Purim Holiday Thoughts 5776

Holiday Thoughts – Purim 5776
Compiled by Rabbi Corey Helfand
Tonight, March 23, through tomorrow, March 24, we will be celebrating the holiday of
Purim. In this document you will find some information about the story, customs, and
laws of Purim, as well as some fun recipes, games, and songs to help enhance your
celebration experience!! I hope this information is helpful, please let me know if you
have any questions or comments.
We hope that you will join us at PSC tonight at 6:00 pm for a FREE dinner followed by
Megillah reading at 7:00 pm as well as SILLY RICKY THE CLOWN, games, singing,
and surprises, not to mention Megillah reading, groggers, LIVE MUSIC, THE CLOWN
Part II, and our Super Secret Surprise. A late night reading will take place at 8:30 pm.
There will also be morning minyan on Thursday, March 25 at 7:00 am followed by the
Megillah Reading with a late reading at 11:00 am.
Chag Purim Sameach!
Past Videos from HelfSchap Productions Inc.
From 2015: https://youtu.be/zTRR3HdPR2I
From 2014: http://youtu.be/oRY5__lvUQw
From 2013: http://youtu.be/nI_nvYgUaKs (Weekend Update)
From 2012: http://youtu.be/dbbJm5QqEOM (Super Tuesday)
In this issue, you will find:
1. Purim Background Q & A
2. The Purim Megillah
3. Purim Schpiel
4. Dear Yenta
5. Songs for Purim
6. Rituals & Customs in Detail
7. Recipes
1) Purim Background Q & A
Q: What does the name mean?
A: The word Purim means “lots” in Hebrew, as in “San Francisco Mega Millions,” not
“I’ll have lots of cake!” As you will see in section 2, there is a crucial moment in the
Purim story (also called The Megillah), in which lots are drawn impacting the fate of the
Jews.
Q: Where does the holiday come from?
A: The Book of Esther (which is the other name for The Megillah) was one of the latest
books to be included in the canon of the Bible (Old Testament). As early as the 200-300s
CE, we see that the rabbis decreed that the Book of Esther should be read every year on
Purim. It may have already been a long-standing custom by then, but either way it was
included in the yearly calendar.
Q: How do we greet one another?
A: The traditional greeting is “Chag Purim Sameach,” which means “Happy Holyday of
Purim!” or simply “Purim Sameach.” Some people also say “Chag Sameach,” which
means “Happy Holyday,” which is fine, though Chag Sameach is generally reserved for
Passover, Sukkot, and Shavuot, which is why we add the word “Purim” into our greeting.
Nevertheless, many people still just say “Chag Sameach”!
2) The Purim Megillah
The story of Purim is read every year on the evening of the 14th of the Jewish month of
Adar, and on the following day. The story (also called “The Book of Esther” or “Megillat
Esther” or just “The Megillah,” which means “scroll”) takes place in Ancient Persia,
somewhere in the years 500-300 BCE.
The heroes of the story are Esther, a beautiful young Jewish woman living in Persia, and
her cousin Mordechai, who raised her as if she were his daughter. Esther was taken to the
house of Achashverosh, King of Persia, to become part of his harem. King Achashverosh
had a previous wife, Vashti, who didn’t obey him when he told her to show up at his
party, so he gave her the boot. After a beauty pageant to find a new queen, the king
finally chose Esther, but he did not know that Esther was a Jew, because Mordechai told
her not to reveal her identity.
The villain of the story is Haman, an arrogant, egotistical advisor to the king. Haman
hated Mordechai because Mordechai refused to bow down to him, so Haman plotted to
destroy the Jewish people. In a speech that is all too familiar to Jews, Haman told the
king, "There is a certain people scattered abroad and dispersed among the peoples in all
the provinces of your realm. Their laws are different from those of every other people's,
and they do not observe the king's laws; therefore it is not befitting the king to tolerate
them" (Esther 3:8). The king gave the fate of the Jewish people to Haman, to do as he
pleased with them. Haman planned to exterminate all of the Jews, and drew lots (thus the
name of the holiday…) and decided to kill all the Jews on the 15th of Adar.
Mordechai persuaded Esther to speak to the king on behalf of the Jewish people. This
was a dangerous thing for Esther to do, because anyone who came into the king's
presence without being summoned could be put to death, and she had not been
summoned! Esther fasted for three days to prepare herself, then went into the king, and
luckily for all of us, he welcomed her in. Later, she told him of Haman's plot against her
people. The Jewish people were saved, and Haman was hanged on the gallows that had
been prepared for Mordechai.
I have included a funny “Worldly” version of the Purim Megillah as a separate
attachment. In the spirit of the holiday, it’s kind of silly but amusing. Enjoy!
A funny, modern Purim rap.
(It’s kind of silly, but it’s amusing to see what people can do with the Purim story!
Youtube page: http://youtube.com/watch?v=-vTLxpz9HKs&feature=related
3. What’s the Deal with
The Purim Schpiel?
The Mitzvahs:
 Hear the Megillah read twice, once at night and once the next morning
 Enjoy a Purim Seudah, a feast full of great foods, wine, and company
 Send ‫מנֹות‬
ִֹ ִִֹֹ‫—מִֹשִֹלֹוח‬Mishloach Manot, gifts filled with goodies and sweets
to friends and family throughout the community
 Give ‫ביֹונִֹים‬
ִֹ ִֹ‫—מִֹ ִֹתנֹותִֹלִֹא‬Matanot L’evyonim, gifts to the poor and less
fortunate in the community
Customs:
 Make and eat Hamentashen (the funny ear-shaped pastries with tasty
fillings such as chocolate chips, apricot and strawberry jelly, and any
other sweet goodies you can think of)
 Don’t forget to bring your gragger (noisemaker) and BOOOO! when you
hear Haman’s name
 Have a costume party and be creative…may the best costume win!
And More:
 The Talmud teaches that one is required to drink on Purim until he or she
does not know the difference between the blessings of Mordechai and
the curses of Haman…Please drink responsibly!
 Tell jokes, share stories, and sing songs
“As the days on which the Jewish people gained relief from their
enemies, and the month which had been transformed for them from
one of sorrow to gladness, and from mourning to festivity, they were
to observe them as days of feasting and gladness, and for sending
delicacies to one another, and gifts to the poor.”
Megillat Esther, The Book of Esther
Chapter 9:22
In college, I co-edited a weekly newsletter called “The Schmooze” and my dear friend Cara Passman wrote
a weekly column entitled “Dear Yenta.” Please enjoy her words of Torah as we celebrate Purim.
Dear Yenta,
Why is Purim such a big deal? I mean what is so exciting about sitting around and reading from a
book? It’s not a real holiday, like Passover, so what’s all the fuss?
Sincerely,
Masked in Confusion
Dear Masked,
While Purim isn’t quite like Passover, in that it’s not mentioned in the Torah, it’s still an important day.
Purim is all about freedom from those who try to oppress (and kill) us. The book we read, a.k.a. the Megillah
or Book of Esther, tells the story of a time when we overcame our enemy at a time when death seemed certain.
Moreover, unlike Passover, the miracle of redemption is subtle. In fact, the name of God is not even
mentioned in the Megillah, which is usually interpreted as a reminder that God may hide God’s presence
from everyday life, but still be working magic. So when you think about it, Purim is the hottest party in town,
and don’t forget to dress your best at the Achashverosh Idol at the annual PSC party.
Dear Yenta,
Last year for Purim, this friend of mine me gave me a little package of cookies and candy. It was really
sweet of her, but I don’t know why she did it, and I felt a little bad about not having something for her.
Is this some kind of tradition, or was she randomly being nice?
Respectfully,
Sweetly Stumped
Dear Sweetly,
The giving of gifts on Purim is called mishloach manot, which literally means “sending out portions.” Giving
food and drink to the people you care about is one of the four mitzvoth associated with the holiday. The other
three are hearing/reading the Megillah (twice), feasting and rejoicing, and giving charity to the poor.
Everyone has the obligation to hear the Megillah both at night and during the day, the feasting should include
a scrumptious meal during the daytime, and the giving of gifts to loved ones and less fortunate ones ensures
that everyone has a way to celebrate until Purim ends at sundown. So don’t feel bad about not having shalach
manot last year. Just go out and buy two different types of food, wrap ‘em in something pretty, and let your
friends know that you care. Let the rejoicing begin!
Dear Yenta,
I’ve realized by now that Jewish holidays revolve around food and drink, but why do we eat the funny
triangle cookies on Purim? And, why are we told to be merry with drink?
Yours truly,
Chai on Holidays
Dear Chai,
Special foods and tasty beverages are one of our many ways of celebrating our survival. On Purim, the
symbolism of food and drink also takes us right back to the story itself, in which Queen Esther’s shindigs led
to the downfall of the bad guy, a.k.a. Haman. The funny triangle cookies, called hamentaschen in the old
tongue, are said to symbolize Haman’s ears or his three-sided hat. Either way, we get to defeat him all over
again, only this time he comes in yummy fruit flavors. As for the drinking, tradition says that you should drink
enough that you can no longer distinguish between Haman and Mordechai, i.e. the good guy. Since the two
men actually had a lot in common, this reminds us that good and evil is blended in everyone, and it is our
actions that truly make the difference. In the end, it really comes down to that whole concept of ‘eat, drink
and be merry.’ Who do you think invented it? The rest of the world simply forgets to add ‘and feel guilty
about it tomorrow.’
5) Songs for Purim
Here are some fun songs that are connected to Purim, and a YouTube file where you can
hear the first one sung!
A. Chag Purim
Chag Purim, Chag Purim
Chag Gadol La-Yehudim
Masechot, Rashanim, Zemirot Ve-rikudim.
Hava-nah Risha, Rash, Rash, Rash!
Hava-nah Risha, Rash, Rash, Rash!
Hava-nah Risha, Rash, Rash, Rash!
Ba-rashanim!
Translation:
The holiday of Purim is a great holiday for all Jews.
Costumes, Graggers, Songs, and Dances!
Come let us make noise with the graggers, “Rash, Rash Rash” (supposedly the
sound the gragger makes…).
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8SU6yXOSSq0&feature=related
B. Wicked Wicked Man (Folktune)
Oh once there was a wicked, wicked man
And Haman was his name, oh
He lied and lied about the Jews
Though they were not to blame, oh.
Oh today we'll merry, merry be (3x)
And nosh some hamantashen.
And Esther was a lovely queen
Of King Ahasu-ay-ros
When Haman said he'd hurt us all
Oh my how he did scare us.
Oh today we'll merry, merry be (3x)
And nosh some hamantashen.
Esther had a cousin
And his name was Mordechai
He asked her, "Can you help us?"
And she said, "Of course, I'll try."
Oh today we'll merry, merry be (3x)
And nosh some hamantashen.
When Esther speaking to the king
Of Haman's plot made mention
"Ah hah, said he," oh no he won't
I'll spoil his bad intention."
Oh today we'll merry, merry be (3x)
And nosh some hamantashen.
In spite of Haman's awful plan
And the scare he gave us
Esther was so brave and strong
She knew just how to save us.
Oh today we'll merry, merry be (3x)
And nosh some hamantashen.
6) Rituals and Customs for Purim
There are a couple of things that are important on Purim, some of which are actual laws
and others are just very powerful and wide-spread customs. I will include the commanded
items here, and a few customs in the next section.
 The primary mitzvah on Purim is to hear the Megillah being read. This is a
commandment that both men and women should perform, and it can be done in
any language (though most places just read it in Hebrew…). It’s also a really
entertaining story, especially for kids, so I highly recommend going to a
Megillah reading, especially if you’ve never been before.
o If/when you do go to the Megillah reading, it is customary to boo,
hiss, stamp your feet, or make noise in any other way possible every
time you hear the name “Haman” read. There are also special noisemakers for this purpose, called graggers or “Rashanim” in Hebrew.
They aren’t necessary, but they’re very common and come in many,
many different shapes and sizes (A few versions are depicted in this
e-mail).
 Another mitzvah that is closely associated with Purim is the mitzvah to eat, drink,
and be merry. It is a joyous festival, since we were saved before any Jews could
be attacked, and we celebrate this. In particular, people often drink a lot of alcohol
on Purim, and the mitzvah is to drink until you cannot tell the difference between
“Blessed is Mordechai” and “Cursed is Haman.” There are, however, differing
opinions on how much that is…
o Of course, it is important not to drink too much so that you might injure
yourself or someone else, especially if you’re driving!
o In addition, anyone who might be harmed by drinking alcohol, should
refrain from drinking.
 There are two other mitzvot that are important on Purim. The first is to send gifts
of food and drink to friends and family. This is called Mishloach Manot, and
basically means “sending gifts” in Hebrew. It is customary to send a basket of
cookies, wine, fruit, and Hamentaschen (see below), but anything will do.
 The last mitzvah is Matanot La-evyonim, which means “gifts for the needy” in
Hebrew. We give tzedakah, charity, on Purim as a symbol of helping our
community and one another on Purim, since Esther saved us.
 Food – It is customary on Purim to eat a special kind of cookie called
“Hamentaschen” (In Yiddish) or “Oznei Haman” (In Hebrew). It is a threepointed cookie (see image to the left) filled with something sweet inside, usually
prune-filling, apricot-filling, some other type of fruit-filling, chocolate chips, or a
poppy-seed mixture called mon that adults love and children hate! It was
apparently all the rage back in the Old Country. They were weird back then…
o The symbolism of the Hamentaschen are either Haman’s hat or Haman’s
(supposed) pointy ears. Either way, it’s payback time! I’ve included the
Ackerfand Family’s famous recipe below. Don’t tell Jenny… 
 Costumes – The other major custom on Purim is to get dressed in costume. It’s
our version of Halloween, but older and less scary! There is no rule on this one,
but princesses, clowns, and cowboys are pretty popular costumes in general
(and apparently pirates are big at Beth Shalom!), or costumes relating to the
Megillah itself. The reason for the masquerading is because hidden identity
plays a major role in the Purim story. Esther hid the fact that she was Jewish,
and Haman thought Mordechai would have to lead him around the city on
horseback, but the roles were switched up! It is customary to have masquerade
parties and beauty contests on Purim, as these were also (sort of) featured in the
Megillah.
7) The Ackerfand Family Hamentaschen Recipe
You can find tons and tons of great recipes for Hamentaschen out there, in most Jewish
cookbooks and anywhere online! This, however, is the one place where you are going to
find the famous Ackerfand-family Hamentaschen recipe! 
Dough Ingredients:
Here is the recipe we used.





1 box yellow cake mix
1 cup flour
1 tbl. extract of choice (vanilla, mint, almond, etc)
1 tbl. water
3 eggs
Directions:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Sift cake mix and flour, set aside.
Beat eggs, water and extract.
Add cake mix and flour on slow speed of mixer (I did it by hand)
Do not over mix, mixture will be sticky.
Sprinkle powdered sugar (you could use flour) on waxed paper (I only had foil)
and roll the batter. Form into a cylinder. Wrap the cylinder in plastic wrap and
place in freezer for a few hours.
6. Remove from freezer and slice into quarter inch slices. With your fingertips,
shape into circle and fill.
7. Bake at 375 for 8 to 10 minutes on cookie sheets.
Will be soft after baking until they cool.