Purim

Purim commemorates the deliverance described in the Book of Esther. Its central public ritual is hearing the Megillah, the scroll of Esther, read aloud; listeners traditionally make noise at the name of Haman, the story’s antagonist. The festival’s atmosphere is deliberately exuberant, mixing ancient text, communal memory and playful reversal.

In Israel, Purim is visible in school costumes, street celebrations, food gifts and charitable collections. The principal date is 14 Adar, while Jerusalem and a small number of traditionally walled cities celebrate Shushan Purim on 15 Adar. That local distinction is a useful reminder that a calendar date does not flatten Jewish practice into one identical experience. Purim is meaningful nationwide but is not a general statutory day of rest. The Hebrew calendar is lunisolar, so this Gregorian date is for planning. Israel’s official annual calendar and any employer, school or municipal notice should be checked before fixed travel or work arrangements.

Purim begins at sunset before 14 Adar; in 2026 the principal daytime observance falls on Tuesday, March 3. Jerusalem observes Shushan Purim on the following day because Jewish law assigns 15 Adar to cities traditionally regarded as walled in the time of Joshua. Neither date is one of the general paid legal rest days listed in the government employment guide. Schools may nevertheless close or shorten programmes, and municipalities may stage large events. Alcohol, crowds and road closures can change the character of city centres, so the visibility of the festival should not be mistaken for a uniform nationwide workplace closure.