Title: Commemorating the celebration of Purim by the Jewish community of the United States.
Policy area: Arts, Culture, Religion

Summary:
This resolution stands in solidarity with the Jewish community in the United States and throughout the world.
The resolution also recognizes and celebrates the holiday of Purim and wishes the Jewish community a Chag Purim Sameach (Happy Purim in Hebrew) and ah freilichen Purim (Happy Purim in Yiddish).

[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 976 Introduced in House (IH)]

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117th CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. RES. 976

 Commemorating the celebration of Purim by the Jewish community of the 
                             United States.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             March 11, 2022

Mr. Balderson submitted the following resolution; which was referred to 
                 the Committee on Oversight and Reform

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
 Commemorating the celebration of Purim by the Jewish community of the 
                             United States.

Whereas the Jewish community in the United States has made significant 
        contributions to the Nation as a whole;
Whereas antisemitism, including harassment on the basis of actual or perceived 
        Jewish origin, ancestry, ethnicity, identity, affiliation, or faith, 
        remains a persistent, pervasive, and disturbing problem in contemporary 
        American society;
Whereas, in 2022, Purim will be celebrated by the Jewish community from sundown 
        on March 16 through sundown March 17;
Whereas Purim is the commemoration of the divinely orchestrated saving of Jewish 
        people from Haman the Evil, an Achaemenid Persian Empire grand vizier 
        who intended to kill all the Jews in the ancient Persian Empire;
Whereas, in the 4th century B.C.E., Esther became the new queen of the empire, 
        despite being Jewish, and her cousin, Mordechai, refused to follow 
        Haman's orders, infuriating Haman;
Whereas it states in Megillas Esther (the Book of Esther) that Purim means 
        ``lots'' in ancient Persian, and the holiday was named such since Haman 
        had thrown lots to determine when he would carry out his plot;
Whereas the Jewish people celebrate Purim by reading of the Megillah, giving 
        gifts to at least two poor people, sending gifts of two kinds of food to 
        at least one person, and by taking part in a Purim feast;
Whereas the traditional food of Purim is hamantaschen, a pastry with poppy seeds 
        or sweet filling; and
Whereas the meanings of Purim are to celebrate the Jewish people reaccepting the 
        Torah with love, specifically Torah she'Baal Peh (verbally transmitted 
        Jewish Law), acknowledge Jewish survival despite Haman's plot, celebrate 
        God's involvement in the world, and celebrate a renewed sense of 
        spirituality among Jewish people: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) stands in solidarity with the Jewish community in the 
        United States, and throughout the world;
            (2) recognizes and celebrates the holiday of Purim; and
            (3) wishes the Jewish community a ``Chag Purim Sameach'' 
        (Happy Purim in Hebrew) and ``ah freilichen Purim'' (Happy 
        Purim in Yiddish).
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