Purim

Purim is one of the most joyous and fun holidays celebrated on the 14th of Adar on the Jewish calendar. The word "Purim" means "lots" and refers to the lottery that Haman used to choose a date for the massacre of the Jews.

It is a day to remember the deliverance of the Jews from the evil plot of Haman. This day is also a time to remember the example set by Mordecai to stand firm in his devotion to obey Torah rather than man and Esther as she was willing to sacrifice herself to save her people.


In synagogues, it is customary to hear the reading of the book of Esther on Purim. Children (and adults too!) dress in costumes to represent Bible characters. There is always a party and sometimes a parade of the children in their costumes to celebrate the story of Esther.

While there are other books known as the Megillah (Scroll), the book of Esther is the one that is most noted as the Megillah. It is customary to rattle graggers/noisemakers, boo, hiss or stomp your feet when you hear the name of Haman during the service. This is meant to "blot out the name of Haman."

It is also customary to send gifts of food and drink which is referred to as "mishloach manot" or "shalach manos" The literal meaning is "sending out portions" which comes from Esther 9:22. Money is also placed in the Tzedakah (Charity) box for the poor and needy.

No Purim is complete without the hamentaschen (Haman's pockets). These triangular fruit-filled cookies are supposed to represent Haman's three-cornered hat.

Here are some recipes for you to enjoy!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“Melinda’s Hamantashen”

Ingredients:

  • 4 eggs
  • 1 c. oil
  • 1 1/4 c. sugar
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 3 Tbls baking powder
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 4 - 5 cups flour

    Beat eggs well. Beat in oil, then all but flour. Add flour gradually. Knead till smooth.
    Roll out portions of dough on floured surface
    (not too thin or your cookies will fall apart when you go to place them on the cookie sheet).
    Cut rounds with a cookie cutter or glass dipped in flour.
    Fill with about 1 tsp filling. Use anything you like - jam, nut paste, cream cheese and jam mixture, chocolate chips, etc.
    Prune and poopyseed filling are traditional.
    Form the hamantashen. Using both hands, gather two sides toward the center of the cookie so it looks like a teepee (upside-down V)
    With your forefingers then bring the bottom up toward the center.
    Don't overlap the edges but pinch them together where they meet.
    The hamantashen should look like a triangular cookie with a smaller triangular hole in the middle where you can see the filling.
    Bake the cookies on a lightly greased cookie sheet at 350 degrees.
    Baking time depends on the size of the cookies and the filling.
    My 3" cookies take about 15 min.

    I've used the same recipe for the past 22 years and everyone says they are the best hamantashen, soft and not crumbly. They remind me of an "Archway" cookies.

    Purim Sameach!
    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

    Hamantashen for Purim

    Ingredients:

  • 2/3 cup butter or margarine
  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • 1 egg
  • 1/4 cup orange juice (the smooth kind, not the pulpy)
  • 1 cup white flour
  • 1 cup wheat flour (Wheat flour is recommended to make the right texture)
  • 2 tsp. baking powder
  • Fruit preserves, fruit butters or pie filling. (Fig, prune, apricot, pineapple preserves or apple butter or cherry pie filling.)


    Blend butter and sugar. Add the egg and blend thoroughly. Add OJ and blend thoroughly.
    Add flour - 1/2 cup at a time. Alternating white and wheat. Mix thoroughly between each addition.
    Add the baking powder with the last addition of flour.
    Refrigerate batter 6 hrs or overnight.
    Roll dough to make thin smooth layer between two sheets of wax paper that has been dusted with flour.
    Cut out circles with a round cutter (3" or 4").
    Put a drop of filling in the middle of each circle.
    Fold up 3 sides to make a triangle. Overlap side slightly so that only a little filling shows. Press corners firmly, so they won't open while baking.
    Bake at 350 degrees - 15-20 minutes or until golden brown.

    Makes about 2 to 3 dozen cookies depending on the size of the circle and thickness of your dough.