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The Holiday begins at Sunset of February 28, 2018 and ends at nightfall of March
1, 2018
(This Document
contains G-d's Name, therefore it may NOT be thrown out)
Pre-
Purim Observance - The Fast of Esther
To commemorate
the prayer and fasting that the Jewish people held during the Purim story, we
usually fast
on the day before Purim.
This year as well we fast on Wednesday, February 28, 2018.
The fast begins approximately an hour before sunrise, and lasts until
nightfall.
The
Historical Background of Purim:
Purim, celebrated on the 14th of Adar, is the most
fun-filled, action-packed day of the Jewish year. It commemorates our
nation’s miraculous salvation more than two millennia ago.
The Persian empire of the
4th century BCE extended over 127 lands, and all the Jews were its subjects.
When King Ahasuerus had his wife, Queen Vashti, executed for failing to
follow his orders, he orchestrated a beauty pageant to find a new queen.
The story of Purim is told in the Scroll of Esther, called
Megillah. The heroes of the story are Esther, a beautiful young Jewish woman
living in Persia,
and her uncle Mordecai, who raised her as if she were his daughter. Esther
was taken to the house of Ahasuerus, King of Persia, to become part of his
harem. King Ahasuerus loved Esther more than his other women and made Esther
queen, but the king did not know that Esther was a Jew, because Mordecai told
her not to reveal her identity.
The villain of the story is Haman, an arrogant,
egotistical advisor to the king. Haman hated Mordecai because Mordecai
refused to bow down to Haman, 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 to them. Haman planned to
exterminate all of the Jews.
Mordecai 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. He welcomed her. Later, she told
him of Haman's plot against her people. The Jewish people were saved, and
Haman and his ten sons were hanged on the gallows that had been prepared for
Mordecai.
The book of Esther is unusual in that it is the only book
of the Bible that does not contain the name of G-d. In fact, it includes
virtually no reference to G-d. Mordecai makes a vague reference to the fact
that the Jews will be saved by someone else, if not by Esther, but that is
the closest the book comes to mentioning G-d. Thus, one important message
that can be gained from the story is that G-d often works in ways that are
not apparent, in ways that appear to be chance, coincidence or ordinary good
luck.
Masquerade
On Purim,
children—and some adventurous adults, too—traditionally dress in costumes, an
allusion to G‑d's hand in the Purim miracle, which was disguised by natural
events. Many synagogues have a masquerade party, along with prizes for the
children, during or after the Megillah reading.
How To Celebrate
1.
Hear the Megillah
Head to your
synagogue to hear the reading of the Megillah, called “The Book of Esther”
that tells the Purim story. Listen to the public reading twice: once on Purim
night, and again on Purim day. This
year these two days are Wednesday, February 28 after nightfall and Thursday,
March 1st, 2018 during the day.
Pay attention—it is crucial to hear every word.
When Haman’s
name is mentioned, you can twirl graggers (noisemakers) or stamp your feet to
eradicate his evil name. Tell your kids that Purim is the only time when it’s
a mitzvah to make noise!
2.
Give to the Needy
One of Purim's
primary themes is Jewish unity. Haman tried to kill us all, we were all in
danger together, so we celebrate together, too. Hence, on Purim day, we place
special emphasis on caring for the less fortunate.
Give money or
food to at least two needy people during the daylight hours of Purim day,
March 12. In case you can't find any needy people, your synagogue will likely
be collecting money for this purpose. At least, place two coins in a charity
box earmarked for the poor.
3.
Send Food Gifts to Friends (Mishloach Manot)
On Purim, we
emphasize the importance of friendship and community by sending gifts of food
to friends.
On Purim day,
March 12, send a package containing at least two different ready-to-eat food
items and/or beverages (e.g., pastry, fruit, beverage) to at least one Jewish
acquaintance during the daylight hours of Purim.
4.
Feast!
During the
course of Purim day, March 12th, gather your family, maybe invite a guest or
two, and celebrate with a festive Purim meal. Traditionally, this meal begins
before sundown and lasts well into the evening.
The table
should be festively bedecked with a nice tablecloth and candles. Wash for
bread or challah, and enjoy a meal. Sing, drink, laugh, have fun together.
The ritual washing for bread
Fill a large cup with water. Pass the cup to your left hand and pour three
times over your right hand. Repeat by pouring on your left hand. As you wipe
your hands recite the blessing:Baruch atah A-donoy, Elo-heinu Melech Ha’Olam, asher kidshanu bemitzvotav vetzivanu al netilat yadayim. Blessed are You, L-rd our G‑d, King of the universe, who sanctified with His Mitzvahs and commanded us on washing our hands. When everyone has returned to the table, we raise the two challah loaves and recite the blessing: Ba-ruch atah A-do-nay, E-lo-hei-nu Melech Ha-Olam, hamotzie le-chem min ha-are-tz. [Blessed are You, L-rd, our G‑d, King of the universe, who brings forth bread from the earth.]
Blessing After Meal
Blessed
are You,
L-rd our G-d, King of the universe, who, in His goodness, provides sustenance
for the entire world with grace, with kindness, and with mercy. He gives food
to all flesh, for His kindness is everlasting. Through His great goodness to
us continuously we do not lack [food], and may we never lack food, for the
sake of His great Name. For He, benevolent G-d, provides nourishment and
sustenance for all, does good to all, and prepares food for all His creatures
whom He has created, as it is said: You open Your hand and satisfy the desire
of every living thing. Blessed are You, L-rd, who provides food for all.
We offer thanks to
You, L-rd our G-d, for having given as a heritage to our ancestors a
precious, good and spacious land; for having brought us out, L-rd our G-d,
from the land of Egypt, and redeemed us from the house of bondage; for Your
covenant which You have sealed in our flesh; for Your Torah which You have
taught us; for Your statutes which You have made known to us; for the life,
favor, and kindness which You have graciously bestowed upon us; and for the
food we eat with which You constantly nourish and sustain us every day, at
all times, and at every hour.
And [we thank You] for the miracles, for the
redemption, for the mighty deeds, for the saving acts, and for the wonders
which You have wrought for our ancestors in those days, at this time For
Purim
In
the days of Mordechai and Esther, in Shushan the capital, when the wicked
Haman rose up against them and sought to destroy and annihilate all the Jews,
young and old, infants and women, in one day, on the thirteenth day of the
twelfth month, the month of Adar, and to take their spoil for plunder. But
You, in Your abounding mercies foiled his counsel and frustrated his intention,
and caused the evil he planned -- to recoil on his own head, and they hanged
him and his sons upon the gallows
For
all this,
L-rd our G-d, we give thanks to You and bless You. May Your Name be blessed
by the mouth of every living being, constantly and forever, as it is written:
When you have eaten and are satiated, you shall bless the L-rd your G-d for
the good land which He has given you. Blessed are You, L-rd, for the land and
for the sustenance.
Have
mercy,
L-rd our G-d, upon Israel Your people, upon Jerusalem Your city, upon Zion
the abode of Your glory, upon the kingship of the house of David Your
anointed, and upon the great and holy House over which Your Name was
proclaimed. Our G-d, our Father, nourish us, sustain us, feed us, and provide
us with plenty; and speedily, L-rd our G-d, grant us relief from all our
afflictions. L-rd our G-d, please do not make us dependent upon the gifts of
mortal men nor upon their loans, but only upon Your full, open, holy, and
generous hand, that we may never be shamed or disgraced.
And
rebuild
Blessed
are You,
L-rd our G-d, King of the universe, benevolent G-d, our Father, our King, our
Strength, our Creator, our Redeemer, our Maker, our Holy One, the Holy One of
Jacob, our Shepherd, the Shepherd of Israel, the King who is good and does
good to all, each and every day. He has done good for us, He does good for
us, and He will do good for us; He has bestowed, He bestows, and He will
forever bestow upon us grace, kindness, and mercy; relief, salvation and
success; blessing and deliverance; consolation, livelihood and sustenance;
compassion, life, peace, and all goodness; and may He never cause us to lack
any good. May the Merciful One reign over us forever and ever. May the
Merciful One be blessed in heaven and on earth. May the Merciful One be
praised for all generations, and pride Himself in us forever and to all
eternity, and glorify Himself in us forever and ever. May the Merciful One
provide our livelihood with honor.
May
the Merciful One
break the yoke of exile from our neck, and may He lead us upright to our
land. May the Merciful One send abundant blessing into this house and upon
this table at which we have eaten. May the Merciful One send us Elijah the
prophet—may he be remembered for good—and let him bring us good tidings,
deliverance, and consolation. May the Merciful One bless my father, my
teacher, the master of this house, and my mother, my teacher, the mistress of
this house; them, their household, their children, and all that is theirs;
us, and all that is ours. Just as He blessed our forefathers, Abraham, Isaac
and Jacob, “in all things,” “by all things,” with “all things,” so may He bless
all of us together (the children of the Covenant) with a perfect blessing,
and let us say, Amen.
From
heaven,
may there be invoked upon him and upon us such merit as will bring enduring
peace. May we receive blessing from the L-rd and kindness from G-d our
deliverer, and may we find grace and good understanding in the eyes of G-d
and man.
May
the Merciful One
grant us the privilege of reaching the days of the Mashiach and the life of
the World to Come.
to His king, and bestows kindness upon His anointed, to David and his descendants forever. He who makes peace in His heavens, may He make peace for us and for all
Fear the L-rd, you
His holy ones, for those who fear Him suffer no want. Young lions are in need
and go hungry, but those who seek the L-rd shall not lack any good. Give
thanks to the L-rd for He is good, for His kindness is everlasting. You open
Your hand and satisfy the desire of every living thing. Blessed is the man
who trusts in the L-rd, and the L-rd will be his security.
Fun Fact
Recipe for Hamentaschen
Put a dollop of filling in the middle of each circle. Fold up the sides to make a triangle, folding the last corner under the starting point, so that each side has corner that folds over and a corner that folds under (see picture at right). Folding in this "pinwheel" style will reduce the likelihood that the last side will fall open while cooking, spilling out the filling. It also tends to make a better triangle shape. Bake at 350 degrees for about 15-20 minutes, until golden brown but before the filling boils over! Traditional fillings are poppy seed and prune, but apricot is my favorite. Apple butter, pineapple preserves, and cherry pie filling all work quite well. I usually use Pathmark grocery store brand fruit preserves, and of course the traditional Simon Fischer brand prune lekvar. I have also made some with Nutella (chocolate-hazelnut spread); I find it a bit dry that way, but some people like it. The number of cookies this recipe makes depends on the size of your cutting tool and the thickness you roll. I use a 4-1/4 inch cutting tool and roll to a medium thickness, and I get 20-24 cookies out of this recipe.
for more information visit:
http://www.partnersintorah.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/purim.pdf
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Monday, February 26, 2018
A Very Very Simple Guide for Purim Celebration
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