Purim

As Ramadan meets Purim, Jews and Muslims must choose shared humanity over fear - opinion

Purim commemorates the deliverance of the Jews in ancient Persia over 2,000 years ago. It is rooted in the broader Middle Eastern landscape, where Jews have part of this region since antiquity.

PALESTINIAN MUSLIMS are seen praying at the Temple Mount during the holy month Ramadan, in Jerusalem, on February 17, 2026.
 L to R: Iran Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, US President Donald Trump against backdrop of respective flags and missile strikes.

Living on pins and needles: Israel faces uncertainty at the prospect of war - opinion

American Pulled Beef Hamantaschen

In the kitchen with Henny: An international Purim celebration

Kinder’s Purim Collection

The tasty news of Israel


Purim 2025: The famous chain with costumes starting at NIS 29.90

While everyone is raising prices, Max Stock surprises with low-cost costumes and especially affordable Purim gift baskets. Also: Leah Yanai, judge of Dancing with the Stars, leads the new campaign.

 Leah Yanai in the Max Stock campaign photoshoot

From retro comebacks to Netflix hits: The costumes taking over this year

Purim 2025 brings variety: From IDF soldier costumes and animated characters to classics and gaming-inspired outfits, all set to shine in the annual carnival.

 Yamam fighter costume, price: NIS 49.90, Max Stock

Purim at Max Stock: Meet the new and surprising face of the brand

From the judging panel of Dancing with the Stars to her first major campaign: Beloved judge Leah Yanai has been chosen to lead Max Stock’s Purim campaign.

 Leah Yanai during the shooting

Purim 2025: SACARA to open three concept stores with holiday makeup

The chain is launching three pop-up stores in Petah Tikva, Beersheba, and Hadera, featuring the Purim 2025 collection with makeup products, accessories, and beauty items at attractive prices.

 SACARA Purim Store in Petah Tikva

This week in Jewish history: IDF attacks Gaza, rise of Queen Esther

A highly abridged weekly version of Dust & Stars.

'Ahasuerus and Haman at the Feast of Esther' by Rembrandt, 1660, at Moscow's Pushkin Museum

New art exhibit presents a new dawn for Queen Esther

To experience the live ritual, contact alana.ruben at gmail.com or EsthersThrone on Instagram to schedule a time.

 Queen Esther and her throne.

Ex-MEP Nick Griffin claims Israel will strike Iran on Purim, which already passed

Griffin seemed to mix up Jewish holidays and confuse details, claiming that Purim would fall in April when the holiday had already passed and that Haman had been the Persian king.

Far-right British National Party (BNP) leader Nick Griffin attends a protest against the killing of a British soldier in London June 1, 2013. Police intervened to separate about 150 far-right protesters from a much larger anti-racism crowd in London on Saturday to stop them from coming to blows over

Grapevine: Shuk snags

Movers and shakers in Israeli society.

 The bustling Mahane Yehuda shuk in Jerusalem.

Is Israeli society at the fifth stage of grief? - opinion

The past debate on public celebrations – either on Purim or Independence Day – suggests we might move to the fifth stage, acceptance.

 TWO WOMEN, Arab and Jew, involved in the Together Beyond Words organization, share their grief.

Jewish unity is the silver lining of the Israel-Hamas War - opinion

Unifying the Jewish people, fighting for a brighter future, and saving humanity (by fighting terror) may still be the silver lining coming out of Hamas’s insanity.

 A person stands in front of pictures during a demonstration to demand the liberation of hostages who are being held in the Gaza Strip after they were seized by Hamas gunmen on October 7, in Tel Aviv, Israel November 21, 2023.