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Judaism

Purim

Hamantashen

This is a simple Hamantashen recipe which you can make with your children. Baking holiday treats with your kids is a great way to create special holiday memories which they will carry on with them.

Ingredients: purim_hamantashen

On Purim, Jews today remember how Esther saved the Jews of Persia from annihilation, as recorded in the Biblical Book of Esther. In general, Purim celebrates Jewish survival. Despite the plans of others to persecute and even annihilate Jews in the past, the Jewish People has survived for approximately 4,000 years.

Purim customs include food baskets (mishloach manot, shlach manos), hamantashen pastries (oznay haman), a festive meal (seudat Purim), charity (matanot l'evyonim), Purim parades (adloyada), Purim plays (shpiels), carnivals (shuk Purim), costumes and noisemakers. The festive celebration makes Purim a favorite Jewish holiday for children and adults alike.

Purim Customs

Megillah, Seudah, Mishloach Manot, Matanot La'Evyonim, Hamantashen, Tachbosot, Adloyada, Shpiel.... Funny words for a fun celebration! Read about Purim customs below.

Reading the Megillah

On Purim, it is a mitzvah (commandment) to hear Megillat Esther (The Book of Esther)--which is referred to simply as the Megillah (scroll)--read out loud. The Megillah tells the story of Purim, a tale of a princess, a villain, and a hero which Disney could turn into a blockbuster movie.

The story of Purim

The story of Purim is a great tale. There is a beautiful, courageous heroine, an all powerful king, a loyal cousin, and a villain who gets foiled by his own evil plans. Read and enjoy!

Once upon a time, between the destruction of the First Temple and the building of the Second Temple, the Jews were almost destroyed.
In the city of Shushan, Vashti, the Queen of Persia, refuses to obey the order of the King of Persia, Ahasuerus, to appear before his guests. The King then searches the country for a new queen. From among hundreds of applicants, Esther, cousin of Mordechai the Jew, is chosen.

Purim Shpiels

One of the most endearing aspects of Judaism, in my opinion, is the evolution of Jewish traditions over time. Purim Shpiels started out as family, holiday entertainment, turned into professional performances--sometimes so vulgar that they were banned--for a paying public, and have become outreach tools for American Jewish synagogues and communities.

Purim

Hamantashen

Purim

Purim Customs

The story of Purim

Purim Shpiels

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