Hava Nedaber Ivrit: A Time For Narbim B'Simha' By NIRA LEV Each month in this space, L'Chayim will present a Hebrew lesson entitled, "Hava Nedaber Ivrit!" (Let's Speak Hebrew), whose aim is to encourage further study of Hebrew. The lesson will include a brief story utilizing the Hebrew words to be studied and a vocabulary list with English translations. The lessons will be prepared by Nira Lev, associate professor of Hebrew language and literature at the Midrasha College of Jewish Studies. Mrs. Lev also teaches Hebrew language and literature at the Community Jewish High School at the United Hebrew Schools. Following is this month's lesson: Of all the mitzvot relating to our hagim yehudiyim the one most readily and happily fulfilled is the mitzvah to be happy on Purim. Megillat-Ester commands us to celebrate Purim as "Y'mey mishteh" and "yom toe mishloah manot to the poor and to one another. The rabbis tell us that when chodesh Adar begins "marbim b'simha." The reason for this simha and tzahala is the celebration of nitzahon Mordechai and Ester over Haman Ha'rasha, who sought to destroy all the Jews in Paras. This hag actually celebrates the nitzahon of our am against the oyvim, the evil forces who wish to destroy us. Purim, which is celebrated on the 14th of Adar, derives its shem from the word "pur," meaning "lot." It recalls the lots that Haman cast to determine when to destroy the Jews. The highlight of this hag is the public reading of Megillat-Ester. The seepur of the megillah revolves around four main characters: Hameleh Ahashverosh, king of Persia, Hamalkah Ester, Haman harasha and Mordehai. Ester is chosen in a beauty contest to be the malkah over Vashti who is banished. Haman becomes the king's chief sar, and when Mordehai refuses to bow down to him, he decides to kill all Jews by convincing the Meleh to hang them all. Mordehai and Ester succeed in thwarting these tohniyot. Haman is hanged and the Jews celebrate their nitzahon over their oyvim. Megillat Ester is unusual because the name of Hashem is never mentioned in the seepur. The point it makes is that it is through the peulot and ma'asim of anashim that Hashem manifests His presence in history. B'ney adam are the shutafim of Hashem in the process of geulah. Since Purim is a hag of simha all the minhagim of this hag are intended to enhance and increase our hana'ah and simha. A special seudah is held on this day, recalling the royal mishteh at which Ester obtained the annulment of Haman's g'zeirah ra'ah. Another minhag enjoyed by all is mishloah manot (often called shalah monos). This came to mean sending matanot shel ohel to our haverim and krovim. Since it is a mitzvah to be sameah on Purim, we have to help other anashim to be happy as well. Therefore, as is typical in other Jewish hagim, we have to give tz'daka to the aniyim. It was the minhag long ago to make a special communal appeal for the aniyim on Purim so that they might have a proper Seudat Purim. Last, but not least, is the minhag enjoyed by young and old to wear tahposot, to masquerade and to put on a purim play, allowing people to be completely free and discard restraints. Meelon mitzvah ..a religious commandment mitzvot ...religious commandments holiday hag holidays hagim Megillat-Ester ....The book of Ester a scroll megillah days of feasting y'mey mishteh yom tov ....a holiday ("a good day) mishloah manot sending of portions, sending of gifts chodesh Adar ...The month of Adar marbim b'simha one increases happiness, doing many things to be happy joy tzahala victory nitzahon the wicked ha'rasha Persia Paras nation am enemies oyvim name shem a story seepur the King ha'meleh a queen malkah minister sar king meleh plan tohnit plans tohniyot God Hashem activity peulah activities peulot a deed ma'aseh deeds ma'asim people anashim human beings b'ney adam partner shutaf partners shutafim redemption geulah custom minhag customs minhagim pleasure hana'ah a festive meal seudah a feast, a banquet mishteh a decree g'zeirah bad, evil rah bad, evil (feminine) ra'ah a gift matanah gifts matanot food ohel gifts of food matanot shel ohel friends haverim relatives krovim happy sameah charity tz'daka poor people aniyim costumes tahposot Why I Like Purim By ELMA EHRLICH LEVINGER Now I like Hanukkah a lot, And Sukkot in the fall, And Pesah, but I think that I Love Purim most of all. Maybe it's 'cause I like to watch My mother when she bakes; And help her pound the shiny stuff She puts in Purim cakes. The kitchen air smells awful sweet; I just won't go away. Till she gives me a Hamantash And sends me out to play. Then father takes us all to Shul, Me, mother and the boys; It's more fun than the reglar days, `Cause I can make a noise. At home, we put on mother's clothes— Her oldest ones, I mean; - And cousin Rachel dresses up And tries to act a queen. For then we give our Purim play And laugh and dance and cheer; Say, don't I wish that Purim came 'Bout twenty times a year! Reprinted from "The Purim Anthology," by Philip Goodman, 1949. THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS L 3 -