click here to pdf

TABLE
OF CONTENTS
Copyright 2016
Portland Kollel
6688 SW Capitol Hwy.
Portland, OR 97219
503 245 5420
www.portlandkollel.org
[email protected]
5
Purim Inspiration
6
Purim and Spirituality
8
Purim & Yom Kippur
9
Secrets Emerge
10
My Purim Miracle
11
Purim & Prayer
12
Dressing up in Costumes
14
Overwhelmed with Costumes
15
Costume Resources
16
Purim in Jerusalem
17
The Purim Story
20
From the Mailbox
29
The Year I Missed Purim
30
The Fast of Esther
31
Organizing your Purim Plans
32
Mishloach Manot Ideas
33
Special Purim Foods
35
Eve’s Favorite Hamantaschen
36
Allison’s Magic Dough
39
Pistachio Hamantaschen
40Kreplach
43
Eve’s Strawberry Salad
44
Aviva’s Butternut Squash Soup
47
No-Fail Corned Beef/Brisket
48
Chagit’s Colorful Couscous
50
Savta Mazel’s Tunisian Fish
53
Bubby Hariette’s Chummus
54
Eve’s One Bowl Pumpkin Muffins
PURIM
INSPIRATION
When I started putting this booklet together, I reached
out to some friends, family and mentors from around
the world, asking them to share some Purim inspiration
with me.
‫ליהודים היתה אורה‬
‫ושמחה וששון ויקר‬
For the Jews there was light and
happiness, joy and prestige.
I received responses like: ”Purim inspiration? Purim is
so stressful! I do not have anything uplifting to share
with you, Eve.” Here was another honest response: “So I
really have been thinking about what I can add to your
Purim booklet, but Purim is my most challenging holiday. I don’t have any tips or tricks, except for making it
to the end sane. Sorry, Eve.”
After hearing similar responses again and again, I knew
that I needed to get to work on this Purim booklet of
inspiration...and get it out to my all my friends around
the world -- and fast!
Purim is meant to be a super holiday. It is one of the
most joyous days of the year. It should not be looked
upon as a day to just survive -- it needs to be a day to
which you can connect and thrive!
We all know that it is only through connecting to our
Judaism with utmost joy that we will be able to serve
Hashem with all our hearts and souls. I hope this booklet will give you some food for thought, ideas, inspiration, and most of all, a deeper love for this powerful
holiday.
A disclaimer: Some of the stories that I will share
with you in these pages are personal, emotional, and
straight from my heart.
So here it goes, from my heart to yours, with love…
Eve Levy
February 2016 - Adar 5776
4
5
PURIM & SPIRITUALITY
To understand, let’s discuss Purim and the four special mitzvot of the day (I like to call them “The Four M’s”). Here they are in no particular order:
Megillah (hearing the Scroll of Esther), Matanot l’evyonim (giving charity
to the poor), Mishte (having a festive meal), and Mishloach Manot (giving
baskets of food to our friends).
Purim has
always been a
favorite
holiday of
mine.
As a child it is an obvious favorite with all
the nosh, parties, and excitement of the
day. Even through my adult years, I still find
this holiday to be the perfect balance of
fun, spiritual connection, and, best of all, a
holiday in which the ‘sky is the limit’ with
using your creativity to serve G-d.
I look forward to Purim all year long.
According to Rabbi Isaac Luria, the
Kabbalistic master known as the Arizal,
Purim is the highest point of the year
spiritually. I know what you’re thinking:
“Say what? Did I hear you correctly?” I had
the same reaction when I learned this
myself. Yes, Purim is compared to Yom
Kippur, the day of awe and judgment. How
is this possible?
Yom Kippur, the day on which we stand in
prayer before our Creator in synagogue
all day, with hearts filled with regret as we
lightly bang our right fist over our left chest,
asking G-d to forgive us for all our sins. On
Yom Kippur we abstain from five things:
We don’t eat or drink, wear leather shoes,
use creams or makeup on our body, or
have intimate relations.
6
Many wear a kittel on Yom Kippur, an all-white garment representing purity. All of these do’s
and don’ts are to help us resemble the angels.
On Purim, by comparison, we dress in silly costumes, drink and are merry. The music blasts,
even our holy Rabbis loosen up and act silly by putting on Purim Shpiels and the like. There is
so much to accomplish in that one day, it’s just insane. It is pretty much a crazy day!
These two days seem like the two most polar opposite days in the Jewish calendar. What
connection can one possibly have to the other?
4
7
PURIM & YOM KIPPUR
SECRETS EMERGE
Celebrating and drinking seems so unholy! Judaism is (usually)
all about balance. We are encouraged to enjoy life’s pleasures
and partake of them, but not to overdo it, nor become a glutton
or greedy. Maimonides speaks of the middle path as being the
best road to take. It’s perfectly acceptable to have a sip of wine
for Friday night kiddush or even a nice glass to wind down after a
difficult day – but drinking to excess, as it is written in the Megilla:
“until you don’t know the difference between blessing Haman
and cursing Mordechai?” Oy vey iz mir, this does not look very
good.
Our sages have taught us that “when the wine goes in, the secrets
come out.” I have experienced the truth of this expression.
I love You. I want to be
good. I want to serve
You. I am not there yet,
but that is where my
heart would want to
be.
Purim and Yom Kippur, two seemingly opposite days in the Jewish calendar. Both
are powerful ones during which G-d wants to see what is truly in our hearts.
On Yom Kippur, when we stand in front of G-d and make many promises to G-d,
it is as if we are standing in front of a distorted mirror. It is not completely us,
dressed and acting like an angel, telling G-d that I will never sin again. It’s where
you would like to be but it’s not truly where you are.
Purim is like standing in front of a real-life mirror. We strip away all of those layers that surround us. We peel away all that holds us back, and only then can we
turn to Hashem and with a pure heart say “G-d, this is who I am. Take it or leave
it. I love You. I want to be good. I want to serve You. I am not there yet, but that is
where my heart would want to be.”
The real, raw, sincere and authentic you is just what G-d wants to see.
Now we understand how Purim and Yom Kippurim are on equal spiritual footing.
Now this is starting to make a lot of sense.
8
True story: 15 years ago, Gadi and I got engaged on Rosh
Chodesh Adar and Purim was in the air in Jerusalem. After a
whirlwind period of dating, I was so happy with my groom, and
he with me. We wanted to spend every second together, and so,
since he was heading home for Purim and his brother’s wedding,
I joined him, too. Off we flew to South Africa -- me, a 19-year-old
from Canada and my soon-to-be husband, a 24-year-old South
African. I didn’t know what to expect, but I was sure it was going to
be wonderful.
There I was, in a far-away country, meeting a family I did not
know. They were wonderful to me, but clearly we had different
customs and came from different cultures.
I was from an Ashkenazi family who had become observant in
my youth, and he was Sephardic on both sides of his family, and
from a long line of rabbis. We even spoke a different language:
I, a Canadian (eh?), and he, a South African (lekka!). When he said
“Just now,” he actually meant “later.” He called the trunk of the
car “the boot.” You get the drift? It was a little awkward, to say the
least.
But then to make things go from bad to worse, my husbandto-be begin to truly celebrate Purim with his brothers. It was an
exciting time, after all, and that home in Glenhazel, Johannesburg,
was overflowing with Purim spirit! The second Levy boy (Gilly) was
getting married in two days’ time, and the third Levy (Gadi) just
returned home engaged. When it rains, it pours. In the midst of
Purim festivities and wedding hoopla, things were spiralling out
of control. The excitement kept escalating and escalating until the
family danced into the master bedroom, myself trailing behind,
unsure if I should cry or laugh. To top it all off, Gadi ended up fully
dressed in the Jacuzzi!
I sat on the edge of the bed amid the chaos and excitement,
wondering if I could catch a flight back to Israel and still make it in
time for Shabbos! As if Gadi was reading my thoughts, he then
proclaimed his love for me in front of his family. Classy Gadi. Very
nice.
I will never forget that very first time my husband publicly said, “I
love you, Eve,” I was completely mortified.
Our sages tell us that there are three things that can help you
understand a person. You can see a person’s true essence by
watching how generous he is, what type of temperament he has
(if he has a temper), and what he’s like when he has had a few
drinks. In Hebrew the saying goes: Al Shlosha D’varim Ha’adam
Nicar: B’Kiso, B’Ka’aso, U’bKoso -- there are three things that tell
you about a person’s true essence: His pocket, His anger, and his
cup.
Although the first Purim spent together with my future husband
almost had me running for the hills, I still saw the goodness inside
him and his outpouring of love towards me and for his family.
Poor guy, he meant well. I allowed him to sober up and gave him
another chance. The next year, during our first year of marriage, I
made sure that he did not drink ANYTHING. That was my way of
paying him back for that first awkward Purim together. But since
then, we have enjoyed Purim while of course staying smart and
safe.
9
MY PURIM MIRACLE
Purim is a powerful time of year. Just as during the Days
of Awe, so too on Purim we believe that Teshuva/ repentance, Tefilla/ prayer, and Tzedakah/ charity have the
power to remove an evil decree.
Twelve years ago, I was expecting my second baby. Being
pregnant is always an exciting time, to hold life within
you and to dream of the unborn child. It was the month
of Adar and the sounds and sights of Purim filled the the
air in Jerusalem. I had my 21-week ultrasound booked,
and told my husband he need not take off from yeshiva
to accompany me. “It’s just a routine ultrasound,” I told
him. “I’ve done this before, I will be fine on my own.” Well,
the Russian technician started the ultrasound, and I was
smiling and watching as she measured and clicked, typed
and looked. It was taking some time. It didn’t even occur
to me to pray. After all, I took it for granted that everything would be just fine, as was the case with my first
child.
Half an hour later, she called in the doctor. He was a nononsense type of person, and he took over the machine,
zooming in and clicking away. By this time, I knew something looked wrong. I was trembling. Finally, the doctor
explained that the ultrasound showed what appeared to
be a golf-ball-sized hole in the heart of my baby. This sign
was indicative of things an expectant mother does not
want to know of.
I left the clinic, turned the corner and dialed my husband to pick me up. He heard fear in my voice and came
speeding over on his motor bike. I was a mess. I could
barely get the words out and explain what I had just
learnt. All I saw was black.
This was the one Purim that I did not feel like throwing
myself into. I just wanted to stay in bed and cry all day.
I was in no mood to host our annual Purim meal in our
home and smile and celebrate. Yes, we went to see genetic counselors, to hear what they had to say.
We visited with the top ultrasound specialist in Israel and
paid for a private session to clarify what the situation was
with our baby. He could not tell us anything other than
what was originally seen. There was not much we could
do. But wait, there actually was. Purim was coming and I
knew that during this time of year Hashem made miracles for us. Anything was possible. Any decree in heaven
could be changed and turned from bad to good.
Fortified with this new hope, I threw myself into Purim
like never before. We gave charity above and beyond
what we could afford, we prepared and hosted a meal
made for kings and queens, and, more than anything,
we prayed. We prayed like never before. We pierced the
heavens on that Purim day. Purim passed, the mess was
eventually cleaned up (except for the wine stain that
surely remains on the wall of our little apartment on 7
Rechov Ibn Shaprut in Shaarei Chesed, Jerusalem), and
life went on.
In my heart I felt that something was lifted during that
intense Purim. I was calmer. I was happier. I was comforted by the thought that come what may, Hashem was
with us in our journey with our baby. With His help I was
prepare for anything.
I breezed through the last trimester of my pregnancy
and gave birth to our son, Shimshy, who was born in the
summer. He was, thank G-d, born healthy and complete.
I had the doctors check his heart over and over as I could
not believe my eyes. One thing is for sure, Shimshy’s
heart is made out of pure gold. It is very complete.
PURIM
AND PRAYER
Purim is known to be an auspicious time for
prayer.
But sometimes, there have been Purims that
have been so busy and hectic that I barely had a
few minutes to myself to pray.
One Purim was so intense that I could barely
catch my breath! The day started with my husband reading the Megillah at the seminary that
I was working in, and then we rushed home
to serve a breakfast meal to the 70 wonderful
seminary students. I made sure to bless each
girl with heartfelt blessing before they left my
home.
By the time the last girl left and I finally finished
cleaning up -- and then again setting up for the
next meal we had planned for family, yeshiva
bochurim, and friends -- I remembered looking
at my watch and seeing that I had literally five
minutes till the next group of guests would
begin to arrive. I asked my husband to watch
the kids, went out to the porch and prayed so
intensely, letting the tears flow freely, asking for
huge things, things that only G-d could give me.
I didn’t have too much time to pray, but I knew
that it would have to be quality and not quantity.
My day was filled with serving, cleaning, cooking,
caring and giving to others.
I told Hashem: “I want to be Your vessel, I want
to be an ‘eved Hashem’-- I just want to serve
you.” This was during a time that I was having
some health issues. I had had two previous
miscarriages during the two years before, and I
was hoping to be blessed with a child. Hashem
heard my prayers! Ten months later, I was
blessed with our second son, Yossi.
And while there have been good Purims, I am
embarassed to admit that there have been
Purims where I literally missed the day. I was
This was my Purim miracle.
10
11
too focused on the little details, the food, the
costumes and all the excitement that I did not
find the time to connect, pray, or be in the moment of holiness. It is so easy to miss it. In a snap
the day is gone.
There is a famous parable about a man who
will be rewarded by the king. He will be able
to go into the king’s storeroom of jewels and
treasures and take whatever he wants. He will
only have a short time. Whatever he takes out
with him in that time is his to keep. Sounds like
fun! The problem was the treasure room was
full of distractions, his favorite band was playing
in one corner, and there was a smorgasbord
that was more delicious and spectacular than he
had ever seen. He spends a few minutes here
and a few minutes there enjoying the pleasures
around him, and before he knows it, his time
is up and he has to leave the treasure room
empty-handed. He is devastated at the loss of
what he could have had. He sits down and puts
his head in his arms to cry. Looking down at his
shoes he notices something glimmering. A small
diamond had made its way into his shoe. He
brightens up a bit. And wait! Another gem he
found in the cuff of his pants. and another. and
yet one more. Four beautiful diamonds. Enough
to bring home and provide for his family!
We, too, get distracted during Purim. There
are so many things that pull us away from the
intense power of the day. We let the day often
fly by without taking it all in. OK, we got in a
Megillah reading or two, a festive meal, Mishloah Manot -- that one is fun and easy -- and
Tzedakah (that one can sometimes feel more
challenging).
By doing these four mitzvot on Purim, we have
four diamonds -- four shining diamonds -- that
will bring blessing to our lives.
7
begged him to get back into bed and rest. He was, at the time, under a
lot of stress and we read that Bell’s Palsy is often stress-induced. He remained in bed and I left to take the kids to school and carry on with my
day. A few hours later, he walked into the office at the JCC to prepare
for his class. When I saw him, I jumped out of my seat. He looked awful! I was horrified for people to see him looking like that, horrified for
him and for myself. I wanted him to hide until everything got back to
normal. I even suggested putting a big brown paper bag over his head,
and I really meant it. He, on the other hand, didn’t seem to mind, he
wasn’t embarrassed. He just wanted to carry on with what he was busy
working on.
Dressing Up in Costumes?!
Did you ever see the Rabbi dressed like a nun? How about the principal as a
Hawaiian princess? Stranger things have happened on Purim.
On Purim, we dress up in costumes, to let our defenses down and open up to
the deeper reality of ourselves and our world. All our current problems and life’s
imperfections blend into good, until they become one unified expression of the
Almighty’s infinite perfection.
Here is a true story to explain the deeper idea of
dressing up on Purim.
My Purim Mask by Eve Levy
Exactly two years ago, G-d sent me a test.
One chilly February night, my husband and I were
joyously dancing at the wedding of close friends of
ours in Denver. We arrived home tired but happy.
My husband had been complaining of an earache
that day. He even asked a doctor at the wedding
to take a look in his ear. There was not much we
could do for his discomfort, and he eventually he
fell asleep. I woke up the next morning and started
getting the kids ready for school, preparing lunches and doing the usual busy morning activities.
I noticed my husband, Gadi, was still in bed. This
was unusual, as he usually wakes up early in
order to arrive on time for his morning prayers
and learning. I gently tried to wake him and went
12
back to helping the kids get dressed. That’s when
I heard him call me: “Eve, something strange has
happened to me… I can’t close my eye. I can’t move
my face… I can’t smile.”
I came to see what he was talking about. Sure
enough, there was my husband sitting up in bed,
trying to wiggle his face, but only half his face had
any movement. Within a few minutes, and after a
quick Google search, we self-diagnosed his situation as Bell’s Palsy, which is a form of facial paralysis, causing an inability to control facial muscles on
the affected side. Often the eye cannot close. We
read that 10 percent of people with Bell’s Palsy do
not fully recover. Gadi’s eyes were red and tearing
from the dryness. His face looked very frightening
to me. He tried to smile, to show me it was going
to be OK. I burst out crying and asked him to try
not to smile.
It was scary! I was in a state of shock. I was waiting
for him to just snap out of this. But he didn’t. I
Day 2: Gadi was planning to accompany
me to my Thursday ladies “lunch and
learn” class; he even planned to give the
class. I told him he really did not need to
come, that we could take a rain check. I
felt so uncomfortable. He was wearing a black pirate’s patch. He had tape
over his eye and the patch kept falling
off. He had to hold up half of his face in
order not to slur his words. I sat there
in my friend’s living room, holding back
my tears. The women in the class were
throwing me pitying glances. Yet, Gadi
insisted on giving the class in its entirety.
I sat there, feeling so miserable about
my husband’s appearance. Yet, something inside me felt proud of him, the
way he refused to give into that ailment,
refused to allow it to get him down. My
emotions were on a roller coaster; I was
both saddened and impressed.
This continued for six long weeks. He was very weak. He needed to rest
a lot. He was going for acupuncture and taking heavy steroid medications. As challenging as it was on him, I was the one who was taking it
terribly hard! I was traumatized and devastated. I cried so much during
those weeks. I was a complete wreck!
But I noticed something very interesting – our kids barely noticed
it. They loved their father just the same. They weren’t frightened or
repulsed by his look. They snuggled close to him and always wanted to
be around him, just as always. Even though Gadi looked “ugly” on the
outside, he was still beautiful, kind and gentle on the inside.
Purim was approaching, and I tried to throw myself into the prepara-
tions. As it turned out, it was both therapeutic and a welcome distraction for me. We joked about dressing up as pirates and wearing black
patches, just like the one that Gadi wore over his eye. For our family
costume theme, we decided to dress up as ugly ogres, monsters the
likes of which no one has seen. Our home was filled with the sounds of
laughter, which helped considerably to relieve my stress and tension.
Things started feeling a bit better. I felt it was going to be OK. Under
that “mask” was my beautiful husband, Gadi. I started to ignore the
stares we got in the street. I didn’t mind being out with Gadi in public.
Let the world see a beautiful person,
not from his external appearance,
but from within.
Slowly but surely, Gadi’s face started
to improve. I know that Hashem
put me through this test in order
to grow. I was hiding behind many
masks, and I had to emerge.
We all tend to hide behind masks.
Those masks might be in the form of
our daily jobs, our financial wealth,
our clothing, the cars we drive, the
homes we live in. But these things
may only be a façade, and may not
represent who we really are.
What about the kind acts we perform, the charity we give, the people
we touch, the hardships we help
others overcome? Those are true
representations of who we really are!
On Purim, there is a custom to dress
up in costume. Ever wonder why such a silly custom on such a holy
day?
The Hebrew word for clothing is beged. It is the same root as the Hebrew word bo’ged, which means “traitor.” Our clothes often betray who
we really are. The way we dress can easily misrepresent the person.
On Purim, Hashem doesn’t care so much about the outer trappings. By
dressing in costumes, we are making a declaration, as if to say that our
clothing is just a misrepresentation of our true self.
Hashem is much more interested in our true inner essence. It’s what’s
inside that counts.
13
COSTUME RESOURCES
OVERWHELMED WITH COSTUMES?
READ THIS BEAUTIFUL LETTER
Just for fun!
Aviel Brodkin, Portland, OR
Over the years we have had lots of fun dressing the family up in cute themes. This a really fun Jewish customalthought it is not mandated by Jewish law! For creative people, this is a wonderful outlet. Enjoy, and Purim
on! To be quite honest, It can be hard to find a theme that everyone in the family agrees on. There is always
one sour face in the family picture, muttering under his or her breath how stupid this year’s theme is. You can
never please everyone!
Dear Women Who Are Not Purim-talented,
Some Purim Themes
Or what about the complete embarrassment you feel when an over-the-top Shalach Manos package
arrives at your door with rhyming riddles, home-baked goods, with deliverers in matching themed costumes?
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
And then.. you hand them home-popped popcorn and a hamantasch – with the jelly running out on the
sides. Well, then you are like me!
•
Are you like me, not interested in sewing costumes? Not interested in decorating food, because it never
turns out right anyways?
So, why do I love Purim? I love the days ahead of time. Each year, I bake those hamantaschen with my
kids. We turn on the music, we dance, and we lick the sticky jelly that makes the anticipation for this holiday so sweet. My kids love the anticipation. I get right in on the planning, and it really never matters how
it all turns out.
•
•
•
Chassidim
Raggedy Ann and Andy
Clowns
Chinese costumes
A BBQ Picnic
Mice
Flowers (You can just imagine
how much my husband hated
that feminine one!)
The Shivat Haminim -- the
seven species of fruit from
Israel. We did that one when
we had five kids.
Royalty
Israel soldiers
Lollipop tree -- this was my
kids’ dream come true :-)
• Minnie Mouse and Mickey
Mouse
• Smurfs
• Waldo
• Thing 1 & Thing 2
• Peanut Butter & Jelly
• Mr Potato Head Family
• Farmer
• Guess who game
• Hippies
• Cowboys
• Pirates
• Sailors
• Bakers
• Fireman
• 60’s Theme
• Curious George
But the excitement, that’s what it’s all about. My kids love to see me act a little sillier than usual, get a little wacky. They love visiting friends to drop off Shaloch Manos on Purim Day, and bringing whatever they
can, regardless of what it looks like. I think Purim is the most important holiday for children and families to experience the joy of giving to others. Each year, we try to think of who won’t be getting Shaloch
Manos visitors on Purim? Who at the Robison Home? Who doesn’t have family nearby? My kids feel such
pride visiting those people and dropping off something special they’ve put together… popcorn and all.
Online Resources
Aviel
www.facebook.com/groups/218669661670919/
14
www.kosheronabudget.com, www.aish.com,
www.simpletoremember.com,
15
PURIM IN JERUSALEM
While we were living in Jerusalem, my
husband taught at a small American
Yeshiva called Shaarei Yerushalyim. The
boys there grew really close to us, and
to a degree were part of our family.
come out. Moshe wanted to serve
G-d better. That was his true heart.
We knew he was special but we never
realized just how special he was until it
all came out that Purim.
One of my husbands students was
Moshe Litvenchuk. Moshe was a
regular in our home, appreciating a
good bowl of leftover chulent on a
Saturday night, or any other food one
could find in our pantry. Moshe was a
popular, modern orthodox, American
kid, spending a gap year in Israel taking
in all the excitement of Israel.
To Moshe celebrating Purim allowed
him to connect to his deepest inner
self. Just as a baby when it cries it
cries for the one thing it wants most,
I saw Moshe cry for the one thing he
wanted most. In reflection I think to
myself, how often do any of us get the
opportunity to really express that which
is the deepest passion of our heart? In
my deepest self, I also want to serve
G-d more than anything else in the
world. I want to grow in His ways. But
our lives are so busy, my schedule is
so tight and it is seldom that we have
the time to connect with that part of
ourselves. On Purim however we can
put a mask on and show the world a
fake face, but behind the mask close
our eyes, and talk to G-d. We can let a
few tears flow and tell G-d, “Hashem
I want to be close to you, I want to
become great. Show me the path I
need to take”
My husband and I had a special place
in our hearts for Moshe. There was a
special sensitivity that he had and we
loved him coming over. Moshe was a
bright intelligent guy, he was scheduled
to go to medical school after his year
in Israel.
That year Moshe showed up to our
annual Purim Seuda (our festive meal).
He and bunch of guys had already been
celebrating at a different rabbi’s home
before showing up by us and Moshe
was slightly intoxicated. The boys
walked in and everyone spontaneously
started dancing and singing.
The next moments are etched into my
mind forever. Moshe went over to my
husband and started crying like a little
baby. With tears streaming down his
cheeks, he held my husband’s hand
crying over and over “Rebbe, I want
to learn Torah! I want to be like you!
Please don’t give up on me, Rebbe!
Rebbe help me grow, rebbe help learn
Torah!”
Moshe was sobbing uncontrollably, and
so was I. There is something so special
in seeing one’s deepest inner passion
Sadly that was to be Moshe’s last
Purim. Unbeknownst to us a terrible
cancer had slowly been eating away at
Moshe’s body. Soon after Moshe went
home for Passover he was diagnosed
and passed away soon after! Although
Moshe’s life was very short, his impact
will last forever. Each year on Purim,
I try to take a few minutes out of the
craziness of the day to pray. When I
do, I remember Moshe’s tears and let
myself express the deepest desires
of my heart . May the inspiration of
this story be a merit to the late Moshe
Litvenchauk A’h. May his memory be a
blessing
16
The Purim Story
by Yaffa Ganz
b
Is Purim just a fun-filled dress up holiday? Or is it something more? Perhaps it’s a
flip-flop, upside-down, full of surprises kind of day...not at all what you’d expect.
Over 2,000 years ago, the Holy Temple in
Jerusalem was destroyed by the Babylonian
king Nebuchadnezzar. The Jewish people
were sent away from the Land of Israel and
were forced to live in Babylonia.
Fifty years later, Babylonia was defeated by
Persia. Achashverosh (that’s pronounced:
Ah-chash-VEY-rosh) was the second
Persian king. He ruled 127 provinces from
Hodu (India) to Kush (Africa) the largest,
strongest kingdom in the world.
A new king needs a new capital, so
Achashverosh chose the city of Shushan.
To celebrate, he made a tremendous
feast for all the important people in the
kingdom. It lasted for 180 days. Then he
made a second feast just for Shushan.
Everyone in the city was invited, even the
Jews.
Mordechai, the leader of the Jews, warned
his people not to go to the feast, but they
were afraid to disobey the king. And to tell
the truth, they were honored and pleased
to have been invited. For seven days they
ate and drank to their heart’s content. Only
one thing troubled them. Achashverosh
17
17
brought the gold and silver vessels from
the Holy Temple in Jerusalem and used
them for his wild celebration...
The drunken king began to brag that
his queen Vashti was the most beautiful
woman in the kingdom. On the last day
of the feast, he commanded her to come
and dance before the crowd. But Vashti
was the proud granddaughter of the
cruel Nebuchadnezzar and she refused to
appear. “Am I a servant to the king?” she
asked. In a fit of anger, the king had her
killed.
Achashverosh now needed a new queen
and he wanted someone even more
beautiful than Vashti. His men went from
house to house in all of Persia, taking the
young girls away to Shushan where they
were kept as hostages until they were
brought before the king.
In Shushan, a Jewish orphan by the
name of Hadassah lived with her uncle
Mordechai. When the king’s men came
to her house, Mordechai said, “Don’t be
afraid. Go with them. Do not tell them you
are a Jewess. Tell them your Persian name
-- Esther. God will watch over you!”
Esther was kind and gentle and very beautiful. As soon as
the king saw her, he chose her as his new queen. Esther
appointed seven maidservants, one for each day of the
week, so that she would always remember which day was
the Sabbath. Her meals were cooked with kosher foods. And
all the while, she kept her secret. No one knew she was a
Jew. Everyday, Mordechai sat outside the palace gate to wait
for news from Esther.
One day outside the palace, Mordechai happened to hear
two men plotting to kill the king. He warned Esther and the
two men were caught and killed.
Although it was recorded in
the Royal Book that Mordechai
the Jew had saved the king, the
matter was soon forgotten.
Soon after, Achashverosh
appointed Haman -- the richest
man in the kingdom -- as his new
prime minister. All the king’s
subjects were ordered to honor
Haman and bow down to him.
Everyone did, except Mordechai.
It was permissible to honor
Haman and bow to him as the
prime minister, but Haman wore
a large medallion, engraved with
the picture of an idol, on his
chest. Mordechai said people
might think he was bowing to the
idol too, and a Jew is forbidden
to worship or honor idols.
Haman was furious. He went
straight to the king to complain.
“There is one nation,” he said,
“scattered throughout your kingdom, which is different from
all other nations. They don’t eat our food, drink our wine, or
marry our daughters! They don’t keep the king’s laws and
they don’t work! Every seventh day they rest and they are
always celebrating holidays. If you give me permission, I will
destroy them for you. I will even pay for any expenses from
my own money!”
Achashverosh gave Haman his royal ring, to seal the orders
and decrees. Anxious to do a perfect job, Haman wanted
to execute his plan on the right day, a lucky day blessed by
his gods and the stars. He cast lots -- purim in Hebrew -- to
choose the day. Then he sent out letters, sealed with the
king’s royal ring, to each of the 127 provinces in the kingdom.
“On the 13th day of the month of Adar,” the decree said
“you are to destroy, kill and slaughter all Jews, young and
old, women and children, all in one day. Their money and
property will then belong to you.”
When Mordechai heard of the decree, he ripped his clothing
and put ashes on his head as a sign of mourning. He told
Esther she must go to the king to try and save the Jews.
Esther was afraid, for it was forbidden to come before the
king without being invited. But Mordechai said, “Who knows
if you have not been put in the palace for this very purpose?
If you are silent now, help will come to the Jews from some
other place -- and you will perish!”
Esther asked that the Jews in
Shushan fast and pray for her for
three days. Mordechai gathered
all the Jewish children in Shushan
and told them to pray, too. (In
the end, it was the prayers of the
children which were answered.)
The Jews finally realized they
should not have gone to the
king’s feast; they should not have
eaten at the royal banquet nor
drunk the wine, nor used the
vessels from the Holy Temple.
They understood that this was
their punishment for fearing the
king more than they feared God.
When the three days of prayers
and fasting were over, Esther
went to the king. “What is your
request, my queen?” he asked.
“Half of my kingdom is yours for
the asking!”
But Esther asked only that
the king and Haman come
to a private banquet she was making. At the banquet,
Achashverosh asked again, “What is your wish? Whatever
you want is yours!” But Esther only invited the king and
Haman to a second party. “How strange,” thought the king.
But Haman was delighted. On his way out of the palace, he
passed Mordechai at the gate. His delight turned to hate. “I
am important enough to be invited to the queen’s private
banquets together with the king -- and that Jew refuses to
bow down to me?!” He wanted to kill Mordechai then and
there, without waiting for the 13th of Adar!
“Do it!” advised his evil wife Zeresh. So Haman built a
gallows, 50 cubits high, in his own courtyard. He would hang
Mordechai at the first opportunity!
That night, the king could not fall asleep. He tossed and
18
turned and finally called for his servant to bring out the
Royal Book and read him to sleep. The heavy book fell open
to the story of how Mordechai the Jew had warned of the
plot against the king and saved the king’s life.
“What reward did the Jew receive?” asked the king.
“None, sir,” was the reply.
“He saved my life and received no reward?!” stormed the
king.
Just then, someone knocked. It was Haman, coming for
permission to hang Mordechai the Jew. He was in such a
hurry he couldn’t even wait for the morning!
“Haman!” thundered the king. “Tell me, what shall be done
for a man the king wishes to
honor?”
“He must be referring to me,”
thought Haman gleefully. “I
know just the thing,” he said.
“Let him wear the king’s royal
robes. Place the king’s royal
crown upon his head. Let him
ride the king’s royal horse. And
let a servant walk before the
horse and cry out: Thus shall
be done to the man whom the
king wishes to honor!”
“Wonderful idea!” cried the
Achashverosh. “I shall leave
it all to you. Find Mordechai
the Jew and do exactly as you
described, down to the last
detail!”
Haman did as he was
commanded, and Mordechai
was led with royal honor
through the streets of
Shushan.
Haman returned home, a
bitter, broken man. But he had no time to brood. He had
to be at the royal palace in time for the Queen’s second
banquet. Once again, the king asked, “What is it you desire,
Esther? Why have you invited us here? Speak and it shall be
done!”
This time, Esther spoke. “Spare my life,” she cried, “and the
lives of my people. We have been sentenced to death!”
“Death? Your people? By whom?” asked the surprised king.
“By an evil and wicked man -- by your minister Haman!”
The king was so astounded that he marched out of the room
to regain his composure.
Trembling and fearful, Haman threw himself on the queen to
beg for mercy. At that very moment, Achashverosh returned.
19
“What?” he cried. “Do you dare to attack the Queen in my
palace? Take him away and hang him!” he shouted.
In the end, Haman was hung on the gallows he himself had
built for Mordechai. And Mordechai became the king’s new
prime minister in place of Haman!
According to Persian law, it was impossible to change a
decree stamped with the royal seal, so the king could not
cancel the decree against the Jews. But Mordechai was given
the royal signet ring to issue whatever new decrees he could
think of to help save the Jews.
Now it was Mordechai’s turn to send out a royal letter. It
said: On the 13th of Adar, all the Jews in the kingdom would
organize to defend themselves.
The Persians were more than
happy to listen to Haman and kill
Jews, but if the Jews were going
to arm themselves and fight back
under royal protection, well then,
that was another story!
On the 13th of Adar, Jews across
the kingdom assembled and
defended themselves. Thousands
of their enemies were killed,
including Haman’s 10 evil sons
who were hanged from a tree.
Unlike the Persians who planned
to take money and property, the
Jews took no loot at all. On the
14th of Adar, they gave thanks to
God and celebrated.
But in the walled capital city of
Shushan, the Jews continued to
fight an additional day. On the
15th of Adar the Jews of Shushan
celebrated their victory. Therefore
we celebrate:
The Fast of Esther on the 13th of
Adar
Purim Day on the 14th of Adar
And in the walled city of Jerusalem, the main celebration is:
Shushan Purim on the 15th of Adar.
Esther asked the rabbis to write the story of Purim and
include it in the Bible. Scrolls - megillot – were written
and sent to the Jews throughout the kingdom. The rabbis
commanded the people to keep the holiday of Purim forever
as a day of thanksgiving and feasting and joy; of sending
gifts to friends and money to the poor. And that is just what
the Jewish people have been doing for the past 2,400 years!
FROM THE MAILBOX
DEVORAH LEVY
RAMAT BET SHEMESH, ISRAEL
Purim is the most special, spiritually powerful day! And it’s so easy to get distracted by the
externals. I used to get overwhelmed by the chaos, noise and mess until I decided: “There
are four clear mitzvot of the day. Focus on those mitzvot with all your heart, joyfully, and the
rest will fall into place.”
Purim is an extremely powerful time for prayer. Besides trying to carve out some quiet time
to pray, whisper to Hashem your requests -- constantly -- throughout the day! His hands are
open -- giving “charity” all day to whoever asks.
Purim always seems a little out of control. The mess, the junk food, the sometimes wild behaviour. It’s a day to simply throw up your hands and remember: “I am never in control over
my environment -- only Hashem is!”
Everyone enjoys different things. Some women enjoy dressing up, some enjoy making creative mishloach manot, some enjoy just walking around. Do what brings you joy. You don’t
have to celebrate it in any specific way. I for one enjoy wearing elegant clothes, eating chocolate, and observing the festivities from a relative distance and plugging into the spiritual element of the day -- feeling joyful, real connection with people, and praying.
One year, I put little personal notes into my mishloach manot. People appreciated this so
much more than the food itself -- especially teachers! After all, at the end of the day, it’s
about connecting!
20
FROM THE MAILBOX
SHULAMIS MULLER
DENVER, CO
I have a few tidbits that work for me as a busy Mom with kids of all ages...
1. Make shalach manos that can be made ahead of time and frozen in its packaging so
that the days before Purim can be focused on last-minute seudah details and costumes.
I make chocolate mousse and put it in little dollar-store bowls with a wafer roll, wrap it in
a clear bag with a small spoon inside. It freezes well, is small and compact, makes a nice
presentation, and most of all, is inexpensive (and I get a ton of compliments).
2. Make food for the seudah that is kid-friendly and easy to make (and can be made
ahead of time raw, to be defrosted and baked on Purim), like franks in blankets and
potato knishes. It always goes over well, and I know my kids have eaten something
normal.
3. I make sure my kids have had a healthy breakfast.
4. I have different baskets and, as the shalach manos come in, I divide everything up
immediately ‎(baked goods, school snacks, drinks, candy, fruit etc). This makes for a
smaller clean-up job at the end of the day. I do the same for my kids, they either have a
bag with their name on it, or a box for each of their shalach manos, so everyone knows
whose is whose.
5. I think that for every Yom Tov, you have to pick what your priority will be (costumes,
shalach manos, food or a clean house), and concentrate on that one thing the most.
Then, either let go, delegate or don’t put too much energy into the others. The main thing
is that your kids see you happy and excited to celebrate this Yom Tov and not stressed
FROM THE MAILBOX
EVELYN GUEZ
SHAAREI CHESED, JERUSALEM
Purim: I organize it like a Shabbat.
The house is in order, and the table set the night before for the seuda (meal).
I open an extra table for giving and receiving the mishloah manot.
The costumes are opened for the children.
And -- because it’s Purim -- we prepare the cash to give away as charity.
Early morning, I put my fresh salads together and keep them ready in the fridge, and set the
meal on the hot plate.
On the table, I make sure I prepare snacks for the L’chaim to share with the visitors (nuts,fruits ,
munchies)...…
And off I can go to the Megillah reading, putting a mask or something fun on my head.
I can bring my mishloah manot, in and out of my house, taking turns with my husband.
People go in and out, I can enjoy all the excitement, taking pictures etc...
Time is set in advance with family and guests for the seuda.
At that point, I close my door, we sit, eat, drink, sing up to the Birkat HaMazon (Grace after
Meals).
Then we clear the table, put cakes and desserts out, open the door and go on with the
community.
We noticed in the past, that if we don’t define our priorities and come up with a plan for the
day, it gets so off, frustrating and so tiring for everyone!
This year Shushan Purim is on Friday in Jerusalem and all walled cities. It is going to be a long
Shabbat, lots of cooking in advance, and I am sure that we’ll carry the fun until Motzei Shabbat
(Saturday night) with no time to clear up the goodies!
The main thing is to do what we have to do with a sense of calm and joy, so we need a seder
(order), then we can let go to enjoy the day.
out.
22
23
9
FROM THE MAILBOX
ESTEE SCHWAB
DENVER, CO
I like to have real food around that I know kids/teens like that are salty and hot. So often
you’ll find potato kugels, wings (has to be special for Yom Tov style) -- that’s when we have
boys around. For girls, I have smoothies and soup.
One Purim, my girls and I went to visit a single woman in her 60s. We put on music and
danced, which was a great outlet for us and for her. So we now look out for other lonely
women to celebrate with.
FROM THE MAILBOX
DINA BACHRACH
ARIZONA
Kids:
We make a lot of Shalach Manos for my children to give out. Before Purim I discuss with
them that the important thing is to be a GIVER and to look for other kids, to make them
happy about Purim (and not to want to get or expect Shalach Manos from others).
Feed your kids a good meal in the morning; it will probably be their main meal of the day!
Package:
I’ve come to the conclusion that cellophane and nice platters are nice and all, but sometimes
the Shalach Manos doesn’t make it to the other person. It gets dropped, things fall out -- so
now I decide on a fool-proof package, and then figure out what will be in my Shalach Manos (in
a box or bag that closes well and can be taped up!)
TALI LEVY JERUSALEM
“When the month of Adar begins we increase our joy”
What’s the Simcha, the Joy, about?
Seudah:
Growing up, on Purim my father (Rabbi Aryeh Goetz) used to start the seudah with a Purim
kiddush (just like every Yom Tov meal starts with kiddush).
Main thing is - be chilled! The mess is huge.
The Simcha, the Joy, is about seeing the Megillah unfold right in front of our eyes. In 40 or so
minutes of Megillah reading, we see a story of 14 years unfold -- and we have closure.
Megillah:
At the time of of the story, it was unclear what was going on -- as Mordechai says to Esther :
For me personally, I love the Megillah reading. There is so much in it. Every year I get inspired
‫ מי יודע עם לעת הזאת הגעת למלכות‬- and who knows whether it was just for such a time as this that
anew as I listen to the incredible story.
you attained the royal position?
The Simcha. the Joy, is understanding that everything happens for a reason. Even if we may
not understand it, there is a purpose.
24
25
9
FROM THE MAILBOX
FROM THE MAILBOX
DINA LEVY,
DIANA MELNICH, TORONTO
RAMAT BET SHEMESH
An outreach Rebetzin who opens her home to hundreds each Purim
Start early! I make non-perishable shalach manos starting Rosh Chodesh Adar,
packaged and ready to go within a few days, and
start baking/cooking and freezing for the seuda.
We usually daven the morning prayers as the sun rises in the early
morning as a family.
For the Purim seuda, we have a “families seuda”
(about 10-12 families) starting early in the day
(around 3:30-4). We then open up the Purim
party/singles event later on just before sundown
(and try to have a Megillah reading for people
who missed it). The party lasts late into the night.
But this way we have had a nice family-oriented
seuda before it turns to madness :-) Generally
we have a band/jam area set up, and people
come to play music and dance. The kids absolutely love it. Depending on the theme, we will
get smoke machine/lights/black light etc.
Purim is the holiest of all the days. What we can achieve through our
Tefillah (prayer) on Purim is so powerful, so I want to try capitalize on
those incredible Tefillah opportunities! Especially throughout the day.
Also I attend a small minyan, so I can really get to hear every word of
the Megillah. During the rest of the day, I try find the time to pray or
say Tehillim.
I make sure that I, my husband, and the twins have a good wholesome breakfast with rolls, eggs and salad on Purim morning. That way
the children don’t overdo the sweets and cakes because their tummies
are full to start off with, and they are calm and so are the parents.
In terms of feeding everyone: I used to feed all
200 or so people real food. Now I only make real
food for the families. The guests who come later
will eat the leftovers (which I set up buffet-style
in the kitchen) and the desserts/nosh I put out
toward the end of the family seuda. I always
over-buy/bake the amount of nosh/desserts.
I only buy about one bottle of wine per table
(Joyvin!) and we do have a beer keg refrigerator (which is a year-round fixture that saves us
the pain of half-empty and broken beer bottles
year-round).
Also I try finish making all my mishloach manot before Purim so I’m
not busy still making them on the day. I try having extra because you
never know who will come to the house, and I don’t want to turn anyone away empty-handed. I usually have a basket of wafers or sweets
for the kids to take when they deliver to our door. This makes them so
happy.
I used to spend too much time on Purim, driving with my husband in a
hot car doing deliveries. The kids also didn’t enjoy Purim that way!
Now we only deliver a few shalach manos, and early. The rest we give
to people when they come to us.
I do pot luck for the seuda. I ask my friends to
contribute in different ways: buying drinks, buying plastic goods, buying store-bought appetizers/salads, buying ready-made fruit platters,
ordering bilkas/dessert from the bakery, etc. I
generally make the majority of the food myself
(again, starting early and freezing things like
carrot muffins, chicken, meatballs, wings, soup,
etc., then doing as much as I can the day before
-- including chopping vegetables, prepping my
serving platters/utensils, setting the table. This
enables me to just warm up, put together salads,
and not have to worry the day of the seudah).
Family means a lot to me ,so every Purim I go visit my sister who lives
a few blocks away for a little bit. We both work hard during the year,
so I value the time I spend with her. That also gives my Purim meaning
... When you can spend it with loved ones.
26
27
If guests want to bring food, I will tell them that
I ordered XYZ from a caterer and would love
to have someone pay for that and pick it up
(e.g., eggrolls, franks in blanks, etc.) -- generally
patchka things that I don’t have time to make
myself.
Depending on our finances that year, there are a
few things that are a splurge but I like doing:
•
Renting tablecloths (and extra tablecloths
to cover the couches), cloth napkins, and
chair covers (not only does it look beautiful,
I don’t have to worry about stains)
•
Renting floor mats to cover the floors
(depending on the weather, the floors can
get trashed)
•
Get a florist to make centerpieces to match
the theme (e.g., when we did a pirate
theme she made treasure chests with
golden coins and flowers, etc.) OR the kids
can make centerpieces
•
I like to have a shadchan or the “shidduch
in a box” applications available for singles
to fill in
One more thing I’ve learned about Purim: You
do not have to give shaloch manos to all of your
friends. We have a policy that we do not give
shaloch manos to any of our “regular” friends.
We give to Rebbes/Morahs, bosses, nonobservant relatives/friends, elderly neighbours,
and take our children to give to their friends
(prioritizing Rebbes and Morahs.) I keep a box of
small shalach manos and a table of food/drinks
by the doors to give to people when they come
to us. I also stopped having the expectation that
all the shalach manos that were on my list would
be delivered. I used to get angry and upset when
we didn’t make it to all the people on the list.
Now I just let it go... Whoever got, wonderful. If
not, they will get it the next day or not at all, and
that’s OK.
FROM THE MAILBOX
SOL FLEISING (EVE’S DAD) THORNHILL, ONTARIO
Purim is a time to rejoice. My mother reminded me that, when I was in elementary school
(about 1955) and it was Purim, I once came home from school with tears In my eyes. I said
that so many of the kids were giving shalach manot to their grandparents, but I did not have
a single grandparent. My mother consoled me as only a mother can, saying that shalach
manot isn’t just for grandparents. We can give to aunts, uncles, neighbors. And that’s what I
did. Purim should be enjoyed and shared by all, young and old, while we can.
THE YEAR I MISSED PURIM
EVE LEVY
When I was 12 years old, my Zaidy Lipa (may he rest in peace) passed away on Erev Purim. He
passed away on Shabbat just as the day was ending. Two hours later we were all in the car
on our way to Montreal. That year will forever be etched in my mind. It is the only year that I
can remember that we did not have Purim. My older brother, Martin, read the Megillah out
loud in the back of the car on the six-hour drive from Toronto to Montreal. We did not give out
Mishloach Manot or dress up that year. The Seudah we ate was the mourners’ meal of hardboiled eggs and bagels.
It has been 23 years since my Zaidy has passed from this world. Every Erev Purim, on his
Yahrzeit, I think of my dear Zaidy Lipa, may he rest in peace. He was a gentle man who survived
World War II and overcame many hardships. My Zaidy always took such good care of his family
and he exemplified a true mensch. My Zaidy excelled in doing the Mitzvah of Bikur Cholim
(visiting the sick).
MICHAELIA LYONS NEW HAVEN, CT
Purim is a day when our prayers are super powerful -- just like we give charity to everyone
who asks, Hashem is ready to answer our prayers, if we only ask sincerely. Of course, Purim is
Inspired by my Zaidy, one year my husband, our children and myself dressed as clowns and
drove from Jerusalem to the Shoka hospital on Tel Aviv to distribute Mishloach Manot packages
to the children in the cancer ward. We put on music and danced through the halls giving out
packages and smiles.
so busy it’s also one of the hardest days to find time for prayer! I try to wake up half an hour
early on Purim so I have extra time to pray before my kids wake up and the day gets hectic.
Of course, we can also pray in our own words all day long while we are busy with other
things.
The rule in my house is that the kids must eat a healthy breakfast, after that I leave them
(mostly) alone to eat junk food. The day after Purim you can go back to trying to get them to
eat healthy. You can also put cut up fruits and vegetables out on the table so they are easily
accessible for healthy snacking.
28
29
ORGANIZING YOUR PURIM PLANS
MEIRA SPIVAK
THE FAST OF ESTHER
MEIRA SPIVAK
In general, when we fast, it is to commemorate
a relevant piece of history or our current state
of affairs. For example, we fast on the 9th of Av,
on Tisha B’av, because we no longer have the
temple. Even though the temple was destroyed
thousands of years ago, since we still don’t have
the Temple now, fasting is still relevant. We fast
on Yom Kippur because, still in this day in age,
we are seeking repentance from G-d.
In the times of Purim, Esther asked the Jews to
fast and pray on her behalf because she was
about to visit King Achashverosh uninvited.
Though the fasting was appropriate then, it
seems completely irrelevant today. We are fasting to “remember that they fasted?” Why do we
still commemorate the Fast of Esther today?
According to the Rambam, Maimonides, the
point of all fast days is to arouse us to a state of
repentance and reflection. Whenever we commemorate a fast, we are spiritually connecting to
the message contained within it.
What then is the message of Purim, and why are
commemorating it today?
30
One of the biggest lessons from Purim is that
change is possible. The story starts off with
Jewish assimilation, with the Jews attended King
Achashverosh’s party. Mordechai, the leading
rabbi of the generation, urges the Jews not to
go, but they refused to listen. They rationalized
that attending the party wouldn’t be so bad, and
stubbornly refused to admit their mistakes. It
was only once Haman drew lots and dedicated a
day of Jewish annihilation, that the Jews started
to squirm and realize that perhaps they had
erred after all. After three days of fasting, prayer
and introspection, the Jews were able to reach
new spiritual heights and merit redemption. The
message of Purim is that, no matter what life
choices we have made in the past, no matter
how little time we have devoted to Judaism, we
can always rededicate ourselves.
This year, on the Fast of Esther, may we merit to
spend a few moments examining our lives and
to rededicate ourselves to growing and connecting as Jews.
Purim is a very busy holiday, but it doesn’t have to
be overwhelming. Here are some quick tips to help
you enjoy the day. As I always say, do as much as
you can in advance! There are four mitzvos that
must be fulfilled on
Purim. They are listed
below. Costumes are
a custom, not a Jewish law, so I won’t list
them. But of course,
you may want to plan
for costumes a few
weeks early to make
sure you aren’t fretting
about them at the last
moment.
Mishloach Manot
These must be made
in advance of Purim
Day. Either choose
to compile items that
don’t spoil or only need
last-minute touches
on Purim. Otherwise,
you’ll go crazy. Remember, you only need
to give two food items
to one person.
Megillah
In order to hear the Megillah read in its entirety in
synagogue, once at night and once in the morning,
make sure to attend a service with babysitting, or
leave your young ones at home (READ: Advance
planning). Many synagogues will have options for
Megillah readings for children in smaller groups!
Mishte - Festive Meal
Think fun and festive. This meal
should include
bread/challah and
some delicious and
lavish dishes. Go all
out and have a good
time. Of course,
prepare for this a
week or two early,
and freeze. Traditions can include eating triangle-shaped
foods (hamantashen)
and serving alcohol
(to adults of course!).
Matanot L’evyonim
- Charity for the
Poor
This mitzvah isn’t
regular charity. It’s
giving money to
ensure that all Jewish
people have enough
money to afford a
festive meal on Purim. Take care of this early by
finding a Rabbi who will be distributing the funds on
Purim. This way, you won’t have to worry about it
on Purim and can enjoy the rest of the day
31
MISHLOACH MANOT IDEAS
MIRIAM LEVY 13 YEARS OLD
SPECIAL PURIM FOODS
EVE LEVY
The most well-known Purim treats are hamantashen.
• Have a soup-er Purim! – soup and breadsticks
Everyone knows that the triangle-shaped cookie represents Haman’s hat. I was never
• School Lunch – PB&J sandwich, juice box, fruit cup,
and granola bar
satisfied with this reason. Why would we eat the villain’s hat anyway? There has got to
• “Take me out to the ball game” – cracker jacks, peanuts, cotton candy etc... wrap up in baseball cap
Rebbetzin Shira Smiles said that just like a hamantashen has three sides to it, so too
• Shabbat in a bag – challah roll, mini grape juice,
chicken soup…
be a better and more digestable reason.
the Jewish people have three sides. We have Kohen, Levi, and Israel, three groups of
Jews within the Jewish nation. Neither is better or worse, but all three have different
unique missions and purposes to contribute to the Jewish world. The middle of the
hamantashen is the sweet part, and so too, the core of a Jew is filled with sweetness
• Taste of Israel – Pita, falafel balls, hummus, Israeli
salad… Put in disposable container and tie with blue
and white ribbon
• Esther’s Jewelry – ring pop, candy necklace, etc.…
and goodness. We sometimes call the Jewish core the “pintele yid,” that spark of holiness and G-dliness that every Jew possesses.
Next time you bite into a yummy hamantashen ask yourself:
What unique angle are YOU bringing to the Jewish nation? And...What hidden sweet-
• Don’t laugh at my mishloach manot – dum dums
and Laffy Taffy
ness lies deep within you at your core?
• Havdala – Grape juice, cinnamon buns (besamim),
and licorice braids for the candle
Happy Munching!
• Green eggs and Ham(antashen) - green eggs with
hamantashen
32
33
7
EVE’S FAVOURITE HAMANTASCHEN
EVE LEVY
4 eggs
1 ½ cup sugar
1 ½ Tbs. vanilla sugar
2 tsp baking powder
1 cup oil
½ cup cream cheese or parve tofu cream cheese
5 ½ plus cups flour
Whip together everything except flour.
Add flour slowly, as needed.
Refrigerate dough for 10 minutes.
Roll out dough on floured surface. Using a cup or round cookie cutter, cut out circles. Fill with filling of your
choice: Date spread, chocolate spread, jam, poppy seed mixture...Be
creative!
Bake at 350 degrees until starting to brown slightly, about 5-7 minutes.
(I like them underdone rather than overdone).
These hamantashen freeze well.
Enjoy!
Some ideas for hamantaschen flavors:
Chocolate chip, chocolate spread, pistachio, raspberry, apricot, caramel,
halvah, smore’s, prune, poppy seed, date spread, marzipan, almond
butter, peanut butter and jelly, cherry pie filling,
35
ALLISON’S MAGIC DOUGH
ALLISON SHERMAN
great dough for Hamentaschen, nut rolls and mandelbrodt!
4 eggs
pinch of salt
1 cup sugar
4 tsp baking powder
1 cup oil
1 tsp vanilla
¼ cup orange juice or tea or water
Beat in order given.
Add in approximately 4 cups flour (enough to make a soft dough).
For mandelbrodt add in 1 cup grated nuts (almonds or walnuts). When
baked and cut roll into sugar and cinnamon.
For Hamentaschen fill as your heart desires, pinching the corners
tightly.
For nut rolls divide dough into 6 portions, roll out and cover with nuts,
raisins, sugar and cinnamon. Roll up and cut on the diagonal. Place on
cookie sheet and bake.
Bake at 350’ till light brown.
36
PISTACHIO HAMANTASCHEN
PAULA SHOYER - THE KOSHER BAKER
Makes 3 dozen
Dough
3 large eggs
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup canola or vegetable oil
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1 teaspoon orange juice
4-5 drops green food coloring
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, plus extra for dusting
parchment and dough
½ cup shelled pistachio nuts, ground fine
1 teaspoon baking powder
dash salt
Filling
One 11-ounce can pistachio paste (or combine ½
cup shelled pistachio nuts, ground fine, one egg
white and ½ cup sugar)
In a large bowl, mix together the eggs, sugar, oil,
vanilla, orange juice and few drops green food
coloring. Add the flour, ground pistachio nuts, baking powder and salt and mix until the dough comes
together. Cover with plastic wrap and place in the
fridge for one hour to firm up.
Preheat the oven to 350ºF. Line 2 to 3 large cookie
sheets with parchment or silicone baking mats, or
bake it batches. Divide the dough in half.
then sprinkle a little more flour on top of the dough.
Place the second piece of parchment on top of the
dough and roll on top of the parchment to roll out
the dough until it is about 1/4-inch thick. Every few
rolls, peel back the top parchment and sprinkle a
little more flour on the dough.
Use a 3 inch drinking glass or round cookie to cut
the dough into circles. Use a metal flat blade spatula to lift up the circle and place on another spot
on the parchment that has been sprinkled with a
little flour. Place one teaspoon pistachio paste in
the center and then fold in the three sides towards
the middle to form a triangle, leaving a small opening in the center. Pinch the three sides together
very tightly. Place on the prepared cookie sheets.
Repeat with the remaining dough and roll and cut
any dough scraps you have, making sure to sprinkle
a little flour under and over the dough before you
roll. Pinch the corners a second time before baking
the cookies.
Bake for 14 to 16 minutes, or until the bottoms are
lightly browned but the tops are still light. Slide the
parchment onto wire racks to cool. Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to five
days or freeze for up to three months.
Tip: Look for shelled pistachio nuts that are more
green than yellow for prettier Hammentaschen.
Reprinted with permission from The Holiday Kosher
Baker by Paula Shoyer (Sterling 2013). Photo credit:
Michael Bennett Kress
Take another two pieces of parchment and sprinkle flour on one, place one dough half on top, and
39
KREPLACH
EVE LEVY
Ever wonder why we call kreplach by the plural
form, “Kreplech,” and not a “krepel?”
Because they are so good that there is no such
thing as having just one!
Kreplach dough:
4 eggs
2 egg shells of water
Flour
It is customary to eat kreplach three times a
year, and there is an easy way to remember
just which three times: It’s on the three holidays
that you “klap” -- a Yiddish word meaning hit or
“patch.”
Add a bit of flour at a time until dough feels soft
“like a baby’s bottom.”
(1) On Yom Kippur, we “klap” over our heart as
we ask forgiveness;
Meat Filling:
(2) On Hoshana Rabba. we “klap” the Hoshanot
(myrtle branches) on the floor as we circle the
bimah;
(3) On Purim we “klap” out Haman’s name.
Kreplach are made with a simple dough of
flour, water and eggs, but the middle filling is
the main part. The inside is hidden from us. Just
like our destiny.
40
Cover dough with wax paper or plastic wrap so
it does not dry out.
Saute lots of onions.
Fry onions in oil on low flame until onions are
translucent.
Add cooked meat: Stewing meat or brisket can
work.
Put meat and onions in food processor and
pulse until combined.
Cut out rounds of dough using a cookie cutter or a glass. Fill middle with spoonful of meat
mixture. Dip your finger in water to moisten
the edge of the dough. Pinch kreplach tightly
closed.
Flash freeze kreplach, then boil in water. Freeze
in Ziploc bags and take out each week to make
your chicken soup into a Jewish experience!
Enjoy:)
EVE’S STRAWBERRY SALAD
EVE LEVY
8 cups lettuce
2 cups craisins
8 oz strawberries, cut into quarters
1 large mango, peeled and cubed
1/2 cup chopped onion
1 cup slivered almonds
Dressing- makes a lot!
1/2 cup sugar
3/4 cup oil
1/3 cup balsamic vinegar
1 tsp. salt
43
AVIVA’S BUTTERNUT SQUASH SOUP
AVIVA JACOBY
2 Tbsp. olive oil
2 onions chopped
2 cloves garlic
2 medium butternut squash, peeled and chopped
2 large sweet potatoes
1 1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp. nutmeg
1/2 tsp. black pepper
8 cups water
3/4 tsp. basil
1-2 Tbsp. ginger
Heat oil. Add onions, saute 5-7 minutes.
Add garlic, squash and sweet potatoes.
Add spices, except basil.
Add water to cover vegetables, and cook 45 minutes.
Blend, add basil.
44
NO-FAIL CORNED BEEF/BRISKET
MIRIAM KALTER, PORTLAND, OR
Purim is a powerful day for prayer. I try to take advantage of the koach hayom, power of the day.
When I’m able, I go to shul for the morning services, and spend my morning immersed in prayer,
before getting involved in all the fun festivities of the day. This helps me connect to the holiday on
a deeper level.
Recipe
1 stick margarine or ¼ Cup oil
4 Tbs mustard (¼ Cup)
7-8 Tbs. Ketchup (½ Cup)
¼ C Brown Sugar
Boil meat in a pot of water (about a half hour per pound,usually I do 1.5- 2 hours).
Drain water. When meat is cool slice and put into sauce. When you serve, heat up meat in sauce.
47
CHAGIT’S COLORFUL COUSCOUS
CHAGIT POSNER, ELAZAR, GUSH ETZION
Purim in Israel is a long holiday.. It starts on the 12th of
1 pkg original couscous
Adar, when kids dress up, and party in school. On the
Yellow, red & green peppers (1 ea)
13th, they’re off school to fast the Esther fast (cause
why kill the Purim spirit), then we break the fast after an
especially long and noisy megilah reading- we have men
1 can chickpeas
Herb of your choice (parsley, coriander, etc)- fresh or dry
who bring a saxophone, trumpet, toy guns.. almost like a
1/4 tsp cumin,
soccer game.. Every Hamman gets it’s treat.. :-)
lemon juice
On Purim day, the 14th, we have an “Adeloyada” where a
1/4 c white wine vinegar
special van, playing loud purim songs drives very slowly
1/3 c olive oil
all around our town, and kids of all ages, in their costumes, parade after it joyfully. The children have raffles,
selecting 2-3 friends whom they will give a “mishloach
salt & pepper
lemon peel (optional)
manot” to, so everyone can afford to participate.
on the following day, the 15th of Adar, the party aint
over.. It’s Purim in Jerusalem.. and kids are still off
school... so we all drive into Jerusalem to watch their parades, and give out mishloach manots to family & friends,
and sneak another Lechayim in between..
48
-Cook couscous with olive oil, per instructions
-Grill/ roast (broil?) peppers in pre-heated oven for ~5-10
min each side, cool down, peal off burnt layer, and cut up.
-Combine all ingredients into one bowl, and mix well.
Serve cold.
SAVTA MAZEL’S TUNISIAN FISH
EVE LEVY
Eating fish during the month of Adar or on Purim
itself is significant.
source, our Torah, our chance for Jewish survival is
slim.
The Mazel (constellation) of the month of Adar is
‘Dagim’, fish.
It’s amazing that I actually got this recipe from my
mother-in-law. She doesn’t use recipes so much... it’s
all in her head. It’s “a little of this and a little of that.”
But no mater what, everything she makes comes
out perfectly delicious!
This image of two fish (one on top of the other- head
to tail) supposedly appear in the sky.
Why fish? What can we learn from fish?
Fish are a blessed creature. During this month of
Adar the fish in the rivers and lakes increase. Fish
multiply and are many. They are blessed.
The Kabbalah tells us that fish are a symbol for a
concealed reality.
Our true identity and fortune, as the Jewish people,
is also concealed and invisible in this world.
Fish are compared to our G-d, their eyes are always
open. We believe that our G-d is always watching
over His people and protecting us.
Fish are hidden from sight, they teach us about
modesty and humility.
They keep away from the evil eye.
The souls of Israel are likened to fish that swim in
water. Just as fish need water to survive, so to the
Jews need the Torah to carry on and thrive. A fish is
out of water doesn’t stand a chance for survival. In a
similar vein, if we Jews are not connected to our life
50
Recipe
For this recipe you can use Salmon, Tilapia, or any
fish really. In Israel my mother-in-law uses ‘Nilus’
(Nile Perch) or ‘Bori’ (white fish).
Heat ¼ Cup oil in pot.
Add ¼ Tbs. red hot pepper spice (hot paprika works
well). Be careful not to let it burn. Add ½ Cup tomato
paste. Stir.
Add 2 tsp. crushed garlic and a bit of water (like a
half cup. The more water you put, the more gravy
you get).
Add 1 Tbsp. Cumen, some salt and pepper.
Simmer over a low to medium flame for about 20
minutes.
Add chopped cilantro and lay the fish over it and
simmer for 10 minutes.
BUBBY HARRIETTE’S CHUMUS
EVE LEVY
Homemade chumus was a staple in my house growing up. My Mom made Chumus every
single week. It was not Shabbat or holidays without it! I am happy to carry on the Fleising
tradition.
2 cloves garlic- minced
1 can drained chick peas- rinsed 3 x
½ - ¾ Cup oil
¼ C lemon juice
Put it all in the food processer and blend till you get the consistency you like.
Wishing you all a joyous Purim. May this holy day bring you light and love, happiness and joy, connection and dedication! Just as it was good for the Jews in
those days of Purim so long ago, so may it be for us today and always.
Happy Purim!
Eve Levy
53
EVE’S ONE BOWL PUMPKIN MUFFINS
EVE LEVY
4 eggs
2 Cups sugar
1 Can pumpkin
1 tsp. vanilla
1 ¼ Cup oil
3 Cups flour
2 tsp. baking soda
2 tsp. baking powder
2 tsp cinnamon
2 tsp sugar
1 tsp salt
12 oz chocolate chips
Mix everything together
Sprinkle top with sugar and cinnamon
Bake at 400’ for 18 minutes.
54