The Jewish faith is one marked by strict behavioral expectations that hold the faithful to a higher standard than non-believers. This includes avoiding drinking and gambling throughout life. Sometimes, however, even these activities are acceptable. The holiday of Purim is a time of great joy and celebration when some decisions are accepted to a certain extent. Why is this?

Before we answer the question of why gambling is allowed on Purim, it is important to understand what Purim is and exactly why it is celebrated. For this, we will look to the past in order to better appreciate the present.

What is Purim?

Purim is an annual holiday celebrated in late winter or early spring. It occurs on the 14^th of Adar. In 2022, this date falls on March 16^th and continues through March 17^th. The date commemorates the Jewish people’s salvation in the ancient Persian Empire, where Haman was determined to annihilate all Jewish people, regardless of age. The celebration is an incredibly important one in the Jewish faith and it has persisted even in the face of COVID-19-related difficulties.

In the fourth century BCE, the Persian Empire encompassed 127 lands, and all Jewish individuals within these regions were its subjects. During this time, King Ahasuerus was searching for a new queen after having his previous wife executed for not following his orders. He did this by holding a beauty pageant and ultimately settled on Esther, a Jewish girl (though he was not aware of her faith).

The prime minister at this time was Haman, and he was extremely prejudiced against the Jews. Esther’s cousin Mordechai refused to bow to Haman, and Haman convinced the king to order the extermination of all the Jews in the kingdom on the 13^th of Adar. Before this could come to pass, Esther told the king that she was Jewish. Haman was subsequently hanged, and Mordechai was appointed the new prime minister.

On the 13^th of Adar, instead of facing extermination, the Jews rallied together and killed their enemies. They returned to the kingdom on the 14^th of Adar and celebrated and rested for one more day.

This is the vein in which Purim was named. In Persian, ‘purim’ means ‘lots’. The holiday is called this because Haram held a lottery (he threw ‘lots’) to determine when the extermination would take place. The word now serves as a reminder of the victory of the Jews over Haram’s evil.

Because Purim celebrates an incredible miracle, it is considered a day of celebration that closely follows its origin. The holiday is almost unrivalled in fun and liveliness, and Jewish people make delicious food, spend time with loved ones, and sometimes even dress up in costumes. This includes enjoying activities that might otherwise be frowned upon in Jewish culture, such as drinking in excess and staking some money on casino games.

Why exactly is it okay to gamble on Purim but not the rest of the time in Jewish culture?

Why is gambling allowed on Purim?

Now that the history behind Purim has been explored, it is time to take a closer look at the holiday and why activities that are otherwise forbidden are celebrated.

Purim is seen as a day that throws social order into disarray. Because the holiday is one that celebrates the reversal of society as we know it – the day when the Jews were the victors in the face of seemingly insurmountable odds – the rules are somewhat relaxed. The day is often observed as a merry carnival, including costumes, excessive drinking, and even raffles and lotteries. Sometimes risky gambles pay off, after all, as shown in the story of Purim itself.

It is important to note that gambling is not allowed all the time in the Jewish faith. The activity might not be outright forbidden, but it is highly frowned upon and generally discouraged. There are a few reasons for this, but arguably the most important of them is that gambling presents moral perils that can significantly impact everyone in society to a certain extent. Compulsive gambling is especially harmful to families and faith itself, leading to frivolous behavior that takes neither familial responsibility nor spiritual responsibility into account. The practice has been worthy of punishment for centuries, including such consequences as excommunication, fines, flagellation, and even the denial of synagogue honors.

It is an activity best enjoyed sparingly, and Purim is an ideal time.

What other things are allowed on Purim?

Gambling is not the only activity encouraged during Purim that is not viewed kindly at other times of the year. One of the most obvious is excess drinking. The relationship between drinking and Purim is complicated, however, and not quite as straightforward as the reason why some Jews gamble during the holiday.

More than 2,000 years ago, Persia’s Jews were having a huge celebration. In fact, calling the first Purim a ‘celebration’ is probably not a strong enough word. Remember that the Jewish people had just faced almost certain annihilation only to experience a miracle and become far more accepted nearly overnight, with a Jewish man even serving as prime minister. Despite decades of suffering and continued exile, the people stood firm in their faith and, this time, won the battle.

Drinking on Purim is actually mentioned in the Talmud as something that can heighten the excitement of the day. It is actually a mitzvah – commandment – for people to drink to excess, but this is only true if the drinkers’ behavior remains acceptable. Drinking too much is not an excuse for poor decisions, in other words, and drinking and breaking the law (be it civil or spiritual) is a serious offence. People who know that their behavior will suffer with alcohol should avoid the activity just as they would the rest of the year. There are plenty of other things to enjoy, including feasts and intricate costumes.

What do you think about the story behind Purim and the activities allowed on the holiday?