 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
|
| YOUR EZRA BESSAROTH GUIDE TO PURIM It is written in The Talmud that “Just as when the month of Av enters, we minimize our happiness, so too from when the month of Adar enters, we increase our happiness.” In Adar, the nation of Israel was saved from annihilation. The Jewish people, who lived throughout the empire of King Achashverosh, were faced with certain death. Through a miraculous turn of events, this threat was removed and the Jews were saved. There was celebration everywhere. The Jews renewed their commitment to G-d and his Torah. PERASHAT ZACHOR The Shabbat that precedes Purim is called Shabbat Zachor. Zachor means to remember and the aliya for the maftir is read “Remember what Amalek did to you on the way, upon your departure from Egypt... You shall erase the memory of Amalek from the heavens, you shall not forget.” We are thus commanded to remember Amalek’s cruel and cowardly attack upon the children of Israel following their departure from Egypt. The Sages tell us that “remember” means orally and “You shall not forget” means in your heart. In order to fulfill the commandment, we read this passage from a Torah scroll, once every year, on the Shabbat before Purim so that wiping out Amalek is adjacent to the wiping out of Haman, a descendant of Amalek. When the name of Amalek is read, all present in the kehila will bang their hands and stomp their feet in order to blot out the name of Amalek. THE FAST OF ESTHER The Fast of Esther falls on the day before Purim, on the 13th of Adar (Except when Purim falls on Shabbat) . The fast is called by Esther’s name because she was the one to request the observance of a fast as a prelude to her approaching the king to plead for mercy for the Jews. Shahrit will begin at 7am. We end the fast only after hearing the reading of the Megilla that evening. THE HALF-SHEKEL On the eve of Purim during the Minha service, it is customary to give three halves of the coin that is the basis of the local currency. The reason for the half-shekel is in memory of the half-shekel that was given by all Jews when the Temple still stood and whose collection was announced on the first of Adar. In the USA, people generally use three half-dollars. The Gabbai will bring a plate around after Minha on Monday Mach 13th . On the plate will be three half-dollars. We drop our contribution onto the plate and lift the three half dollars on the plate up in the air for a moment before dropping them back on the plate. One gives the three half-shekels for each of the members of the household including, in the case of a pregnant woman, for the unborn child. Others have the custom to pick up the three coins as many times as one has children. The reason we use three half-shekels is that the term terumah (contribution) is mentioned three times in the Torah portion of Ki-Tissa, in the account of the mitzvah of the half-shekel. COINS FOR THE KIDS For generations it has been the tradition at Ezra Bessaroth to give out coins to the children on Purim. Following the reading of the Megilah the more savvy children will go around to the adults and wish them a Happy Purim. It is our longstanding custom to hand each child who greets us after kehila with coins or bills. There is no correct amount to give, any amount is fine MEGILLA ETIQUETTE It is a requirement that anyone over Bar Mitzvah age MUST hear every single word of the megilla reading. This can be a quite a challenge with all the merriment and noise- making that accompanies the name of Haman (Boo!). Thus we implore everyone present at the reading to show utmost consideration to those struggling to hear every word of the megilla. There will be a traffic light attached to the Rabbi’s speaking podium. Only allow your children (or yourselves) to make noise when the green traffic light is on – please make sure that you and your children remain as quiet as possible whenever the traffic light is red. Basic consideration will make the evening both fulfilling and fun for all. DON'T MISS OUT ON PURIM! Most of us in our own way are trying to bring a higher level of spirituality into our own and our family’s lives. Almost all of us share a special family Shabbat meal and celebrate the major holidays of Pesah, Yom Kippur and Rosh Hashana. But if this is the extent of our religious repertoire we are missing so much and short changing our families and ourselves from our rich heritage. Purim is often overlooked among the Jewish holidays or mislabeled as a Jewish Halloween. True there is a festive and even silly component to Purim but it is so much more than that. Purim represents the Jewish approach to persecution and salvation. As with all Jewish Holidays there are a core of Sephardic rituals, which, if observed, make the holiday both meaningful and satisfying. This year make a point of expanding your family’s Jewish repertoire by adding Purim to the mix. WHY DO WE CELEBRATE PURIM? In the Story of Purim, an all too familiar scenario arises. A despotic agitator in a position of power became obsessed with the destruction of our people. This time it was during the period between the destruction of the First Temple and the building of the Second Temple (fifth century BCE) that the Jews came very close to being annihilated. Haman, the powerful royal advisor, managed to persuade Achashverosh, the King of the vast Persian Empire, to endorse the mass murder of all of the Jewish people living in his realm. Because of the clandestine intervention of G-d, using Queen Esther and her uncle Mordechai as His messengers, the Jews were spared. The nation of Israel was than able to defend themselves against their enemies. In order to commemorate these miraculous turn of events, we celebrate Purim on the 14th of Adar with feasts, sending gifts of food to our friends and the needy, and with the reading of the Megilla, the story of Purim. HOW DO WE CELEBRATE PURIM? There are four mitzvoth that are absolutely essential to the observance of Purim. They are the reading of the Megilah, the festive meal, the sending of food gifts and giving gifts to the poor. 1) READING OF THE MEGILAH: One is required to read the Megilah twice, once at night and again in the day. At Ezra Bessaroth we will read the Megilla twice. Both men and women are obligated to hear both readings of the megila. 2) THE FESTIVE MEAL: It is a mitzvah to have a sumptuous meal on Purim, including meat dishes and wine. This feast must begin prior to nightfall on Purim day. This meal is a perfect occasion to gather your family and friends for a festive Jewish celebration. Some may need to adjust their busy schedules, as the Purim feast must begin in the daytime. Because the miracle of Purim came through wine (Vashti’s downfall and Haman’s downfall came through a wine feast) there is a custom of drinking until intoxication. As our Sages tell us, “A person is obligated to drink on Purim until he no longer knows the difference between cursed is Haman and blessed is Mordehai”. Of course if one fears that excessive drinking of wine may harm them, than drinking excessively is forbidden. 3) GIFTS FOR THE POOR: One is required to give at least a gift to two poor people on Purim, in other words, one gift to each. This obligation can be fulfilled through money, food, drink or even clothing. The gift should minimally be equal to the value of a loaf of bread. The gifts to the poor are given during the day, usually after the morning reading of the Megilah. Rabbi Cohen-Scali would be happy to direct your gift to a genuinely needy family in our own community. Please make a point of seeing the Rabbi before or on Purim. 4) FOOD GIFTS TO ONE ANOTHER: One must give a food gift, which consists of two different foods, to another person. The food must consist of something edible or drinkable without further cooking or preparation. One may send meat, fish, cooked pastry, wine and other beverages. These gifts should be sent to as many people as one chooses but they should be sufficient to convey regard for the recipient. If at all possible, these gifts should be sent by messengers, rather than delivered personally. MAKE PURIM SPECIAL FOR YOUR FAMILY As you review the Sephardic rituals of Purim, you may try thinking up unique ways to have your children participate in these mitzvoth. Perhaps your children could design themed food baskets, which they can shop for and help prepare and deliver. You might also wish to consider involving your children in collecting charity for the poor and bringing them with you as you present the charity to Rabbi Cohen-Scali for distribution. The kids will also enjoy making decorations for the dining room for the festive Purim meal. Of course bring the kids (in costume) to hear the Megilla at the Synagogue followed by our Gala Family Purim Party. PURIM EVE: SATURDAY, MARCH 3 Megila Reading: 7:15pm PURIM DAY: SUNDAY, MARCH 4 Shahrit: 8:00am Megila Reading: 8:30am 2nd Megila Reading: 10:30am Arvit: 7:00pm |
