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Purim

The story of Purim is told in the Book of Esther which is read during the holiday. The story begins a beauty contest starring Esther, the Jewish girl who became queen. The Jews were close to being annihilated with the influence of Haman, the villain of the story and also advisor to the king of Persia. However, Esther was convinced by her cousin, Mordechai, to speak to the King about sparing the lives of her Jewish people. He convinced the king by telling him

“…There is a certain people scattered abroad and dispersed among the people in all the provinces of thy kingdom; and their laws are diverse from all people; neither keep they the king’s laws: therefore it is not for the king’s profit to suffer them" (Esther 3:8)

After the king heard they had their own laws and did not submit to the laws of his kingdom he agreed to have the Jews annihilated. Once Mordechai heard of such an order he came to Esther and convinced her to speak to King Ahasuerus in return Esther told Mordechai to have all the Jews of Persia fast for three days and nights. On the third day she would then give the king an unexpected visit (a move that was unheard of then). She requested the king and his advisor to attend a banquet prepared by her. When at the banquet the king asked Esther,

"…What is your petition, for it shall be granted to you. And what is your request? Even to half of the kingdom it shall be done." (Esther 5:6) Esther answered, "My petition and my request is: if I have found favor in the sight of the king, and if it pleases the king to grant my petition and do what I request, may the king and Haman come to the banquet which I will prepare for them, and tomorrow I will do as the king says. (Esther 5:7-8)

During the second banquet the king asked again of Esther’s petition and she revealed herself as part of the group that has been ordered to be annihilated along with her people the Jews. When the king discovered it was Haman who had made such an order he ordered Haman to be hung with the same gallows that were prepared for Mordechai. Once the king heard of the relation between Esther and Mordechai, he gave Mordechai a ring and made him an advisor to the king. Mordechai then sent letters to all the Jews who were in King Ahasuerus advising they celebrate the day of their freedom, the fourteenth day of Adar.

How is Purim celebrated in modern day times?

We at Bet Ami celebrate it by reading the Book of Esther with groggers and yeahs and boos, dressing up as one of the characters (King Ahaseurus, Queen Esther, Mordechai, Haman or Vashati) of the story, having a Queen Esther beauty contest amongst the ladies, and serving traditional foods like Hamantashen.

Hamantashen Recipe

• 1 medium seedless orange
• 2 eggs
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup oil
• 2 tsp. baking powder
• 3 cups flour
• Jam or other fillings

Cut the orange into quarters and pulverize it in your food processor until finely chopped. Add the eggs, sugar and oil, and process for about 10 seconds. Add the baking powder and flour and process with several on/off turns, just until the flour is blended into dough. It will be slightly sticky, but that's OK. Cut the dough into 3 or 4 pieces, and work with just one lump at a time.

Roll the dough out on a well-floured board to about 1/8 inch thickness. Using a cookie cutter cut 3-inch circles of dough. In the middle of each circle, put about 1/2 teaspoon of filling: jam, chocolate chips, or even canned pie filling. Pinch the sides of the circle up, making a triangular enclosure, and leaving the top slightly open so that you can see the filling. (Just make sure that the corners are firmly pinched so that the jam doesn't leak out the sides.)

Place cookies on a greased cookie sheet and bake at 350º F (180º C) for 15 to 20 minutes, or until lightly browned. Makes about 4 dozen hamantaschen.