Q: Someone told me that today is called “Shushan Purim.” What does that mean? I’m sort of exhausted from all of yesterday’s celebrations and I don’t really feel like doing another Purim!

 

A: You can relax. There is no need to get dressed up again today. But it is a special day. In the time of the Purim story, all the Jewish people outside of the capital city of Shushan fought against their enemies on the 13^th of Adar and rested on the 14^th. In Shushan, they fought the war for an additional day and only rested on the 15^th Adar. Shushan was a walled city so they instituted that while everyone else celebrates Purim on the 14^th Adar, a walled city (that has a wall from the days of Joshua) should celebrate on the 15^th, which is today. That’s why in Jerusalem, Purim is today on the 15^th of Adar.

 

Although for us it’s not actually Purim we still add in extra joy today because its “Shushan Purim.”

 

Happy Shushan Purim!

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