Post date: Mar 05, 2020 5:1:48 AM
“Al kein kar’u layamim ha’eileh Furim al sheim ha’pur”
That is why they called these days ‘Purim’ from the word ‘pur’
9:26
If we're going to name the holiday after the lottery, why use the Persian word “Pur?” As Jews, wouldn't it make more sense to use the Hebrew word “Goral?”
Let's go back to Sefer Shemos and we’ll find a precedent. After B'nai Yisroel left Mitzrayim and they were given the Mitzvah of Kiddush Hachodesh, the Torah referred to the months by their order number (the first month, the second month, etc.).
And when B'nai Israel left Bavel to build the second Beis Hamikdash, they brought with them Babylonian names for the months (Tishrei, Cheshvan, etc.). We continue to use these names for the months.
The Ramban explains that just as the Torah used the numerical names as a reminder to us of Yetzias Mitzrayim, Klal Yisroel used the Babylonian names as a reminder of leaving Bavel.
In this same vein, the Persian name for lottery, Pur, was used to remind us of the great Neis (miracle) that Hashem did for us while we were in Persia-Media.
[Inside Purim, p. 43]