JTA — As the sun rose over Jerusalem on Wednesday morning, sirens rang out, signaling yet another incoming missile attack from Iran.

This time, it coincided with the morning of Shushan Purim, as thousands of Israelis gathered — despite a prohibition on public gatherings — to fulfill the mitzvah of reading the Megillah after sunrise on the day of Purim.

Purim in Jerusalem, known as Shushan Purim, takes place a day later than in most of the rest of the world due to its status as a walled city during the time of the holiday’s story, when the Jews in Shushan, also a walled city, located in what is now Susa, Iran, fought for their survival a day longer than Jews elsewhere in the kingdom.

Emergency regulations imposed by the Home Front Command ban large gatherings, even in shelters, but Israelis have defied the restrictions to continue their celebrations. Top rabbis in Israel encouraged Israelis to follow government guidelines, but opined that Zoom readings do not fulfill the requirement under Jewish law to hear the Megillah read in a prayer quorum. On Tuesday, Israelis across the country celebrated Purim in bomb shelters and underground parking garages, many of which are rated to withstand bombs dropped from above.

Just a few hours after the air raid........

© The Times of Israel