Purim by Mark Podwal

Continuing our series of Purim images by Jewish Art Salon members, featured here is Mark Podwal's Purim at the Altneuschul, on the March 2014 cover of the Czech publication Rosh Chodes.

Purim is a Jewish holiday that commemorates the deliverance of the Jewish people in ancient Persia where a plot had been formed to destroy them. The story is recorded in the Biblical Book of Esther.

According to the Book, Haman, royal vizier to King Ahasuerus (presumably Xerxes I of Persia), planned to kill all the Jews in the empire, but his plans were foiled by Mordechai and his adopted daughter Esther who had risen to become Queen of Persia. The day of deliverance became a day of feasting and rejoicing.

Podwal's image shows Prague's Altneushul morphed into a Hamantaschen ("Haman's pockets"), a triangular pastry traditionally eaten on Purim by Ashkenazy Jews.

More hamantaschen, along with Megillah Esther scrolls, in the image below:

"Purim Costumes." - Collection of Princeton University Graphic Arts Collection

More Megillah images by Podwal:

"A Megillah" Etching 

 "Megillah in Empty Wine Bottle"

All images courtesy Mark Podwal.