The Legend of the Window Purim and other Hebron Holiday Stories

Ever since Queen Esther rescued the Jewish people from Haman’s wicked
decree, the holiday of Purim has been celebrated. The theme of a hateful authority
figure’s plans being flipped at the last minute has become a familiar one in Jewish
history. 

 

Here in Hebron, the community has experienced several mini Purim
miracles.

 

One is the “Window Purim,” a holiday originating during the Ottoman era that
was celebrated every year. Legends of how it started have been passed down for
generations. It is also referred to as Purim Taka. 

 

One of the most comprehensive sources for the history of the city of the
Patriarchs and Matriarchs is Sefer
Hebron, a 400-plus-page book edited by Oded Avisar and published in
Hebrew in 1970. The following is the book’s account of “Window Purim”

 

 

A cruel Pasha ruled over Hebron in 1824. One day he summoned the head of
Hebron’s Jewish Community. The Pasha threw at him following ultimatum: In three days you
will bring me 50,000 grushim. If you do not, half of your community will be burned and
the others sold as slaves.

 

When the other Jews heard the decree, fear gripped them. Where would they
find such a large sum of money? The rabbis declared a fast, and everyone gathered
in the synagogue pouring their hearts out before the Lord. They fasted for three days
— night and day. They wrote a special prayer and a delegation brought it the Cave of the Machpela. There,
they bribed the [non-Jewish] guard, asking him to drop it into the inner caves through a
window in the floor (for they forbade the Jews to enter inside the
Cave).

 

At midnight, before the third day began, the Pasha suddenly awoke to the
sight of three awesome old men standing by his bed. They demanded of him 50,000 grushim.
Refusal meant immediate death. The frightened Pasha was petrified. But he managed
to get out of bed and gave them his purse full of gold coins. He added his wife’s gold
necklace, to complete the requested sum.

 

The next morning the Pasha sent soldiers to demand the tax he had decreed
upon the Jews of Hebron. When they pounded on the gate of the Jewish quarter, a Jew ran
to open it. But before he got to the gate, he stumbled over a bag lying on the ground
and picked it up. The Jew noticed a small window by the side of the gate. He ran with
the bag to the synagogue and returned to open the gate. Meanwhile, other Jews opened the
bag and found it filled with gold coins. Counting it, they found that it was the exact
amount the Pasha had demanded of them.

 

Joyously they ran to the Pasha’s home to pay him the money he had
demanded, in addition to the gold necklace that was in the bag.

 

The Pasha, seeing the money and the necklace was stunned. “The Guardian of
Israel neither slumbers nor sleeps.” He turned to the Jews and said, “Be aware, the bag
and its contents are mine. It was taken from me last night by the three Patriarchs, to
save my soul from an evil sin. And now, knowing that Abraham, Isaac and Jacob awoke for
fear of your lives, and for your sakes they rose from their graves, from this moment I
have only the greatest respect for you. I cancel my decree. Take back this money. It
belongs to you. Pray for me that I should be saved from misfortune all the days of my
life.”

 

The Jews of Hebron, in thanksgiving for the miracle accorded them, declared
the fourth day of Kislev an annual holiday, calling it “the window
Purim”.

 

Longer versions of the story have been printed in Talks
and Tales from Kehot Publications and in Folktales
of the Jews, Volume 1: Tales from the Sephardic Dispersion by
Dov Noy, Dan Ben-Amos and Ellen Frankel.

 

For the full story in Hebrew click
here. 

 

Another Purim that took place in Hebron is called The Purim of Ibrahim
Pasha. This tale, which was also printed in Sefer
Hebron, was told by a member of the Meyuhas family, who lived in Hebron for
generations. In Hebrew, a Pasha, or Ottoman governor, is referred to as a “feicha”. This
story possibly took place in 1831, before the Peasant’s Revolt of 1834, according
to the detailed entry on the
Jewish Community of Hebron in Hebrew Wikipedia.

 

When Ibrahim Pasha of Egypt invaded the Land of Israel, he sought to take
over Hebron. On his way to occupy the City of the Patriarchs, he saw that his troops
were very tired and told them they should rest on Mount Etam, which is near Solomon’s
Pools. The Arab peasants of Hebron, when they heard of the coming of the Pasha,
gathered a large battalion, went to where the Pasha’s soldiers rested. They stormed
them, and killed 3,000 of them. The Pasha was furious and swore to take over Hebron and
exterminate every inhabitant down to the last person, both Jews, Arab peasants, and the
feudal Arab landowners.

 

When the Jewish community heard about his furious oath, they gathered
together and locked themselves in the chatzer [yard, or court] and called for a special
day of fasting and prayers to G-d for salvation. But they were amazed to see that when
Ibrahim Pasha came to Hebron, he put soldiers near the chatzer in order to defend them,
while he committed terrible deeds to the peasants who revolted against
him. 

 

When they sought to understand why he acted in this manner, it was announced
that the ministers of the House of Farchi in Damascus who joined Ibrahim Pasha in his
conquest, advised him to do so.

 

In remembrance of this event, a special commemorate was held every year for
generations on the eve of Rosh Hodesh Av, the first of the month of Av and the tradition
Tachanun prayer was not recited. This day is called the Purim of Ibrahim
Pasha. 

 

This incident was recorded in the Avraham Avinu Synagogue in a
list of miracles that occurred in the city. 

 

For the full story in Hebrew click here.

 

(Painting of Hebron by Scottish artist David Roberts, 1839.
Pubic
domain.)

 

The Jewish community had many unique celebrations for Purim. As the month of Adar
began, various special foods were prepared, such as the traditional hamentashen, but
also torts, honey cakes, a food called rikikim, a kind of latke and homemade
liqueurs.

 

Purim was considered the most joyous of Jewish festivals and children felt
free. One interesting children’s activity, in addition to the familiar groggers, were a
kind of piñata shaped like Haman. Another unique tradition was a rather quick
recitation of the reading of the megillah which was done because people were partaking
of the fast of Esther. Consideration for families was taken so that people could begin
their holiday meal in a timely fashion. 

One colorful verse in Sefer Hebron reads:

 

 

 

Today Purim is celebrated in Hebron with a children’s carnival. A parade
takes place through the old city streets with people dressed in costumes. The
traditional megillah reading takes place in the Tomb of Machpela, and the Avraham Avinu
Synagogue. Many celebrate two days of Purim, as was done in previous generations, as
there is a tradition that Hebron was once a walled city. 

 

 

To visit Hebron for Purim contact us:

 

United States contact info:



http://www.hebronfund.com/

1760 Ocean Avenue

Brooklyn, NY 11230

718-677-6886

info@hebronfund.org



Israeli contact info:

http://en.hebron.org.il/

02-996-5333

office@hebron.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/hebronofficial

 

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