Happy Purim!

Why do we pull pranks on Purim?

The holiday of Purim is known for the Hebrew expression “nahafochu” meaning “to be turned on its head.”

As described in the Megillah:

“…[T]he Jews rested from their enemies, and the month which was turned (nahafokh) for them from sorrow to joy, and from mourning to holiday: that they should make the days of feasting and joy, and of sending choice portions to one another and gifts to the poor.” (Esther 9:21-23)

As described by Rabbi Kalev:

The days surrounding Purim are known as yamei mishteh v’simcha - the days of revelry and merrymaking. Most likely, because drinking on Purim is considered a “mitzvah” so that you don’t know the difference between the characters of the story, it probably then led to jokes, pranks, etc. There are quite a few conversations in the code of Jewish law as to what is appropriate and what is not… can you dress like the opposite sex, can you steal something, etc. Even in the times of the Talmud (500) they were telling Purim stories that were so crazy people knew they couldn’t be true. So, I think it is all part of the “fun” of the holidays - when so often we are told we have to behave a certain way, etc… this is just the opposite.