Information for Noahides about Purim
For a translation of this page in Portuguese, click here: https://asknoah.org/essay/a-festa-de-purim
Purim is on the 14th of Adar (or Adar II if it is a leap-year in the Hebrew calendar). In 20’24, this is from Saturday night, March 23, to sundown on March 24. A Noahide who wishes may read the Book of Esther on Purim.[1] There are universal messages from Purim that Noahides can take to heart and implement on that day and any day.
Universal messages from Purim
1) Recognize that G-d is intimately in control of all events in the world, both great and seemingly “small” events. This applies even if His guiding influence seems to be hidden for a period of time. That is definitely the way it seemed during the events over several years that led up to the Purim miracle. This is called individual Divine Providence this is working through nature. If evil people seem to prevail for a period of time, it is only so that they will be overturned. Ultimately, either their evil will be overturned and they will repent, or they themselves will be overturned.
2) Every individual has a responsibility to do what is right in G-d’s eyes. This includes answering the call of the hour in support of the guiding principles of G-d’s Torah. You should not sit by idly and expect that someone else will do your mission for you. But what is needed must be explained by the current Jewish spiritual leader, who is like Moses in his time. G-d gives this person the insight to know what is needed in his time, as Mordechai did in his time.
3) Be happy, and make others happy! During the Hebrew month of Adar in which Purim falls, it’s time to increase in happiness, for its own sake. This should come from inner happiness in your faith in G-d. Happiness has the power to break through spiritual barriers, and turn what seems negative into a situation which is happily positive in an open way.
4) Give proper charity for the physical needs of poor people. (This is one of the traditional observances that Jews are obligated to do during the daytime on Purim.)
Additional facts about Purim
At the time of Hanukkah, Matisyahu revealed that the call of the hour was to rise up and fight against the oppressive Greeks. When a brave group of Jews did this, they were answered with Divine miracles. In contrast, at the time of Purim, Mordechai revealed that the call of the hour was for the Jews to return to Torah study and observance of their commandments, with repentance and prayer. When all the Jews did this for the full year that they were under the threat of Haman’s evil decree, they were answered with G-d’s saving miracles.
The only Jewish festival that specifically involves gift-giving as one of its traditional observances is Purim. Jews are obligated by Torah Law to give at least one gift of at least two different types of kosher and ready-to-eat food (or food and beverage), to at least one Jewish friend during the daytime on that day. It is traditional for males to give this gift to males, and for females to give to females. A Gentile may participate in this gift-giving activity, but not as a matter of a religious observance.
King David wrote Psalm 22 as a prophecy of Queen Esther’s prayer, when she risked her life by going uninvited to the king in his throne room on the third day of her fast, to invite him to join her in a private feast along with the wicked Haman. Miraculously, her prayer was answered, and that feast (the first of two) was the beginning of Haman’s downfall.
Footnotes
[1] If a Gentile listens to or reads the Book of Esther on Purim, he or she should not say the associated Jewish liturgical blessings for doing that as a commandment on that day, because it would be making a false statement before G-d (since Noahides are not commanded in that activity).
By Dr. Michael Schulman
Director of Ask Noah International and Asknoah.org
