Purim

Purim is upon us and begins at sundown on Monday, March 9 and ends March 10. So what is Purim? I will do my best to explain it as best I can. I have taken some things written from a daily email I receive called Jewish Treats. They seem to have the simplest explanation to use.

There are 4 mitzvot associated with the holiday:

• Megillah Reading of the Book of Esther – The Megillah is read twice on Purim, once at sundown on March 9th and then once during the day on March 10th. In order to properly fulfill the mitzvah of Megillah, it is necessary to hear every word during the reading. For this reason it is important that people do not talk to each other during the Megillah reading.

• Mishloach Manot/Shalach Manos - Sending Gifts – Every Jew is obligated to give at least one Mishloach Manot gift containing at least two different types of ready-to-eat food items. Matanot La'evyonim - Gifts to the Poor – Giving to the poor is a mitzvah all year round. However, the mitzvah to do so on Purim is in addition to the general mitzvah of tzedakah (charity). To properly fulfill the mitzvah of Matanot La'evyonim one must give to 2 poor individuals. Although one may fulfill this mitzvah by giving a very minimal amount of money to each person, the sages noted that the highest form of fulfilling this mitzvah is by giving enough money for a meal, or the equivalent in food. This mitzvah may be fulfilled by donating beforehand to an organization that will distribute the money or food on Purim day.

• Seudah - Festive Meal – One is obligated to partake in a festive meal on Purim day. The bare minimum to fulfill this mitzvah requires that one ritually wash (netillat yadayim), eat bread and then recite the Birkat Hamazon , the Grace after Meals.

• Drinking at the Purim Meal – "A person should drink on Purim up to the point where they cannot tell the difference between ‘Blessed is Mordechai' and ‘Cursed is Haman.' (Talmud Megillah 7a and Shulchan Aruch --Code of Jewish Law). On Purim, one is commanded to drink wine to a point of inebriation* – generally, this is interpreted as drinking more than one usually would or enough to make one sleepy. While drinking on Purim is a mitzvah, risking one's life is not. Whether host or guest, it is important to be responsible:1-Do not drink and drive. 2-Beware of underage drinking. While Purim is a religious holiday, and underage alcohol consumption is allowed by some for religious occasions, adults are still responsible for minors. Please do not give young people liquor beyond the bare minimum. Remember, as well, that our children are influenced by our behavior.

So that is the explanation of Purim. Now for what actually happens at the synagogues is probably similar but I'll tell you what mine is having.

They're having a kids carnival right before sundown that continues to when the Megillah reading is done. People (kids and adults) are encouraged to dress up in costumes (just as one would for Halloween) and come to the carnival and then stay for the Megillah reading. The carnival will last for about 2-3 hours and overlap with adult events (there are educators in charge of the kids so the parents may participate in the adult activities). The kids get a kid version of the Megillah reading so they don't have to sit with the adults. The adult Megillah reading lasts about 2 hours as well. Then following the reading there is a party and we have a Reggae Band (mostly members of our congregation) with food and drinks.

Now for those that are reading this and are thinking every Jewish person will be drunk Monday night please don't think that. Responsibility is encouraged and enforced. At the synagogue I attend (and every other synagogue I've ever attended) there is security and most of the time they are police officers so they're definitely not going to let someone leave who has had too much to drink. At the same time I've never seen anyone drunk at any function I've attended and we have wine/alcohol available after every service. So don't be alarmed. And most parents (at least the ones I know) don't give their child(ren) alcohol. These are old customs and are modernized for today's time.

To me Purim comes down to celebrating along with prayer. I haven't fully gotten into this holiday but I normally attend some part of the celebration. I do like the reading of Esther and they way it's presented. It's not just someone reading from the Tanekh (Jewish Bible), it's made more entertaining and keeps your attention. After all it lasts almost 2 hours it has to.