One More Reason to Make Aliyah: 2 days of Purim

Everyone recognizes how great the Jewish holiday of Purim is.  It's fun for both children and adults: kids dress up in costumes and eat candy, adults have a celebratory meal and party.  

Although Purim is celebrated in the middle of the Jewish month Adar, Israel was transformed into a different place from the beginning of the Jewish month.  

For example, in Adar, kids no longer had regular school.  Instead, the schools strictly complied with the Talmudic dictum that Adar is a month for everyone to increase in their happiness.  My kids had a fun school activity planned for them :scavenger hunts, school trips, dress up, and more!  It became normal to see all of the kids of my community dressed up in a different costume each day.

Yes!  My kids were never so happy, and we all agreed, that no place celebrates Purim quite like Israel.

However, perhaps the most special thing about celebrating Purim in Israel is that you have the opportunity to celebrate Purim twice!

Jews Who Live in Unwalled Cities

Jews who live in cities that were unwalled during the times of Yehoshua celebrate Purim on the 14th of Adar.  Living in Ramat Beit Shemesh, that applied to me, and it also applies to most Jews who live in the diaspora.

A picture from my Purim meal on the 14th of Adar.

Shushan Purim: Jews Who Live in Walled Cities

Jews who live in cities that were walled during the times of Yehoshua celebrate Purim on the 15th of Adar.  This mainly includes cities in Israel, including Jerusalem.  

Of course, this is what I did and here is a picture at the Purim meal I went to in Jerusalem, on the 15th of Adar.

That means that if you live in Israel, you are able to celebrate Israel twice, on the 14th and the 15th of Adar.

Are you still living outside of Israel?  Why?  What are you waiting for?