Happy Purim!!

Today is a fast day: The fast of Esther. Jews all over the world fast to remember Queen Esther's valiant attempt to save the Jewish people. She succeeded. Before approaching the King with her request to save her people, she asked that everyone fast for 3 days. So, today, we, of course, fast too. This is the essence of Purim. It is the story of Queen Esther who finds herself chosen to save the Jewish people. It would make a fabulous movie! So, how do we celebrate this holiday? Well, we start off with the fast the day before (though this year it is today as to avoid fasting on Shabbos). My husband tells me this morning that my daughter and I don't need to fast as it is a custom for Hasidic women NOT to fast on minor fast days. My daughter comes down the stairs and says, "Oh, today's fast day." I look at my daughter, and she looks at me and we both say, "Hey! We're Hasidic!" I hope that doesn't mean we have to eat the eggs and onions dish now.

Then, we listen to the megillah (scroll of the story of Esther) twice. It's not hard to miss as it's read twice the night of Purim and twice the next morning, but inevitably someone will show up after 4 megillah readings with a reason that they couldn't get their on time. So some poor baal koreh (scroll reader, like my husband) will read it a 5th time, all the while wanting to rip his vocal chords out of his throat. 

Second, we offer gifts to the poor (Matanot La'evyonim). Third, we send two food items to a friend (Mishloach Manot). When we first moved to our community it was right before Purim and we were showered with a dozen little bags of food items. We usually make about 25 ourselves and drive around our community dropping them off. It's fun. Every year we pick a little theme. This year my husband took over and our friends are getting beer and peanuts. Man purchase. Enough said. Some of our friends all get together and give the "group gift" So, you get a little Happy Purim note with a bag that basically alludes to the fact that  "All 15 of us families are giving you these crackers and candy." I wanted to join the group as inevitably every year I forget someone important and feel horrible that they were left off my list. But, my husband says, "No consortium. That is not the mitzvah. It's not group therapy." Anyway, then we drive around trying to avoid the people who are not on our list. 

The last mitzvah is the Purim Party (the Purim Seudah). Yes, you MUST attend a party. Now, all this seems simple enough. But ha! You really have to dress up for this. It's like Halloween for us minus the goblin, witchcraft stuff. The thing is every year there's a theme, and we don't seem to be so great at sticking to the theme. One year my husband went out and purchased us each some "royal" wear. My daughter, 16 at the time, revolted. She would not be seen with us in a green gown. This year the theme is a story book. We didn't get that together so well, so we're going as clowns. That seems to fit us and just about any Purim party pretty well. Plus, you can always recycle a clown outfit. 

Most important is to be joyous on Purim. It's an actual commandment. That sounds easy, but as you know life can often throw people quite a curve ball and so joy does not always come so easily at the right moment. That is hard. But, I think it's great that we have a holiday that is just a great all around celebration and all you really have to do is give, listen, dress up, eat and party. And by doing so, you can remember a pretty cool queen, who didn't sit by when things got tough and the hand of G-d who masterminded the entire event.