The Legend of the Window Purim and other Hebron Holiday Stories

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- Staff
17/03/2016

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”

THE WINDOW
PURIM

Around the year of 1814, a cruel and greedy pasha ruled in Hebron. And it came to pass on that day that he called the leaders of the congregation and said to them: In three days you must bring fifty thousand grushim, and if not, half of you I will burn in the fire, and the rest I will sell into slavery.

And it came to pass when the leaders announced this matter to the members of their congregation, that their hearts sank, for they were poor, and from where would they get such great wealth? The rabbis called for a fast, and they all gathered in the synagogue to pour out their hearts before the Lord, and they decided to fast for three days and to bring the decree in writing before the Patriarchs of the Cave of the Patriarchs.

And they wrote on a scroll, and bribed the keeper of the cave to tie their request with a string and let it down into the cave, through the chimney in the dome, to the burial chambers.

And it came to pass in the middle of the night that the Pasha awoke, as if he had been suddenly awakened from his sleep, and he saw three old men standing over him, and their appearance was awe-striking.

And they demanded of him fifty thousand grushim. Refusal meant immediate death. The pasha was greatly frightened, and got out of his bed. He took out of his chest a bag full of gold and silver coins and gave it to them. He also gave them the necklace around his wife’s neck to make up for the fifty thousand grushim.

And it came to pass on the third day in the morning, that the pasha’s soldiers came to the Jewish courtyard to collect the tax that the pasha had imposed on them. And as they were knocking at the door, the shammash was quick to open it for them. And as he approached the door, his feet stumbled over a bag full of grushim. And as he bent down, he saw at the bottom of the door what looked like a small window.

The shammash was quick to take the bag into the synagogue, and he returned and opened the door of the courtyard. The Jews opened the bag and found in it the exact amount of money that the pasha had demanded. Then their joy was great, and they hastened to the pasha’s house to hand over the bag and the necklace to him.

And the pasha, recognizing that they were his, was astonished and exclaimed: “Surely the Guardian of Israel neither slumbers nor sleeps.”

And he turned to the perushim and said, “Know that the bag and what was in it is mine, and that the three patriarchs took it from me last night in order to save my soul from sin. And now, seeing that because of you Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob suffered all this anxiety, and for your sake they rose from their graves, I said, I will honor you also. I cancel my decree. This money shall be given to you. Pray for me that I should be saved from misfortune all the days of my life.”

In memory of this event, they established the 15th of Kislev as a holiday, and no Tachanun is said on it, and it is called “Purim of the Window.”

(Translated from Sefer Hebron, ‘Chivat Yerushalayim’, by Abraham Moses Luncz

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.

THE PURIM OF IBRAHIM PASHA

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 Eytam, which is near Solomon’s Pools.

The Arab peasants of Hebron, when they heard of the coming of the Pasha, gathered a large battalion and 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 Arabs and Jews.

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

When they sought to understand why he acted in this manner, it was announced that the ministers of the Farhi family in Damascus who had marched with Ibrahim Pasha, advised him to do so.

In remembrance of this event, a special commemoration 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.

(Translated from Sefer Hebron, ‘Megilot Mishpachot’ by Yosef Baran Miyuhas)

For the full story in Hebrew click here.

UNIQUE PURIM CUSTOMS

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:

“To life to life,” called out the townspeople, who greeted the
guests. The beadle led them to the synagogue of the Chief Rabbi, assigned rooms,
distributed food and gift packages for Purim. The next morning they spread out through
the city, drank with the residents, received “charity for the poor” and as the sun
turned towards the west, headed back in the direction of Jerusalem, to continue the
holiday with their families.”

PURIM TODAY

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.