Purim is one of the most entertaining Jewish holidays which commemorates the time when Jewish people living in Persia were saved from extermination by the courage of a young Jewish woman called Esther. It is customary to hold carnival-like celebrations on Purim, to perform plays and parodies, and to hold beauty contests. Purim is oftentimes referred to as the Jewish Mardi Gras. Purim is not subject to the restrictions on work that affect some other holidays; however, some sources indicate that Jews should not go about their ordinary business at Purim out of respect for the festival. It will be celebrated beginning in the evening of Thursday, February 25 and will end in the evening of Friday, February 26.
The Story of Esther
The story of Purim is told in the Book of Esther. Esther is a Jewish girl who becomes Queen to King Xerxes of Persia, and through her bravery, is able to thwart an attempt to slaughter all the Jews living in Persia at that time. Purim commemorates Esther’s courage in saving the Jewish people living in Persia 2000 years ago from extermination.
What is Purim?
The word Purim means lots and refers to the lottery that Haman used to choose the date for the massacre. Purim is celebrated on the 14th and 15th days of Adar, the twelfth month of the Jewish Calendar. Adar usually falls in March, and is synonymous with joy because it has traditionally been a month of hope and good luck for the Jewish people. The 14th day of Adar is the day that Haman chose for the extermination of the Jews. In leap years, when there are two months of Adar, Purim is celebrated in the second month of Adar, so it is always one month before Passover. In cities that were walled cities at the time of Joshua, Purim is celebrated on the 15th of the month, because the Book of Esther says that in a walled city, deliverance from the massacre was not completed until the next day.
Eating and Drinking
It’s a mitzvah (a good deed done from religious duty) that Jewish people should eat, drink, and be merry at Purim.
A common treat at this time of year are ‘Haman’s pockets’, sometimes called hamantashen. These triangular fruit-filled cookies represent Haman’s three-cornered hat. Pastries in the shape of different animals and heroes of the Megilla, and Kreplach—meat wrapped in dough and folded into a triangle—are also popular.
Eating different kinds of seeds—sunflower, pumpkin, nuts is also popular and commemorates Esther eating only seeds while she lived in the King’s palace.
Gifts and Charity
In addition, Jews are commanded to send gifts of money, food, or drink, and make donations to charity. The sending of gifts of food and drink is referred to as ‘sending out portions.’ In Israel, Purim baskets containing an assortment of sweets, cookies, bagels, wine, nuts and fruit are sold.
Hamantashen
Yield 24 servings
INGREDIENTS
- 3 eggs
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- ¾ cup vegetable oil
- 2 ½ teaspoons vanilla extract
- ½ cup orange juice
- 5 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tablespoon baking powder
- 1 cup fruit preserves, any flavor
DIRECTIONS
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease cookie sheets.
- In a large bowl, beat the eggs and sugar until lightly and fluffy. Stir in the oil, vanilla, and orange juice. Combine the flour and baking powder; stir into the batter to form a stiff dough. If dough is not stiff enough to roll out, stir in more flour. On a lightly floured surface, roll dough out to 1/4 inch in thickness. Cut into circles using a cookie cutter or the rim or a drinking glass. Place cookies 2 inches apart onto the prepared cookie sheets. Spoon about 2 teaspoons of preserves into the center of each one. Pinch the edges to form three corners.
- Bake for 12 to 15 minutes in the preheated oven, or until lightly browned. Allow cookies to cool for 1 minute on the cookie sheet before removing to wire racks to cool completely.
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Vince’s Market
