Shushan Purim

Interesting text on Purim and the ways in which it is recognized from ou.org.

http://www.ou.org/holidays/purim/when_is_purim_observed/#.USr4xvLCaSo

Here are some segments which I found interesting:

With Esther in mind…

“Purim is different from all other Jewish holidays in at least one very interesting aspect. Purim is observed in some places exclusively on the 14th of Adar and in others, exclusively on the 15th (Shushan Purim).

The observance of Purim was thus originally ordained by the Sages: “To observe these days of Purim in their times. ‘In their times:’ In the specific time of each.”

The reason for the different dates designated for the observance of Purim is that the Jews of Shushan originally observed the festival on a different day than the Jews who lived elsewhere. Whereas Jews in Shushan waged war on both the 13th and the 14th of the month, and observed the 15th as a day of festivity and rejoicing, in all other provinces the Jews waged war on the 13th and observed only the 14th as a day of festivity and rejoicing.

Therefore our Sages chose to distinguish between Shushan and all other places in accordance with the original event.”…

“Therefore the Purim which is observed on the 14th is called ‘Purim-of-the-open-cities;’ (Purim De’Prazot) and the Purim observed on the 15th is named the ‘Purim-of-the-walled-cities’ (Purim De’Mukafot).

In our times, the only city besides Shushan in which Purim is observed the 15th of Adar is Jerusalem, “Yerushalayim”…

“Other Purim(s)
Learning from the Purim experience, a custom has evolved for Jewish communities to celebrate the anniversary of their escape from destruction. These special communal Purims are also called ‘Purim Katan.’…

A famous Second Purim is that of Frankfurt-am-Main on the 20th of Adar (1614-15). The baker, Vincent Fettmilch, who called himself the “New Haman”, organized attacks on the Jews, who defended themselves. However, after a battle which lasted a full day and night they were forced to surrender and were expelled from the city, despoiled of all their belongings.

“After several months the king of Germany learned that a flagrant injustice had been done to the Jews. He commanded that the baker be killed, his house destroyed, his body beheaded, quartered, and hung on the gates of the city.

The story of Vincent Fettmilch’s crimes and of his punishment were inscribed in German and Latin on a column erected on the site of his house. The king called upon the Jews of Frankfurt to return to their homes with full honours, accompanied by a military band and with a reception by the local authorities. This Purim the Jews called “Vincent Purim” and they also proclaimed a special fast and penitence. Rabbi Elhanan Ha’elen composed a “Vincent Megillah” in Hebrew and Yiddish.”…

“- The Jews of Tiberias celebrate a Purim Katan on the 7th of Elul dating from 1743 when they were saved from the danger of war from the surrounding Arab countries and their foreign allies.”