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Israel: Is 'Rowdy' Purim a 'Cure for Corona'?

Published February 26th, 2021 - 07:14 GMT

Israel has imposed some of the world's tightest restrictions to contain coronavirus, but that did not stop ultra-Orthodox Jews from hitting the streets to celebrate a treasured religious custom: Drinking on Purim.

Purim typically includes costumes and boisterous public celebrations marking a story dating from fourth-century Persia that saw Jews defeat a murderous plot against them.

One verse in the Megillah text that recounts the story and laws of the holiday instructs Jews to "drink on Purim until you cannot distinguish between cursing Haman and blessing Mordechai," referring to the villain and a hero of the story.

Men, women, and children wore costumes that ranged from tame, like a unicorn, to more politically controversial ones.

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Ultra-Orthodox Jewish children dressed in costumes to celebrate Purim, walk in the street a day ahead of the official holiday, in the Mea Shearim neighbourhood in Jerusalem, on February 24, 2021. The carnival-like Purim holiday is celebrated with parades and costume parties to commemorate biblical story of the deliverance of the Jewish people from a plot to exterminate them in the ancient Persian empire , as recorded in the Book of Esther. MENAHEM KAHANA / AFP

Ultra-Orthodox Jewish children dressed in costumes to celebrate Purim, walk in the street a day ahead of the official holiday, in the Mea Shearim neighbourhood in Jerusalem, on February 24, 2021. The carnival-like Purim holiday is celebrated with parades and costume parties to commemorate biblical story of the deliverance of the Jewish people from a plot to exterminate them in the ancient Persian empire , as recorded in the Book of Esther. MENAHEM KAHANA / AFP

Israelis dressed in costumes in celebration of the Jewish holiday of Purim are pictured in the ultra-Orthodox neighborhood of Bnei Brak, on February 26, 2021. Israel imposed a night-time curfew for three nights from yesterday evening to curb the spread of the coronavirus during the Jewish holiday of Purim, the government said. The curfew, from 8:30 pm to 5:00 am daily (1830 GMT to 0300 GMT), will be in force from Thursday night until Sunday morning, a joint statement from the prime minister's office and the

Israelis dressed in costumes in celebration of the Jewish holiday of Purim are pictured in the ultra-Orthodox neighborhood of Bnei Brak, on February 26, 2021. Israel imposed a night-time curfew for three nights from yesterday evening to curb the spread of the coronavirus during the Jewish holiday of Purim, the government said. The curfew, from 8:30 pm to 5:00 am daily (1830 GMT to 0300 GMT), will be in force from Thursday night until Sunday morning, a joint statement from the prime minister's office and the health ministry said. Emmanuel DUNAND / AFP

Israeli children dressed in costumes in celebration of the Jewish holiday of Purim are pictured in the ultra-Orthodox neighborhood of Bnei Brak, on February 26, 2021. Israel imposed a night-time curfew for three nights from yesterday evening to curb the spread of the coronavirus during the Jewish holiday of Purim, the government said. The curfew, from 8:30 pm to 5:00 am daily (1830 GMT to 0300 GMT), will be in force from Thursday night until Sunday morning, a joint statement from the prime minister's office

Israeli children dressed in costumes in celebration of the Jewish holiday of Purim are pictured in the ultra-Orthodox neighborhood of Bnei Brak, on February 26, 2021. Israel imposed a night-time curfew for three nights from yesterday evening to curb the spread of the coronavirus during the Jewish holiday of Purim, the government said. The curfew, from 8:30 pm to 5:00 am daily (1830 GMT to 0300 GMT), will be in force from Thursday night until Sunday morning, a joint statement from the prime minister's office and the health ministry said. Emmanuel DUNAND / AFP

Israelis dressed in costumes in celebration of the Jewish holiday of Purim are pictured in the ultra-Orthodox neighborhood of Bnei Brak, on February 26, 2021. Israel imposed a night-time curfew for three nights from yesterday evening to curb the spread of the coronavirus during the Jewish holiday of Purim, the government said. The curfew, from 8:30 pm to 5:00 am daily (1830 GMT to 0300 GMT), will be in force from Thursday night until Sunday morning, a joint statement from the prime minister's office and the

Israelis dressed in costumes in celebration of the Jewish holiday of Purim are pictured in the ultra-Orthodox neighborhood of Bnei Brak, on February 26, 2021. Israel imposed a night-time curfew for three nights from yesterday evening to curb the spread of the coronavirus during the Jewish holiday of Purim, the government said. The curfew, from 8:30 pm to 5:00 am daily (1830 GMT to 0300 GMT), will be in force from Thursday night until Sunday morning, a joint statement from the prime minister's office and the health ministry said. Emmanuel DUNAND / AFP

A reveller dressed in costume in celebration of the Jewish holiday of Purim, cycles along a street in the Orthodox Jewish neighborhood of Stamford Hill in north London on February 26, 2021. The carnival-like Purim holiday is celebrated with parades and costume parties to commemorate the deliverance of the Jewish people from a plot to exterminate them in the ancient Persian Empire 2,500 years ago, as recorded in the Biblical Book of Esther. DANIEL LEAL-OLIVAS / AFP

A reveller dressed in costume in celebration of the Jewish holiday of Purim, cycles along a street in the Orthodox Jewish neighborhood of Stamford Hill in north London on February 26, 2021. The carnival-like Purim holiday is celebrated with parades and costume parties to commemorate the deliverance of the Jewish people from a plot to exterminate them in the ancient Persian Empire 2,500 years ago, as recorded in the Biblical Book of Esther. DANIEL LEAL-OLIVAS / AFP

Young children dressed in costume in celebration of the Jewish holiday of Purim, pose for a photograph outside a house in the Orthodox Jewish neighborhood of Stamford Hill in north London on February 26, 2021. The carnival-like Purim holiday is celebrated with parades and costume parties to commemorate the deliverance of the Jewish people from a plot to exterminate them in the ancient Persian Empire 2,500 years ago, as recorded in the Biblical Book of Esther. DANIEL LEAL-OLIVAS / AFP

Young children dressed in costume in celebration of the Jewish holiday of Purim, pose for a photograph outside a house in the Orthodox Jewish neighborhood of Stamford Hill in north London on February 26, 2021. The carnival-like Purim holiday is celebrated with parades and costume parties to commemorate the deliverance of the Jewish people from a plot to exterminate them in the ancient Persian Empire 2,500 years ago, as recorded in the Biblical Book of Esther. DANIEL LEAL-OLIVAS / AFP

Young children dressed in costume in celebration of the Jewish holiday of Purim, are escorted along a street in the Orthodox Jewish neighborhood of Stamford Hill in north London on February 26, 2021. The carnival-like Purim holiday is celebrated with parades and costume parties to commemorate the deliverance of the Jewish people from a plot to exterminate them in the ancient Persian Empire 2,500 years ago, as recorded in the Biblical Book of Esther. DANIEL LEAL-OLIVAS / AFP

Young children dressed in costume in celebration of the Jewish holiday of Purim, are escorted along a street in the Orthodox Jewish neighborhood of Stamford Hill in north London on February 26, 2021. The carnival-like Purim holiday is celebrated with parades and costume parties to commemorate the deliverance of the Jewish people from a plot to exterminate them in the ancient Persian Empire 2,500 years ago, as recorded in the Biblical Book of Esther. DANIEL LEAL-OLIVAS / AFP

An Ultra-Orthodox Jewish child dressed in a bride's to celebrate Purim walks in the street a day ahead of the official holiday, in the Mea Shearim neighbourhood in Jerusalem, on February 24, 2021. The carnival-like Purim holiday is celebrated with parades and costume parties to commemorate biblical story of the deliverance of the Jewish people from a plot to exterminate them in the ancient Persian empire , as recorded in the Book of Esther. MENAHEM KAHANA / AFP

An Ultra-Orthodox Jewish child dressed in a bride's to celebrate Purim walks in the street a day ahead of the official holiday, in the Mea Shearim neighbourhood in Jerusalem, on February 24, 2021. The carnival-like Purim holiday is celebrated with parades and costume parties to commemorate biblical story of the deliverance of the Jewish people from a plot to exterminate them in the ancient Persian empire , as recorded in the Book of Esther. MENAHEM KAHANA / AFP

An Ultra-Orthodox Jewish child, wearing a fake beard and a shtreimel to celebrate Purim, walks in Jerusalem's the Mea Shearim neighborhood in, on February 25, 2021. Israel imposed a night-time curfew for three nights to curb the spread of the coronavirus during the Jewish holiday of Purim. The carnival-like Purim holiday is celebrated with parades and costume parties to commemorate biblical story of the deliverance of the Jewish people from a plot to exterminate them in the ancient Persian empire, as record

An Ultra-Orthodox Jewish child, wearing a fake beard and a shtreimel to celebrate Purim, walks in Jerusalem's the Mea Shearim neighborhood in, on February 25, 2021. Israel imposed a night-time curfew for three nights to curb the spread of the coronavirus during the Jewish holiday of Purim. The carnival-like Purim holiday is celebrated with parades and costume parties to commemorate biblical story of the deliverance of the Jewish people from a plot to exterminate them in the ancient Persian empire, as recorded in the Book of Esther. AHMAD GHARABLI / AFP

Ultra-Orthodox Jewish children dressed in costumes to celebrate Purim, walk in the street a day ahead of the official holiday, in the Mea Shearim neighbourhood in Jerusalem, on February 24, 2021. The carnival-like Purim holiday is celebrated with parades and costume parties to commemorate biblical story of the deliverance of the Jewish people from a plot to exterminate them in the ancient Persian empire , as recorded in the Book of Esther. MENAHEM KAHANA / AFP
Israelis dressed in costumes in celebration of the Jewish holiday of Purim are pictured in the ultra-Orthodox neighborhood of Bnei Brak, on February 26, 2021. Israel imposed a night-time curfew for three nights from yesterday evening to curb the spread of the coronavirus during the Jewish holiday of Purim, the government said. The curfew, from 8:30 pm to 5:00 am daily (1830 GMT to 0300 GMT), will be in force from Thursday night until Sunday morning, a joint statement from the prime minister's office and the
Israeli children dressed in costumes in celebration of the Jewish holiday of Purim are pictured in the ultra-Orthodox neighborhood of Bnei Brak, on February 26, 2021. Israel imposed a night-time curfew for three nights from yesterday evening to curb the spread of the coronavirus during the Jewish holiday of Purim, the government said. The curfew, from 8:30 pm to 5:00 am daily (1830 GMT to 0300 GMT), will be in force from Thursday night until Sunday morning, a joint statement from the prime minister's office
Israelis dressed in costumes in celebration of the Jewish holiday of Purim are pictured in the ultra-Orthodox neighborhood of Bnei Brak, on February 26, 2021. Israel imposed a night-time curfew for three nights from yesterday evening to curb the spread of the coronavirus during the Jewish holiday of Purim, the government said. The curfew, from 8:30 pm to 5:00 am daily (1830 GMT to 0300 GMT), will be in force from Thursday night until Sunday morning, a joint statement from the prime minister's office and the
A reveller dressed in costume in celebration of the Jewish holiday of Purim, cycles along a street in the Orthodox Jewish neighborhood of Stamford Hill in north London on February 26, 2021. The carnival-like Purim holiday is celebrated with parades and costume parties to commemorate the deliverance of the Jewish people from a plot to exterminate them in the ancient Persian Empire 2,500 years ago, as recorded in the Biblical Book of Esther. DANIEL LEAL-OLIVAS / AFP
Young children dressed in costume in celebration of the Jewish holiday of Purim, pose for a photograph outside a house in the Orthodox Jewish neighborhood of Stamford Hill in north London on February 26, 2021. The carnival-like Purim holiday is celebrated with parades and costume parties to commemorate the deliverance of the Jewish people from a plot to exterminate them in the ancient Persian Empire 2,500 years ago, as recorded in the Biblical Book of Esther. DANIEL LEAL-OLIVAS / AFP
Young children dressed in costume in celebration of the Jewish holiday of Purim, are escorted along a street in the Orthodox Jewish neighborhood of Stamford Hill in north London on February 26, 2021. The carnival-like Purim holiday is celebrated with parades and costume parties to commemorate the deliverance of the Jewish people from a plot to exterminate them in the ancient Persian Empire 2,500 years ago, as recorded in the Biblical Book of Esther. DANIEL LEAL-OLIVAS / AFP
An Ultra-Orthodox Jewish child dressed in a bride's to celebrate Purim walks in the street a day ahead of the official holiday, in the Mea Shearim neighbourhood in Jerusalem, on February 24, 2021. The carnival-like Purim holiday is celebrated with parades and costume parties to commemorate biblical story of the deliverance of the Jewish people from a plot to exterminate them in the ancient Persian empire , as recorded in the Book of Esther. MENAHEM KAHANA / AFP
An Ultra-Orthodox Jewish child, wearing a fake beard and a shtreimel to celebrate Purim, walks in Jerusalem's the Mea Shearim neighborhood in, on February 25, 2021. Israel imposed a night-time curfew for three nights to curb the spread of the coronavirus during the Jewish holiday of Purim. The carnival-like Purim holiday is celebrated with parades and costume parties to commemorate biblical story of the deliverance of the Jewish people from a plot to exterminate them in the ancient Persian empire, as record
Ultra-Orthodox Jewish children dressed in costumes to celebrate Purim, walk in the street a day ahead of the official holiday, in the Mea Shearim neighbourhood in Jerusalem, on February 24, 2021. The carnival-like Purim holiday is celebrated with parades and costume parties to commemorate biblical story of the deliverance of the Jewish people from a plot to exterminate them in the ancient Persian empire , as recorded in the Book of Esther. MENAHEM KAHANA / AFP
Ultra-Orthodox Jewish children dressed in costumes to celebrate Purim, walk in the street a day ahead of the official holiday, in the Mea Shearim neighbourhood in Jerusalem, on February 24, 2021. The carnival-like Purim holiday is celebrated with parades and costume parties to commemorate biblical story of the deliverance of the Jewish people from a plot to exterminate them in the ancient Persian empire , as recorded in the Book of Esther. MENAHEM KAHANA / AFP
Israelis dressed in costumes in celebration of the Jewish holiday of Purim are pictured in the ultra-Orthodox neighborhood of Bnei Brak, on February 26, 2021. Israel imposed a night-time curfew for three nights from yesterday evening to curb the spread of the coronavirus during the Jewish holiday of Purim, the government said. The curfew, from 8:30 pm to 5:00 am daily (1830 GMT to 0300 GMT), will be in force from Thursday night until Sunday morning, a joint statement from the prime minister's office and the
Israelis dressed in costumes in celebration of the Jewish holiday of Purim are pictured in the ultra-Orthodox neighborhood of Bnei Brak, on February 26, 2021. Israel imposed a night-time curfew for three nights from yesterday evening to curb the spread of the coronavirus during the Jewish holiday of Purim, the government said. The curfew, from 8:30 pm to 5:00 am daily (1830 GMT to 0300 GMT), will be in force from Thursday night until Sunday morning, a joint statement from the prime minister's office and the health ministry said. Emmanuel DUNAND / AFP
Israeli children dressed in costumes in celebration of the Jewish holiday of Purim are pictured in the ultra-Orthodox neighborhood of Bnei Brak, on February 26, 2021. Israel imposed a night-time curfew for three nights from yesterday evening to curb the spread of the coronavirus during the Jewish holiday of Purim, the government said. The curfew, from 8:30 pm to 5:00 am daily (1830 GMT to 0300 GMT), will be in force from Thursday night until Sunday morning, a joint statement from the prime minister's office
Israeli children dressed in costumes in celebration of the Jewish holiday of Purim are pictured in the ultra-Orthodox neighborhood of Bnei Brak, on February 26, 2021. Israel imposed a night-time curfew for three nights from yesterday evening to curb the spread of the coronavirus during the Jewish holiday of Purim, the government said. The curfew, from 8:30 pm to 5:00 am daily (1830 GMT to 0300 GMT), will be in force from Thursday night until Sunday morning, a joint statement from the prime minister's office and the health ministry said. Emmanuel DUNAND / AFP
Israelis dressed in costumes in celebration of the Jewish holiday of Purim are pictured in the ultra-Orthodox neighborhood of Bnei Brak, on February 26, 2021. Israel imposed a night-time curfew for three nights from yesterday evening to curb the spread of the coronavirus during the Jewish holiday of Purim, the government said. The curfew, from 8:30 pm to 5:00 am daily (1830 GMT to 0300 GMT), will be in force from Thursday night until Sunday morning, a joint statement from the prime minister's office and the
Israelis dressed in costumes in celebration of the Jewish holiday of Purim are pictured in the ultra-Orthodox neighborhood of Bnei Brak, on February 26, 2021. Israel imposed a night-time curfew for three nights from yesterday evening to curb the spread of the coronavirus during the Jewish holiday of Purim, the government said. The curfew, from 8:30 pm to 5:00 am daily (1830 GMT to 0300 GMT), will be in force from Thursday night until Sunday morning, a joint statement from the prime minister's office and the health ministry said. Emmanuel DUNAND / AFP
A reveller dressed in costume in celebration of the Jewish holiday of Purim, cycles along a street in the Orthodox Jewish neighborhood of Stamford Hill in north London on February 26, 2021. The carnival-like Purim holiday is celebrated with parades and costume parties to commemorate the deliverance of the Jewish people from a plot to exterminate them in the ancient Persian Empire 2,500 years ago, as recorded in the Biblical Book of Esther. DANIEL LEAL-OLIVAS / AFP
A reveller dressed in costume in celebration of the Jewish holiday of Purim, cycles along a street in the Orthodox Jewish neighborhood of Stamford Hill in north London on February 26, 2021. The carnival-like Purim holiday is celebrated with parades and costume parties to commemorate the deliverance of the Jewish people from a plot to exterminate them in the ancient Persian Empire 2,500 years ago, as recorded in the Biblical Book of Esther. DANIEL LEAL-OLIVAS / AFP
Young children dressed in costume in celebration of the Jewish holiday of Purim, pose for a photograph outside a house in the Orthodox Jewish neighborhood of Stamford Hill in north London on February 26, 2021. The carnival-like Purim holiday is celebrated with parades and costume parties to commemorate the deliverance of the Jewish people from a plot to exterminate them in the ancient Persian Empire 2,500 years ago, as recorded in the Biblical Book of Esther. DANIEL LEAL-OLIVAS / AFP
Young children dressed in costume in celebration of the Jewish holiday of Purim, pose for a photograph outside a house in the Orthodox Jewish neighborhood of Stamford Hill in north London on February 26, 2021. The carnival-like Purim holiday is celebrated with parades and costume parties to commemorate the deliverance of the Jewish people from a plot to exterminate them in the ancient Persian Empire 2,500 years ago, as recorded in the Biblical Book of Esther. DANIEL LEAL-OLIVAS / AFP
Young children dressed in costume in celebration of the Jewish holiday of Purim, are escorted along a street in the Orthodox Jewish neighborhood of Stamford Hill in north London on February 26, 2021. The carnival-like Purim holiday is celebrated with parades and costume parties to commemorate the deliverance of the Jewish people from a plot to exterminate them in the ancient Persian Empire 2,500 years ago, as recorded in the Biblical Book of Esther. DANIEL LEAL-OLIVAS / AFP
Young children dressed in costume in celebration of the Jewish holiday of Purim, are escorted along a street in the Orthodox Jewish neighborhood of Stamford Hill in north London on February 26, 2021. The carnival-like Purim holiday is celebrated with parades and costume parties to commemorate the deliverance of the Jewish people from a plot to exterminate them in the ancient Persian Empire 2,500 years ago, as recorded in the Biblical Book of Esther. DANIEL LEAL-OLIVAS / AFP
An Ultra-Orthodox Jewish child dressed in a bride's to celebrate Purim walks in the street a day ahead of the official holiday, in the Mea Shearim neighbourhood in Jerusalem, on February 24, 2021. The carnival-like Purim holiday is celebrated with parades and costume parties to commemorate biblical story of the deliverance of the Jewish people from a plot to exterminate them in the ancient Persian empire , as recorded in the Book of Esther. MENAHEM KAHANA / AFP
An Ultra-Orthodox Jewish child dressed in a bride's to celebrate Purim walks in the street a day ahead of the official holiday, in the Mea Shearim neighbourhood in Jerusalem, on February 24, 2021. The carnival-like Purim holiday is celebrated with parades and costume parties to commemorate biblical story of the deliverance of the Jewish people from a plot to exterminate them in the ancient Persian empire , as recorded in the Book of Esther. MENAHEM KAHANA / AFP
An Ultra-Orthodox Jewish child, wearing a fake beard and a shtreimel to celebrate Purim, walks in Jerusalem's the Mea Shearim neighborhood in, on February 25, 2021. Israel imposed a night-time curfew for three nights to curb the spread of the coronavirus during the Jewish holiday of Purim. The carnival-like Purim holiday is celebrated with parades and costume parties to commemorate biblical story of the deliverance of the Jewish people from a plot to exterminate them in the ancient Persian empire, as record
An Ultra-Orthodox Jewish child, wearing a fake beard and a shtreimel to celebrate Purim, walks in Jerusalem's the Mea Shearim neighborhood in, on February 25, 2021. Israel imposed a night-time curfew for three nights to curb the spread of the coronavirus during the Jewish holiday of Purim. The carnival-like Purim holiday is celebrated with parades and costume parties to commemorate biblical story of the deliverance of the Jewish people from a plot to exterminate them in the ancient Persian empire, as recorded in the Book of Esther. AHMAD GHARABLI / AFP

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