Purim

Overview

The Purim Story is told in the Book of Esther. The events happen over the years 3395-3406 (Jewish Calendar), corresponding to 366-355 BCE in the aftermath of the destruction of the First Temple.

It is a story of Diaspora, anti-Semitism, assimilation, identity, defiance, resistance and redemption. Though G-d is not mentioned directly in the Megilla (Scroll of Esther), his presence is there but "nistar" or hidden. Nistar shares the same root as Esther.

Purim falls on 14th Adar (Adar 2 in a leap year).
Shushan Purim is celebrated in ancient walled cities on 15th Adar.

Taanit Esther - The Fast Of Esther is on the 13 Adar
Before Esther went in to the king she enjoined the Jews to fast on her behalf. We commemorate that annually on Erev Purim (unless Purim falls on Saturday night, when the fast is moved back to Thursday). The fast is from dawn till dusk. No food or drink, though in most other respects the day is normal with no restrictions.

The Shabbat before Purim is known as Shabbat Zachor

A Brief Who’s Who

Achashverosh - The king, persuaded by his vizier Haman to kill the Jews. Marries Esther & enables their salvation. Vashti - The queen at the beginning of the story. Refuses to dance for the king and is banished. Haman - The wicked vizier, who seeks to destroy the Jews. Mordechai - A Jewish scholar, who refuses to bow to Haman’s authority. He rescues the king from an assassination plot by Bigtan & Teresh. He persuades his niece, Esther to become a candidate for replacement queen & later to risk her life and speak up for her people. Esther - Niece of Mordechai. Becomes queen in Vashti’s stead. Initially, she tries to mask her identity and preserve her life & status. Esther then risks all to confront Haman after a series of banquets she arranges for him and the King. Zeresh - Wife of Haman, who eggs him on in his ambition & hatred. Bigtan & Teresh - Guards who plot against the king. Hegai - Guardian of the king’s Harem

The Mitzvot of Purim

At the conclusion of the story, Mordechai & Esther instruct the annual celebration of Purim. This comprises the following Mitzvot.

Reading the Megilla
This is done in shul in the evening & following morning. It is traditional to make noise & blot out the name of Haman as it is read. Apart from that, every word of the Megilla should be clearly enunciated & heard.

Mishloach Manot (Gift of Foods)
One should send at least one gift of two food types (eg biscuit & fruit) to a friend.

Matanot Le-Evyonim (Gifts to the Poor)
One should make at least two gifts of Tzeddaka.

Mishteh - Party
There is a mitzvah of a celebratory Purim Seuda / Banquet. The Talmud teaches that it is a mitzvah to drink till the point where you can no longer tell the difference between "Baruch Mordechai" (Blessed be Mordechai) and "Arur Haman" (Cursed be Haman). This does not require one to be blind or dangerously drunk. Among the opinions of the sages this is fulfilled when one can no longer compute that the two share the same Gematria (which they do); or one can no longer tell which is the dominant theme of the story (the heroism of Mordechai or the defeat of the villain); or when one falls asleep (and can’t tell much about anything!)

The celebrations are associated with dressing up / masks - symbolising Esther’s hidden identity & the hidden presence of G-d. Noisemakers / "Greggors" are used to blot out the name of Haman. Hats are worn - as a reminder that Haman tried to have the people of Shushan bow to his hat.

Hamentaschen (Oznei Haman) are eaten - these are triangular pastries (sweet or savoury) which symbolise Haman’s hat, bag or pointy ears! (Recipe below)

Shabbat Zachor
The Shabbat before Purim is known as Shabbat Zachor (The Shabbat or Remembrance) As well as the regular Torah reading, we read the injunction to remember to blot out Amalek, who is the first recorded Biblical anti-Semite, and the ancestor of Haman. This is one of the few occasions when there is a real mitzvah to hear the leining. Traditionally, the Torah passage is read according to the available different minhagim - Ashkenazi, Sefardi, Yemenite etc so that each person hears it in the appropriate manner.

Mechatzit HaShekel
On the eve of Purim, there is traditionally a collection in memory of the Mechatzit Hashekel - the half shekel collected in Temple times as the basis of the census; for the upkeep of the Temple and the communal sacrifices. It is customary to give three coins valued at half the denomination of the realm (3 x 50cents) as the donation is mentioned three times in the Torah reading.

Have a Happy Purim & Looking Forward to you joining our Celebrations!

Hamantaschen Recipes

A cookie traditionally made for the Jewish holiday, Purim. They are often filled with a poppy seed or fruit filling.

Recipe #1

Makes 30 cookies

1 (1/4 ounce) package of active dry yeast 1 cup milk (use non-dairy creamer for parve) 3/4 cup white sugar 1/2 cup butter 1 teaspoon salt 5 ¼ cups all purpose flour 2 eggs 12 oz can poppy seed, apricot, raspberry or prune filling 1 tsp lemon peel 1Tbs lemon juice 1 egg yolk mixed with 1Tbs water

Directions

1. Soften yeast in 1/4 cup warm water. Heat milk, sugar, butter or margarine and salt until the sugar dissolves; cool to lukewarm. Stir in 2 eggs. Stir in 2 cups of the flour, beat well. Stir in enough of the rest of the flour to make a moderately stiff dough.
2. Knead on floured surface till smooth, and shape into a ball. Place dough into a greased bowl and cover with a towel. Let rise until doubled, then divide in half.
3. To make Filling: Combine the poppy seeds with the lemon peel and lemon juice and mix well. Set aside.
4. Roll each half of the risen dough into a 17 x 12 inch rectangle. Cut into 4 inch circles. Put about 1/2 Tablespoon of the filling on each circle. Moisten the edges, bring thesides together and pinch, forming a triangle. Place on a greased cookie sheet and cover. Let the dough rise again until doubled.
5. Brush with egg yolk mixed with water, then bake at 350 degrees F (180 degrees C) for 15 to 20 minutes.

Recipe #2

2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1 teaspoon baking powder
3/4 cup butter or margarine
1 teaspoon grated lemon peel
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 eggs Prune, Apricot or Plum, or Poppy Seed Filling

Prune Filling
1 (12 ounce) package pitted prunes
1 cup chopped walnuts
2 tablespoons honey
1 tablespoon lemon juice

Apricot or Plum Filling
1 1/2 cups apricot or plum jam
1/2 cup finely chopped almonds or walnuts
1 teaspoon grated lemon peel
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1/2 cup dry bread crumbs (about)

Poppy Seed Filling
1 cup poppy seed
1/4 cup walnut pieces
1 tablespoon butter or margarine
1 tablespoon honey
1 teaspoon lemon juice
1 egg white

1. Mix flour, sugar and baking powder in large bowl. Cut in butter, using pastry blender or crisscrossing 2 knives, until mixture resembles fine crumbs. Mix lemon peel, vanilla extract and eggs. Stir into flour mixture until dough forms a ball. (Use hands to mix all ingredients if necessary; add up to 1/4 cup additional flour if dough is too sticky to handle.) Cover and refrigerate about 2 hours or until firm.
2. Prepare desired filling.
3. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
4. Roll half of dough at a time 1/8 inch thick on lightly floured cloth-covered surface. Cut into 3-inch rounds. Spoon 1 level teaspoon filling onto each round. Bring up 3 sides, using metal spatula to lift, to form triangle around filling. Pinch edges together firmly. Place about 2 inches apart on ungreased cookie sheet. Bake 12 to 15 minutes or until light brown. Immediately remove from cookie sheet to wire rack.

Yield: 48 cookies (1 per serving)
Prune Filling: Heat prunes and enough water to cover to boiling in 2-quart saucepan; reduce heat. Cover and simmer 10 minutes; drain well. Mash prunes. Stir in remaining ingredients.
Apricot or Plum Filling: Mix jam, almonds, lemon peel and lemon juice. Stir in just enough bread crumbs until thickened.
Poppy Seed Filling: Place all ingredients in blender or food processor. Cover and blend until smooth.
NOTE: To speed up the making of these cookies, use canned apricot or poppy seed filling.