Did You Know?
Facts, Figures & Folklore About the Jewish Holiday of Purim
Feb 21 : 06 days till Purim

Did you know that Book of Esther retells the story of Purim, when the Jewish people were spared from a death decree by the King of Persia’s evil advisor, Haman?

The Book of Esther is traditionally written upon a scroll, known as “Megillat Esther“. The megillah is read twice during the holiday — once at night, and once the next morning. Purim, like all Jewish holidays, runs for approximately 25 hours, beginning at sunset.

Did you know that the expression “the whole megillah” comes from the holiday of Purim?

On Purim, the story of Esther is read from a scroll known as a megillah. The whole megillah must be read twice on Purim, once at night and once the following morning

The most festive of Jewish holidays, Purim is a time of noisemakers, costumes and tasty treats. The Festival of Purim commemorates a major victory over oppression and is recounted in the Megillah, the scroll of the story of Esther. Purim begins at sundown on Saturday the 27th of February.

We’ll be presenting a new “Did You Know?” fun fact each day as we countdown to Purim! So stop by again tomorrow.

UN International Mother Language Day
Join member states of the United Nations in raising awareness among all people about the enduring value of maintaining and celebrating their own mother tongue.

photo credit: via flickr

Holiday Reminder: The Jewish Festival of Purim will begin at sundown on Saturday February 27, 2010.

For more info please visit our Purim celebration – Purim on the Net

Did You Know?
Facts, Figures & Folklore About the Jewish Holiday of Purim
Feb 20 : 07 days till Purim

Did you know that the word Purim is Hebrew for "lots"?

The name of the holiday refers to the plot of the king’s advisor, Haman, to draw lots for which Jews to kill first. He planned to massacre all the Jews. Esther, one of the king’s wives and a Jewess herself, saved the Jewish people from Haman’s "lots" plot by revealing it to the king.

Did you know that the only holy Jewish book in which the word for "lots" appears is the Book of Esther, traditionally read on Purim?

The most festive of Jewish holidays, Purim is a time of noisemakers, costumes and tasty treats. The Festival of Purim commemorates a major victory over oppression and is recounted in the Megillah, the scroll of the story of Esther. Purim begins at sundown on Saturday the 27th of February.

We’ll be presenting a new “Did You Know?” fun fact each day as we countdown to Purim! So stop by again tomorrow.

Hoodie-Hoo Day (Northern Hemisphere)
Help chase away the winter blues and herald in the spring today by heading outside at noon and waving your hands over your head, chanting “Hoodie-Hoo”.

You might look a little crazy, but that’s probably how you feel, too, after being cooped up inside all winter long!

photo credit: via flickr

( courtesy of www.wellcat.com )

Copernicus Day
Celebrating Nicolaus Copernicus, the father of modern astronomy and the first astronomer to scientifically theorize that the Sun, not the Earth, was at the center of the universe.

photo credit: Wikipedia

Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day
During Engineers Week a concerned effort is made to reach out to school age girls and make them aware of the educational fields that could lead them on the path to engineering careers.

Women are severely underrepresented in the engineering profession. Research shows that girls and young women lose interest in subjects and the fields of study leading to engineering careers long before they enter college.*

*source: Engineers Week – Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day
photo credit: Engineers Week / Hugh Moore & Associates