On 11 and 12 March, Belarusian Jews celebrated Purim. The holiday commemorates the saving of the Jewish people in the ancient Persian Empire more than 2,400 years ago.
In synagogues, Purim is celebrated by public recitations of the Scroll of Esther telling the history of the holiday. During the reading, a vizier Haman is the worst enemy of all Jews. Every time his name is read out loud, the audience whistle, make noise, stamp their feet, and use a special noisy ratchet.
In the picture: rabbi of еру Grodno Jewish religious community Yitshak Kofman.
Photo by Leonid Shcheglov, BelTA.
