Tens of thousands of people in Jerusalem marked the Jewish holiday of Purim on Monday, albeit with subdued festivities due to the ongoing Israel-Hamas war. While many cities in Israel opted to cancel their Purim celebrations, Jerusalem hosted a traditional Purim parade after 42 years, featuring elaborate floats of popular children's characters and imaginative displays.
Purim, a festival commemorating the triumph of Jews over a tyrant in ancient Persia, is observed in Jerusalem a day later than the rest of the country. Despite calls to cancel the 'Unity Parade' and other Purim events in light of the conflict, the parade proceeded, albeit with some dissenting voices.
