Jewish Life Digital Edition February 2014 | Page 16

PURIM 5774

PURIM BY NUMBERS
0 times that G-d’s name is mentioned in the Book of Esther
2 parties Esther asks Achashverosh to throw for her and Haman
3 days of fasting by the Jews prior to Esther going to see King Achashverosh
to fulfil on Purim – reading the Book of Esther, Matanot
4 mitzvot to the poor), Mishloach Manot (gifts of food) and feastingL’evyonim
(money
9 years in which the Purim story unfolds
the lots
13 date in Nissan that Haman castkill the Jews fell out
date in Adar that the decree to
name appears in the
of Esther
54 times that Haman’sthe names of Haman’sBooksons
letters spelling out
ten
provinces that Achashverosh
127 years that our matriarch Sarahruled
lived
180 days that Achashverosh’s party in Shushan lasted
240 numerical value of the Hebrew words “Amalek” and “doubt” (safek)
502 numerical value for both phrases: “cursed be Haman” and “blessed be Mordechai”
2 369 years ago that the Purim story took place

/Happy Purim from Aish.com!

For more Purim insights, visit Aish.com/purim

12 JEWISH LIFE

ISSUE 70

PHOTOGRAPH: BIGSTOCKPHOTO.COM

letters in the “Al HaNisim” prayer recited on Purim