Orthodox Jews celebrate the annual Liberation Day in Jerusalem

These images are not exactly what one might imagine when thinking of a religious celebration.

But in Jewish communities, the annual festival of Purim can lead to drunken abandonment, as it is marked with parties, costumes, good food and, for the men, plenty of alcohol.

The scenes in Mea Shearim were typical of the holiday celebrating the liberation of the Jewish people from a plan to exterminate them in the Persian Empire 2,500 years ago.

According to the story, the conspiracy was devised by Haman, an official of the Achaemenid Empire. Haman was the advisor to the Persian king Ahasuerus. But the plans were foiled by Mordecai.

The story is told in the biblical Book of Esther, which is publicly recited in the synagogue as part of the annual celebrations, known as the Reading of the Megillah.

Ultra-Orthodox Jewish men rest after getting drunk during celebrations of the Jewish holiday of Purim in Mea Shearim

The carnival-like Purim holiday is celebrated with processions and costume parties to commemorate the liberation of the Jewish people from a plan to exterminate them in the ancient Persian Empire

In Jewish communities, the annual festival of Purim can lead to drunken abandonment, as it is characterized by parties, costumes, good food and, for the men, lots of alcohol.

People have been known to drink to the point of intoxication during the annual holidays

Ultra-Orthodox Jews celebrate the holiday in a synagogue with a merry group dance

This joyous holiday is marked by the exchange of delicious food, drink, and gifts, the eating of a sumptuous feast, and donations to the poor

It’s a holiday celebrated by ultra-Orthodox Jews who are known for throwing huge parties, complete with fancy dress and popular dishes

An ultra-Orthodox Jew lies on the ground as he attends a celebration in Mea Shearim

This joyous holiday is marked by the exchange of delicious food, drink, and gifts, the eating of a sumptuous feast, and donations to the poor.

According to religion law, every adult must give at least two different foods to another person and at least two charitable donations to the poor during the holiday. Giving away these packets of food, called mishloach manot, has become a big aspect of the celebrations.

To fulfill the aspect of charity to the poor, either food or money equal to the amount of food consumed in a normal meal can be donated. There is also collection in the synagogue.

It’s a holiday celebrated by ultra-Orthodox Jews who are known for throwing huge parties, complete with fancy dress and popular dishes like a triangular pastry called hamantashen. These are traditionally filled with raspberry, apricot, date or poppy seeds.

Seeds, nuts, legumes and green vegetables are traditionally eaten on Purim, as is kerplach, a dumpling stuffed with boiled meat, chicken or liver and served in soup.

Special breads are also commonly consumed, and a dessert consisting of deep-fried balls of dough and custard called Arany galuska is traditional for Jews from Hungary and Romania and their descendants

But arguably the loudest part of the celebrations is drinking alcoholic beverages to the point of intoxication.

Ultra-Orthodox Jewish men and children, some in costume, celebrate the Jewish holiday of Purim

The noisiest part of the celebrations is when men drink alcoholic beverages to the point of intoxication

Children are encouraged to dress up and parade in the streets during the event

Men in fancy costumes dance in the streets to celebrate the annual religious event

The custom is said to derive from a statement in the Talmud attributed to a rabbi named Rava

According to the custom, man must drink until he can no longer distinguish between Arur Haman (Cursed be Haman) and Baruch Mordecai (Blessed be Mordecai).

The older generation also takes part in the celebrations in the synagogue and on the streets

Drinking wine is believed to stimulate the experience of spiritual blindness

Children also join in the celebrations by dressing up and parading through the streets

It is said that drinking wine affects men and prevents them from discerning between good and evil

The custom is said to derive from a statement in the Talmud attributed to a rabbi named Rava, who allegedly states that men should drink during the celebrations until they “can no longer distinguish between Arur Haman (Cursed is Haman) and Baruch Mordecai (Blessed). can is Mordecai).

It is believed that drinking wine stimulates the experience of spiritual blindness as a person is unable to distinguish between good and evil when intoxicated.

However, in recent years, men have had to limit their alcohol consumption.

During the pandemic, senior ultra-Orthodox rabbis have been forced to call for moderation as major parties fueled a surge in the coronavirus.

Source: | This article originally belongs to Dailymail.co.uk