297 The Purim festival commemorates the salvation of the Jewish people in the ancient Persian Empire from the Jew-hating prime minister Haman's plot to destroy all the Jews, young and old, infants and women, in a single day. This year we are celebrating Purim on Friday, February 26 th, starting on Thursday night. During Purim, one of the mitzvahs is to read the Megillah (book of Esther), which recounts the story of the Purim miracle. Also among the Purim mitzvahs are, giving gifts like food, drinks, clothing, and/or money to at least two people in need, and sending two kinds of food at least to one person.