Purim
Purim
is a time for food, storytelling, and fun.
Families gather at the synagogue to hear the Megillah—the story of how good Queen Esther and noble Mordechai convinced King Ahasuerus to spare the Jews from the evil Haman. Children in bright costumes shake special noisemakers called graggers whenever Haman’s name is read aloud.
It’s Purim tradition to give gifts to the poor (called matanot la'evyonim [mah-tah-NOTE la-ev-ee-o-NEEM] in Hebrew) and a gift of food (mishloach manot [mish-lo-AKH mah-NOTE]) to a friend. Often included are tasty hamantaschen. The delicious pastries with fruit or poppy-seed filling are shaped into triangles as a reminder of Haman’s three-cornered hat.
Click here to read the story “Great-Grandma’s Nickel,” in which Shana hears an interesting story while making hamantaschen.
