Jewish Treats Guide to Celebrating Purim by NJOP

Guide to Celebrating Purim

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Guide to Celebrating Purim Welcome to Jewish Treats Guide to Celebrating Purim. Shake your grogger, eat some hamantashen and get dressed in your silliest costume...it’s Purim! Jewish Treats Guide to Celebrating Purim offers fun facts and inspiring insights into the four major Purim mitzvot and the customs that make this holiday a unique celebration for all. We hope that you will use this guide to truly enhance your own Purim celebration.

Founder: Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald Edited By: Sarah Rochel Hewitt Content: Sarah Rochel Hewitt Social Media: Susanne Goldstone Rosenhouse

Table of Contents The Story of Purim

Reading the Megillah

The Purim Feast

Mishloach Manot

Matanot La’evyonim

Other Purim Customs

“This Little Piggy Went To Shul”

From everyone at NJOP and Jewish Treats, we wish you a Purim Sameach and a Freilichen Purim! (That’s how you say “Happy Purim” in Hebrew and Yiddish).

Jewish Treats Guide to Celebrating Purim

The Purim Story When my friends were dressing as Queen Esther, I donned red spots and a long tail and went to school as Vashti. So I get it. I get not wanting to dress like Esther, despite the fact that she was both beauty queen and brave heroine--the stuff of Disney dreams.

While the plethora of pig paraphernalia led me to believe she was not the only young child enchanted by pigs, something told me she might have been in one of the only Jewish toddlers in an observant home to find such favor in swine.

In truth, from Bergenfield to Borough Park, pigs Between the fantastic story, the costumes and the have become increasingly unpopular among candy, it is no wonder Purim ranks high on the list Jewish institutions. Our daycare swaps out the of holidays for young children. And of course there pigs on Old McDonald’s farm in favor of the feline. In Israel, where pig-related laws come are many lessons to be learned; we dress in straight from the Knesset, it is illegal to raise costume to conceal our identities as a reminder pigs and they are often referred to by euphemism that Hashem hid his face (hester panim) and his as “white meat.” As noted by Daphne Barak-Erez, involvement in rescuing the Jews from Haman, and that every day there are miracles gently veiled author of “Outlawed Pigs: Law, Religion, and Culture in Israel,” the pig is no more un-kosher before our eyes. than a bunny rabbit or even the Hoopoe, Israel’s state bird. “The Torah does not set apart the pig My husband and I always guidelines for Purim as uniquely abhorrent,” she writes. Nonetheless, costumes: no guns, no swords, no guts and no pigs have come to represent all things treif. gore. For the most part, this leads to rather safe costume choices for our older children. But when So with some help from Amazon.com, we our daughter was three, we faced a bit of Purim wardrobe choice malfunction. She wanted nothing escorted our pro-football player, alien and proud little piggy to shul. I totally shepped some nachas to do with Queen Esther or Cinderella, Dora or that what she lacked in jewels and sparkle, she Daisy. Instead, she insisted, repeatedly, that she made up for with spunk and originally. While would only be a pig for Purim. friends did chuckle (and her great-grandmother feared for future shidduchim) no one seemed The child in question was inexplicably obsessed with pigs. Pink pigs, black pigs, clean pigs, muddy offended by her choice. pigs, stuffed pigs and live pigs. They were all By the time we left shul, it was way past our “soooo cute” in the eyes of our little beholder. daughter’s bedtime and she was pooped. As the carnival music faded behind us, I watched Over the years, family and friends indulged and her waddle through the snow holding her tail enabled, and we amassed an impressive collection of pigs, plastic, plush, battery-operated, with one hand while trying to keep up with her singing (Elvis songs) and dancing pigs. What more brothers. We followed them by a few steps and though they were all still in disguise, I saw under could a girl want? a football helmet, an alien mask and soft pig ears--the miracles that are part of my every day. A pig costume, of course.

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The Reading of the Megillah Megillat Esther, the Scroll of Esther, is the official record of the remarkable story of how Esther and Mordechai saved of the Jewish people from Haman’s evil plot. On the holiday of Purim, there is an obligation to read this scroll aloud (or to hear it read) once on Purim night and once on Purim day. This obligation applies to all adult Jews. In order to fulfill the mitzvah of listening to the Megillah, it is necessary to hear every word during the reading. For this reason it is imperative that there be no talking during the Megillah reading. This rule is surprising for all who are familiar with the wide-spread custom of children twirling “groggers” (noisemakers) and adults loudly booing Haman’s name in the midst of the reader’s solemn chanting. The Torah, in Deuteronomy 25:19, commands the Jewish people to “blot out the remembrance of Amalek.” Since Haman was a direct descendent of Amalek and the villain of the Purim story, it became customary in the Middle Ages to “blot out” his name whenever the name “Haman” is read in the Megillah. The noisemakers specially designed for making noise during the Megillah reading are popularly known as groggers (Yiddish) or ra’ashonim (Hebrew). It is important that, even when blotting out the memory of Haman, one remembers to stop and listen to the rest of the reading as well.

What Is A Megillah? Technically, a megillah is a rolled scroll. Specifically, the term megillah is used to describe the five canonical works from the Ketuvim (Writings) section of the Bible that are read in the synagogue on different holidays. The five megillot are: Shir Ha’shirim - The Song of Songs - written by King Solomon and read on Passover. Ruth - The Book of Ruth - written by Samuel and read on Shavuot. Eichah - Lamentations - written by Jeremiah and read on Tisha B'Av. Kohelet - Ecclesiastes - also written by King Solomon and read on Sukkot. Esther - The Book of Esther - written by Mordechai and Esther and read on Purim. When preceded with a definite article, however, “the Megillah,” refers specifically to the Book of Esther. Megillat Esther is the only one of the five megillot that everyone is obligated to read/hear.

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Make them days of feasting and gladness, and of sending portions one to another, and gifts to the poor. (Esther 9:22)

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Feasting and Gladness Food is often central to the way in which Jews celebrate. From the three meals of Shabbat to the elaborate rituals of the Passover Seder, almost every Jewish holiday begins with a feast. Unlike the festive meals of Shabbat, Rosh Hashana, Passover, Sukkot or Shavuot, the Purim seuda (as a feast is called in Hebrew) is in commemoration of an actual feast that took place in the time of Esther. In fact, the Purim story contains numerous important feasts. The Book of Esther opens with a description of a great royal feast (which lasted several months), and a smaller feast for the citizens of Shushan that lasted one week. It was during this second feast that Queen Vashti disobeyed the King and lost her crown. Without these events, Esther would not have been in a position to help the Jews. Feasting is also the means by which Esther revealed Haman’s wicked plot to King Achashverosh. Esther invited both the King and Haman to two private feasts. During the first, she said nothing. During the second she outrightly accused Haman of CAN WE DRINK THAT? plotting to destroy her and her people. Purim is known as the holiday for drinking, so Jewish Finally, and most importantly, the Jews enjoyed a feast Treats presents you with a quick guide to kosher alcohol. to celebrate their victory over those who sought to BEER--Almost all basic non-flavored, destroy them. In the midst of this feasting, they stopped domestic beers are kosher, even without to give gifts to the poor and send food baskets to their certification, because beer is made from only water, friends. barley, yeast, and hops, and any additions alter The bare minimum to fulfill the mitzvah of a Purim the end product. Flavored beers, stouts and beers seuda (meal) requires that one wash and eat bread from some European and Asian countries do need and then recite the bentching, the Grace after Meals. supervision, due to additional ingredients. The Purim meal is normally held later in the day so that WINE--Wine is used for sanctification in the feasting and rejoicing carries over past sunset into many cultures, therefore Jewish law the next day. Traditionally, this is a deluxe meal with requires that the wine (or grape juice) wine and other alcoholic beverages. that Jews consume be entirely processed by other Jews Purim is well known for drinking because wine plays an to ensure that no “idolatrous” wine is added. A important role in the unfolding events: reliable kosher symbol is required on the bottle. * King Achashverosh is drunk when he calls for Vashti and when he orders her punished. * Esther invites the King and Haman to a banquet, which the Megillah refers to as a wine-banquet. * The Megillah describes the 14th and 15th of Adar as days of "feasting and joy," implying that the Jews celebrated with feasts of wine.

SPIRITS & LIQUORS--Because of the varying ingredients in different alcoholic products, all spirits and liquors require kosher certification or rabbinic approval. Many rabbis have issued stringent warnings against drinking and driving, over-imbibing, and underage drinking on Purim. This warning cannot be overemphasized!

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Matanot La’evyonim

“And Gifts To The Poor” Imagine...the Jewish people have just been Everyone Can Give: saved from complete destruction. Jews everyFor those who wish to give Matanot where were celebrating, eating their tastiest treats and drinking their best wines. Families and La’evyonim but do not know where to donate in order to properly friends come together to rejoice about being alive. Yet, in the midst of these celebrations, Jews fulfill this mitzvah, please visit: www.just-tzedakah.org throughout the empire remember that not all of their fellow Jews have the means to celebrate. In the middle of their victory celebrations, those who had, gave to those in need, further strengthening the tremendous feeling of unity that the threat of annihilation and the subsequent salvation had given them. Giving to the poor is a mitzvah all year round. However, the mitzvah to do so on Purim is separate from the general mitzvah of tzedakah (charity). In order to properly fulfill the mitzvah of Matanot La’evyonim one must give charity to two individual poor people. One should give each poor person at least enough money to provide for a meal. One may also give the equivalent in food. Matanot La’evyonim should be given early enough on Purim day so that the poor can benefit from the gift on the holiday itself. If, however, one does not have someone poor to give to on Purim, one should hold onto that money (separately) and give it when the opportunity arises. The money may not be given or spent elsewhere. Priority Giving The Mishna Berurah notes that one should spend more on gifts to the poor than on Mishloach Manot and on the Purim feast.

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Customs of Purim Costume Time Masks and disguises are a popular means of expressing some of the most important themes of Purim. For instance, “Ve'na'hafoch Hoo, and it was reversed” (Esther 9:1)--on Purim we celebrate the idea that what one perceives as reality can easily be reversed. This idea is the source for the custom of Purim costumes. Through the act of disguising one’s self, a person highlights the extreme reversal of not knowing “the difference between ‘Cursed be Haman’ and ‘Blessed be Mordechai’” (Megillah 7b). A second important theme of Purim that relates to the custom of wearing masks/costumes is “hester panim.” Hester panim refers to the idea that God conceals His involvement in human affairs. God is not mentioned even once in the Book of Esther, yet it is clearly Divine providence that determines events. This is hester panim, when God “hides” Himself from the world so that we can only see hints of His Divine plan. So too, on Purim, our true selves are hidden behind masks.

Hamantashen A popular item to include in Mishloach Manot is hamantashen (click for recipe), special triangle shaped cookies filled with poppy seeds, prune butter, jelly, chocolate, and a variety of other treats and fillings. There are several theories regarding the source and history of hamantashen: 1) The triangle shape of the hamantashen is said to represent a type of three-cornered hat worn by Haman. Because of their triangular shape, they are also sometimes called “Haman’s ears.” Others suggest that three sided cookie represents the three sided table of Esther’s feast. 2) The word “hamantashen” may be derived from the Yiddish moon tashen, which mean “poppy pockets.” The signifigance of the pocket is that the filling is hidden, just as God’s presence was concealed during the events of the Purim story. 3) The question may be asked, “Why is the Purim treat named after the arch-enemy of the Jewish people?” By eating a piece of Haman, one may figuratively “wipe out the memory of Amalek.”

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This Little Piggy Went To Shul When my friends were dressing as Queen Esther, I donned red spots and a long tail and went to school as Vashti, the not-so-nice wife of King Achashverosh. So I get it. I get not wanting to dress like Esther, despite the fact that she was both beauty queen and brave heroine--the stuff of Disney dreams.

While the plethora of pig paraphernalia led me to believe she was not the only young child enchanted by pigs, something told me she might have been one of the only Jewish toddlers in an observant home to find such favor in swine.

In truth, from Bergenfield to Borough Park, pigs have become increasingly unpopular among Between the fantastic story, the costumes and the Jewish institutions. Our daycare swaps out the candy, it is no wonder Purim ranks high on the list pigs on Old McDonald’s farm in favor of the of holidays for young children. And of course there feline. In Israel, where pig-related laws come are many lessons to be learned: we dress in straight from the Knesset, it is illegal to raise costume to conceal our identities as a reminder pigs and they are often referred to euphemistically that Hashem hid his face (hester panim) and his as “white meat.” As noted by Daphne Barakinvolvement in rescuing the Jews from Haman, Erez, author of “Outlawed Pigs: Law, Religion, and that every day there are miracles gently veiled and Culture in Israel,” the pig is no more before our eyes. un-kosher than a bunny rabbit or even the Hoopoe, Israel’s state bird. “The Torah does My husband and I always set guidelines for Purim not set apart the pig as uniquely abhorrent,” costumes: no guns, no swords, no guts and no she writes. Nonetheless, pigs have come to gore. For the most part, this leads to rather safe represent all things treif (non-kosher). costume choices for our older children. But when So with some help from Amazon.com, we escorted our daughter was three, we faced a bit of Purim wardrobe choice malfunction. She wanted nothing our pro-football player, our masked alien and our proud little piggy to shul. I totally shepped some to do with Queen Esther or Cinderella, Dora or nachas (pleasure) that what she lacked in jewels Daisy. Instead, she insisted, repeatedly, that she and sparkle, she made up for with spunk and would only be a pig for Purim. originality. While friends did chuckle (and her The child in question was inexplicably obsessed great-grandmother feared for future shidduchim) with pigs. Pink pigs, black pigs, clean pigs, muddy no one seemed offended by her choice. pigs, stuffed pigs and live pigs. They were all By the time we left shul, it was way past our “soooo cute” in the eyes of our little beholder. daughter’s bedtime and she was pooped. As Over the years, family and the carnival music faded behind us, I watched friends indulged and her waddle through the snow, holding her tail enabled, and we amassed with one hand while trying to keep up with her an impressive collection of brothers. We followed them by a few steps and pigs, plastic, plush, batterythough they were all still in disguise, I saw under operated, singing (Elvis a football helmet, an alien mask and soft pig songs) and dancing pigs. ears--the miracles that are part of my every day. What more could a girl Ilya Welfeld stops to cherish the chaos, writing about balancing want? A pig costume, of course.

work, life and faith. Email her at ilyawelfeld@gmail.com. This piece is excerpted from a piece that appeared in The Jewish Star in 2010.

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Passover Across America is an incredible opportunity for participants to attend a beautiful seder where they will learn the basic meaning, explanations and customs of the seder. Participants leave the seder inspired by having relived the exodus of the Jewish people through uplifting songs and fascinating Jewish rituals associated with the seder.

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