Jewish Holidays 2024 March. By rabbi daniel glatstein august 6, 2024. The festival of purim celebrates the salvation of the jewish people from haman's plot to destroy, kill and annihilate all the jews, young and old, infants and women, in a single day.

Both days of this festival are holy days of rest, on which various works are forbidden. Shabbat shekalim (“sabbath [of] shekels” שבת שקלים) read in preparation for purim, requests each adult male jew contribute half of a biblical shekel for the upkeep of the tent of meeting.