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The fourteenth day of the month of Adar marks the holiday of Purim, the paradigm of Jewish deliverance from cruel tyranny. The characters of King Ahashuerus, Queen Vashti, Mordechai, Esther, and Haman parade before us as vivid reminders of our people’s will to survive. The traditional food eaten on Purim is a hamentaschen. These pastries are triangular filled cookies representing the hat Haman wore. On Purim it is tradition to send shalach manot-gift baskets
and to give to charity. YUSSEL’S PLACE has a full assortment of “shlock” boxes, candy, chocolate and goodies to fill your shalach manot baskets. Do it yourself, or let us do it for you. Shipping available to college students, Floridians…. The Book of Esther is called the megillah. The megillah is chanted with its own melody. During the reading in synagogue, it is customary to boo, hiss, or rattle noisemakers each time the reader says the name Haman. The purpose is to blot out Haman’s name.
PURIM STORY CHARACTERS
KING ACHASHVEROSH-King of Persia who ruled over 127 countries. In the 3rd year of his reign, he made an extravagant party which lasted for 180 days. In a drunken stuper, he executed his wife, Queen Vashti, after she refused to appear before him. Regretting this decision, he searched for a new wife, and chose Queen Esther from all the eligible girls in the kingdom.
QUEEN ESTHER-Mordechai's niece who was chosen to be queen after Vashti. Queen Esther was able to thwart wicked Haman's plan to eradicate all the Jews.
MORDECHAI-The Jewish leader who was a source of hope for his nation during the time of Haman's decree. Mordechai saved the king's life and was rewarded. This began the turnaround of the Jews' victory over their enemies.
HAMAN-The king's wicked advisor who plotted to have all the Jews killed. He was justly punished for his wicked plot and was hanged on the gallows he had prepared for Mordechai.
QUEEN VASHTI-Direct decendant of King Nebuchadnezzer, who destroyed the Holy Temple in Jerusalem. She was summoned to appear before her husband, the king, at his party and refused. This refusal cost her her life.
CHECK LIST
groggers
tzedakah box
candy galore!
hamantashan
masks and costumes
“shlock” boxes
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