Mayim Bialik breaks down Purim, explains why it is 'lit'

"Drinking, cross-dressing, partying all night, letting it all hang out – oh yes friends, it is Purim."

Mayim Bialik and a big fish — not a whale. (photo credit: HEADER IMAGE DESIGN BY GRACE YAGEL; PHOTO BY STORM SANTOS; ORIGINAL ILLUSTRATION BY MCHLSKHRV/GETTY)
Mayim Bialik and a big fish — not a whale.
(photo credit: HEADER IMAGE DESIGN BY GRACE YAGEL; PHOTO BY STORM SANTOS; ORIGINAL ILLUSTRATION BY MCHLSKHRV/GETTY)
In her latest episode of the Youtube show You Know How I Know on the Jewish Learning channel, Mayim Bialik breaks down the Jewish holiday of Purim, explaining the story of the holiday and mentioning its traditions, which she refers to as "lit."
"Drinking, cross-dressing, partying all night, letting it all hang out – oh yes friends, it is Purim," says Bialik, explaining why she is excited about the upcoming Jewish celebration.
Bialik poked fun at US public perception of many Jewish holidays, saying that people's reactions to her videos about Jewish holidays often sound something like: "I don't think fasting all day and sitting on the floor and crying sounds fun," but explaining that Purim is very different.
"It's the holiday of masks, and no, not those kinds of masks 2021," says Bialik. She goes on to say that Purim is a time when "we examine the figurative masks that we wear to make it through the day, the job, the patriarchy, the world."
She emphasizes female characters and their contribution to the story of Purim, adding that the holiday teaches us that "one woman can rise up and defeat a mighty evil."
Bialik then goes on to tell the story of Purim, breaking down various elements of the story and comparing it to modern times. She concludes by saying that on Purim, Jews acknowledge that they live in a world where they sometimes must be the ones to speak up when something is wrong, "even if it puts us in danger," and even a world where "all can seem lost."
"In the flip of a barrel, we can find hope."