Think & Reflect:
Purim is almost here – we are in the 2nd Adar (it is our leap year and two months of Adar help us catch up). How are you getting ready for the holiday? Purim is a wonderful story and holiday for kids because we dress up in costumes and eat special treat and hear a story that has heroes, villains, and intrigue. As children grow, we tell more of the details keeping some back until they are ready. However, what about adults who never heard the real story? You are missing out! The Book of Esther is short – so find a copy and read it.
Purim is filled with significant lessons – about sovereignty and oppression, about identity and pride, and about speaking truth to power, even when it is hard and scary. These are lessons for all of us today. We begin telling our children what they can understand but we know that children listen and hear and then question what is happening in the world. Purim is a story that has messages for the ages.
Questions to Ponder
As we read biblical stories, we are often surprised and sometimes saddened that our heroes are not always to great! But that is o.k. – we are not meant to be perfect, and, in fact, we learn more from our mistakes than our successes. Our heroes continue to work to improve and that is a pretty important lesson.
At the J, we have a special Purim Contest – not for costumes, but for who is the most important Purim Hero?
Each one adds to the story and the lessons. Who do you vote for?
- King Achashverosh (yes, there are many spellings): a silly king who loved parties but, in the end, did the right thing.
- Queen Vasti: stood up for herself and refused to dance for the king & guests.
- Uncle Mordechai: got Esther into the palace, listened to the news on the street and found the way to get the king to learn.
- Queen Esther: struggled with the right thing to do but was brave in the end.
- Haman: really??? But without him we wouldn’t have much of a story.
- G-d: believe it or not, G-d is not mentioned in the entire Megillah, but did G-d have a part???
Do & Share
Besides dressing up and hearing the Megillah (usually in the synagogue, the parts anyone can (and should) are Tzedakah and Mishloach Manot. Every holiday is a time to give to others who are in need and in the fun of Purim, we should not forget to give money to those who are struggling. Judaism commands us to give but not where so talk about this with the family and give today. The second easy and fun mitzvah is Mishloach Manot – we are commanded to give gifts of food to our family and friends. We have taken that to mean hamantaschen, but any three different kinds of food items will do – nuts, fruits, sweets! The fun part I s the process and the delivery. Try it!
A Challenge for a Week (or longer)
The challenge is to do all the mitzvot of the holiday of Purim: Tzedakah, Mishloach Manot, hear the story and have a party! But the challenge continues as we get ready for the next holiday – PASSOVER! Know the stories of all of these great holidays – the book is available at Amazon (or your favorite bookstore!).
Laura Seymour | Camp Director Emeritus | Jewish Experiential Learning Director
