day vas fatal only
10 Harnan's plans and 70 Haman HIM
self for through q chain Of rerna be
happenings the Jews We're delivered
from the imaineu1 peril Or the doom
ae had decreed for them fell On the
enemy himself From that >rar 20
the present tine. the Jews sll over
the world heve celebrated the ami
versary Of the day on which The
wondrous dehverence had occurred.
Strange to say. Puriu IS hardly
reHg Gus feast Reiig GUS features
added tn conpa vely recent times
oniv accentuste essentially secular
character OF the day Beng in nature
ar a thankeg V.ns festr al and eN-
preston Tor peoples gratitude TO-
their ancestors pros dental resemQ-
tion from an awful death. II has been
from time immemorial DAY of feast
ng and gisduess. and Of sending For-
tlons 70 one another and gifts to the
poor. In the rnedievei Ehettos IL was
celebrated with all manner OF merry
making, while in modern times il has
come to be one Of the dave OF which
the children OF the Jewish relg GUS
schools most eagerly look forward.
The remarkabIe events which cul-
minated in the destruction Or both Hs-
mans plans and Haman himself ana
the convention OF what was to have
been a day Of sorrow and mourning for
the Jews 10 a day Of Eiadness and
Teasing whose annual recurrence was
% be celebrated with JOY and almsgiN-
ing-tha whole romantic story can be
found in the Book OF Esther. The rec
election Of their ancestors providential
rescue from the hands Of Hamsn has
served TO solace and steel The Jews in
these dark hours when he clouds Of
hatrea and persecution lowered most
rnenacinEly over them and ? success Or
Humans in many lands and in many
ages sought 70 encompass the death Of
The martyr people.
eagerly anticipate the coming or Purim
FOR The religious schools celebrate the
cay with elaborate exercises At which
a spirit o. merry-mskinE and general
goodwill prevails. PLAYS are enacted
bv children in which Hau1an. the wick
ad POTTER Mordechal. the patrol. and
Esther the fearless queen. who risked
her life for her people. hSure as char
acters Haman is frequently represent
$ a low comedy character. and his rage
and chasrin at the Illustration Of his
fell designs are often irresistibly funny
A special synagogue service is held
on the eve OF Purim, 3 which the prin-
cipal feature S the reading of the BooN
of Esther from parchment scroll In
addition there are few prayers and
h ynns ar more recent date which have
been inspired by the recollection OF the
woes and hardshlps endured BY the
martyr race from the dates OF Haman
down 10 bri glitter times. There have
been many Hsmans in all ages who have
conspired the degradation or extermin-
alton of the Jews. hut like their Per-
sian prototype their plots have recoiied
on their own heads And SO the Jew
looks forward 10 the day when Hamsny
shall rise no more the specter OF re
igious and racial hatred Will be laid,
+ and an era or tolerance and love dawn
for all the world.
k ISAAC J1NTERMAN,
Indiana Herbor. Ind
! TONIGHT At THE coLUBh
THEATRE
Geraldine Fsrrsr in ''The Devil
stone" THIS Is positively Miss Fsr-
rar.a best production. Also sunshine
/ Comedy entitled sun OF Gnn.
Fred speers was home on S4-hour