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Photos: Israel celebrates Purim

March 17, 2014 12:02PM ET

A holiday commemorating a tale from the Book of Esther is celebrated with eating, drinking and costumes

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Culture
Israel
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Purim
Ultra-Orthodox Jewish men in costumes dance on a table at a yeshiva, a rabbinical seminary, during Purim celebrations in Jerusalem Monday, March 17, 2014. Sebastian Scheiner/AP
Purim
Purim commemorates the rescue of Jews in ancient Persia as related in the Book of Esther. In modern times, it is observed with eating, drinking, costumes, acts of kindness and charity and a reading from the passages that relate the story, above. Nir Elias/Reuters
Purim
Costumed Ultra Orthodox Jews read from the Book of Esther. Omer Messinger/Nurphoto/Sipa/AP
Purim
Children dressed in special costumes for Purim at a yeshiva in Bnei Brak, an orthodox enclave. Nir Elias/Reuters
Purim
An Ultra Orthodox Jewish boy in a mask walks the streets of Bnei Brak. Oliver Weiken/EPA
Purim
A girl wears the costume of a leopard in a cage. Oliver Weiken/EPA
Purim
This boy is dressed up as a British Queen's guard. Oliver Weiken/EPA
Purim
Children in Purim costumes play in the Mea Shaarim neighborhood of Jerusalem. Abir Sultan/EPA
Purim
An Israeli wearing a monster mask prays at the Wailing Wall during the holiday. Abir Sultan/EPA
Purim
Israeli men wearing flight attendant costumes attend a gay party marking the holiday in Tel Aviv. Abir Sultan/EPA
Purim
For some, the drinking reaches excessive levels. Here, a drunk Jewish ultra-Orthodox young man steadies himself by holding onto a yeshiva bookshelf. Jim Hollander/EPA
Purim
An orthodox man lies on a bench in yeshiva during the celebration. Abir Sultan/EPA