Active members of Congregation Adat Israel, a Chabad congregation in Southern California, Michael Younessi and his family find fulfillment in their Orthodox observance of the Sabbath and Jewish law and tradition. For Persian Jews such as Michael Younessi, holidays offer a rich set of traditions, some of which differ significantly from the practices of American-born Jews.
The springtime holiday of Purim commemorates the deliverance of the Jewish people in ancient Persia from the plots of the king’s councilor, Haman. Purim also tells the beloved story of Queen Esther and her uncle Mordechai, whose intelligence, faith, and courage foiled Haman’s scheme to destroy the Jewish people.
Today, the still-extant Jewish community of Iran, the largest outside the State of Israel, celebrates Purim with pilgrimages to the city of Hamadan, site of the tomb of Esther and Mordechai. Like Jewish communities around the world, Persian Jews read the scroll of Esther (known as the Megillah) in the synagogue and share gifts with one another.
Engaged couples in particular go to great lengths to offer families and friends elaborate feasts on the holiday. Families also prepare homemade sweets to give as gifts. Halvah, typically made from almond flour or brown rice mixed with spices and sugar, is particularly associated with the holiday.
