Purim, crumbs and the letter Mem
Interesting Questions and Answers about Purim
From the author of Megillas Esther Explained by Yisroel Dov Levene (Mosaica Press).
Source: From the author's website https://livingwithmitzvos.com/

Question - the name of Purim

Every festival has its own name that contains in it the essence of what happened then. For example, the word "Pesach" comes from the Hebrew root "pasach". The verb pasach defines Hashem’s action during the tenth plague, as seen in Shemos 12:13 ("I will pass over you" / וּפָסַחְתִּי עֲלֵכֶם) and Shemos 12:27 ("He passed over" / פָּסַח), where the term indicates sparing the Jewish households during the tenth and final plague—the death of the firstborn.
The name of "Purim" which is a Rabbinic festival means what and how does this tie in with the nature of this festival?

The Maharal's answer

The Maharal has a commentary on Megillas Esther called "Ohr Chodosh". His answer comes in his commentary to Esther 9:24.

(כד) כִּי֩ הָמָ֨ן בֶּֽן־הַמְּדָ֜תָא הָֽאֲגָגִ֗י צֹרֵר֙ כׇּל־הַיְּהוּדִ֔ים חָשַׁ֥ב עַל־הַיְּהוּדִ֖ים לְאַבְּדָ֑ם וְהִפִּ֥ל פּוּר֙ ה֣וּא הַגּוֹרָ֔ל לְהֻמָּ֖ם וּֽלְאַבְּדָֽם׃

(24) For Haman son of Hammedatha the Agagite, the foe of all the Jews, had plotted to destroy the Jews, and had cast pur—that is, the lot—with intent to crush and exterminate them.

(א)"והפיל פור הוא הגורל" (פסוק כד). ... ופירוש "פור" הוא פרורים, כי מפיל גורל על איזה יום מימי השנה יעשה כמעשה אשר רוצה לעשות. וימי השנה הם כמו פרורים קטנים שנחלק אליהם השנה, והגורל מברר איזה יום מימי השנה יעשה מה שיעשה. ובזה יתורץ מה שאמר (פסוק כו) "על כן קראו לימים האלה פורים" בלשון רבים, והלא אין כאן רק גורל אחד. רק כי נקרא הגורל האחד "פורים" בלשון רבים רק בשביל שהגורל הוא על איזה מן הימים, שנחלקו ימי השנה לימים הרבה, כמו הפרורים, והגורל על איזה יום, ולכך נקראים "פורים"*.

In Ohr Chadash 9:24, the Maharal of Prague explains that Pur derives from perurim (crumbs), indicating Haman's incorrect belief that the Jews were subject to physical fragmentation, time, and fate. The name Purim signifies that Hashem shattered Haman’s decree into fragments, turning a unified evil plan into harmless "crumbs".
Thus, this name "Purim" adequately describes the nature of this day and its miracles vis-a-vis how the decree of Haman fell apart. Additionally, there is another aspect from the prospective of the Jews. The Purim story took place over many years and what they Jews had to do was to piece them all together.

Question - the 4 mitzvos of the day of Purim

Every festival has its own mitzvos associated with it. For example, by Pesach it is the eating of matza and not eating of chometz. What are the four mitzvos of Purim and how to easily remember them with sign?

The answer - and the starting with the letter מ

The scriptural source for the four primary mitzvos of Purim is found in the Megillas Esther itself, specifically in 9:22.

(כב) כַּיָּמִ֗ים אֲשֶׁר־נָ֨חוּ בָהֶ֤ם הַיְּהוּדִים֙ מֵאֹ֣יְבֵיהֶ֔ם וְהַחֹ֗דֶשׁ אֲשֶׁר֩ נֶהְפַּ֨ךְ לָהֶ֤ם מִיָּגוֹן֙ לְשִׂמְחָ֔ה וּמֵאֵ֖בֶל לְי֣וֹם ט֑וֹב לַעֲשׂ֣וֹת אוֹתָ֗ם יְמֵי֙ מִשְׁתֶּ֣ה וְשִׂמְחָ֔ה וּמִשְׁלֹ֤חַ מָנוֹת֙ אִ֣ישׁ לְרֵעֵ֔הוּ וּמַתָּנ֖וֹת לָֽאֶבְיֹנִֽים׃

(22) the same days on which the Jews enjoyed relief from their foes and the same month that had been transformed for them from one of grief and mourning to one of festive joy. They were to observe them as days of feasting and merrymaking, and as an occasion for sending gifts to one another and presents to the poor.

To easily memorize these four obligations, Jewish tradition uses a mnemonic device where every single mitzvah begins with the Hebrew letter מ (Mem):
  1. מִקְרָא מְגִלָּה – Megillah reading (hearing the story twice).
  2. מִשְׁתֶּה – Many-course feast (the festive Purim meal).
  3. מִשְׁלוֹחַ מָנוֹת – Making food gifts (sending two food items to a friend).
  4. מַתָּנוֹת לָאֶבְיוֹנִים – Money to the poor (giving charity to at least two needy people)
If you enjoyed this, there are many more fascinating information and specifically relevant to hear more interesting Questions and Answers on Purim - https://livingwithmitzvos.com/purim-questions/. The author also has a flowing and interesting passuk by passuk commentary on all the whole of Megillas Esther, entitled Megillas Esther Explained.