Originally published in the Encyclopedia Judaica, vol. 13 (1972), pp. 1390-5. PURIM (Heb. פּוּרִים), the feast instituted, according to the Book of Esther (9: 20-28), by Mordecai to celebrate the deliverance of the Jews from Haman’s plot to kill them. Purim (Akk. pūrū, “lots”) is so called (Esth. 9: 26) after the lots cast by Haman in…