117 HRES 976 IH: Commemorating the celebration of Purim by the Jewish community of the United States. U.S. House of Representatives 2022-03-11 text/xml EN Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.

IV117th CONGRESS2d SessionH. RES. 976IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVESMarch 11, 2022Mr. Balderson submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Oversight and ReformRESOLUTIONCommemorating the celebration of Purim by the Jewish community of the United States.

Whereas the Jewish community in the United States has made significant contributions to the Nation as a whole; Whereas antisemitism, including harassment on the basis of actual or perceived Jewish origin, ancestry, ethnicity, identity, affiliation, or faith, remains a persistent, pervasive, and disturbing problem in contemporary American society; Whereas, in 2022, Purim will be celebrated by the Jewish community from sundown on March 16 through sundown March 17; Whereas Purim is the commemoration of the divinely orchestrated saving of Jewish people from Haman the Evil, an Achaemenid Persian Empire grand vizier who intended to kill all the Jews in the ancient Persian Empire; Whereas, in the 4th century B.C.E., Esther became the new queen of the empire, despite being Jewish, and her cousin, Mordechai, refused to follow Haman’s orders, infuriating Haman; Whereas it states in Megillas Esther (the Book of Esther) that Purim means lots in ancient Persian, and the holiday was named such since Haman had thrown lots to determine when he would carry out his plot; Whereas the Jewish people celebrate Purim by reading of the Megillah, giving gifts to at least two poor people, sending gifts of two kinds of food to at least one person, and by taking part in a Purim feast; Whereas the traditional food of Purim is hamantaschen, a pastry with poppy seeds or sweet filling; and Whereas the meanings of Purim are to celebrate the Jewish people reaccepting the Torah with love, specifically Torah she’Baal Peh (verbally transmitted Jewish Law), acknowledge Jewish survival despite Haman’s plot, celebrate God’s involvement in the world, and celebrate a renewed sense of spirituality among Jewish people: Now, therefore, be it

That the House of Representatives— (1)stands in solidarity with the Jewish community in the United States, and throughout the world; (2)recognizes and celebrates the holiday of Purim; and (3)wishes the Jewish community a Chag Purim Sameach (Happy Purim in Hebrew) and ah freilichen Purim (Happy Purim in Yiddish).