Purim

High school (ages 12+)
Holidays & Celebrations

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/purim

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the holiday classification?Jewish festival commemorating deliverance from annihilation
2. What is the primary narrative source?The Book of Esther, a historical novel with legendary elements
3. What is Purim and why do people celebrate it?Purim is a Jewish holiday that celebrates how the Jewish people were saved from a big problem. It is marked by feasting, gift‑giving, and special rituals that remind everyone of this miracle.
4. Why do people read the Scroll of Esther on Purim?Reading the Scroll of Esther is one of the four main commandments. It tells the story of how the Jews were saved and makes noise when Haman’s name is mentioned to symbolically banish him.

Ahasuerus: The Persian king in the Book of Esther, also known as Xerxes I.
Kriat Megillat Esther: The public recitation of the Scroll of Esther, a central ritual of Purim.
Al HaNissim: A special prayer added to daily services and grace after meals, thanking God for miracles.