Israel’s government has imposed a nighttime curfew amid fears that parties and mass gatherings during the Purim holiday could result in a fresh outbreak of COVID-19. It was during Purim 2020 that the coronavirus first began to really spread throughout the Jewish state.
But even with a curfew, and after a year of repeated lockdowns and untold hardships, Israelis were not about to let the pandemic dampen their holiday spirits.
For a modern Israeli perspective on the meaning of Purim, be sure to read It’s Purim, Our Enemies are Defeated, Rejoice!
Yonatan Sindel/Flash90
Costumed Israelis dances through the streets of downtown Jerusalem.
Olivier Fitoussi/Flash90
Bringing a bit of holiday cheer to Israelis hospitalized with COVID-19.
Yaakov Lederman/Flash90
Orthodox Jews in Beit Shemesh reading the Book of Esther.
Miriam Alster/Flash90
The weather was perfect for taking a stroll in our costumes and handing out traditional Purim gift baskets known as “mishloach manot.”
Gershon Elinson/Flash90
Israelis in Efrat read out the story of Esther for the whole neighborhood to hear.
Miriam Alster/Flash90
On the boardwalk in Tel Aviv.
Michael Giladi/Flash90
Happy Purim! Chag Sameach to all our Israel Today readers!
