Hava Nedaber Ivrit: Purim's A Big Hit For Children

Of all the hagim in the Jewish
calendar, Purim is the one most
popular with yeladim, the one most
filled with simchah and tzahala, fun
and merry-making, for tze'eerim and
mevugarim alike.
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 the hodesh and the yom
for killing the Yehudim of Paras.
Because Purim celebrates the
mapala of Haman Ha-rasha, a
tyrant who wished laharog and
lahashmid our people, the Megillah
tells us to keep the 14th of Adar as a
day of simchah and tzahala. All the
minhagim of this hag are intended to
enhance and increase our hanaah
and simchah.
In Yisrael, this hag is celebrated
not only ba-bayit, in batey-hasefer
and in batey-haknesset, but also in
rehovot-he-arim. Yeladim and
mevugarim alike start planning and
preparing their tahposot, the
costumes they will wear for mesibot-
purim. Yeladim wear their costumes
not only for parties but in the streets,
and they do not wait for the day of
Purim but start strolling in the streets
showing off their costumes a few
days before Purim. Yeladim love to
participate in taharut-tahposot
where a prass is awarded to mthe
most interesting, original and creative
tahposet.
Another minhag enjoyed by all is
mishloah-manot (often called:
shalach-manot). This means "the
sending of gifts" and it is mentioned
in Megillat-Esther. The preparation
of ozney-Haman, the traditional
Purim pastry, and the other foods,
delivering them to our friends,
parents, relatives, adds to our
simchah not less than opening and
enjoying the mishloah-manot that
we receive.
An important part of the sasson
and simchah of Purim is Se'udat-
Purim, when the whole mishpaha
sits down to special aruha recalling
the royal banquet at which Esther
obtained the annulment of Haman's
gzeira.
Since it is a mitzvah to be
sameah on Purim, we have to help
other people to be happy as well.
Therefore, as is typical of other
hagim yehudiyim, we have to give
tz'daka to the aniyim. It was the
minhag, as long ago as in the days
of the Mishnah, to make a special
communal appeal for the aniyim on
Purim, so that they might have a
proper Se'udat Purim. Part of the
tz'daka giving is the minhag of

mahatzit hashekel — the kesef
contributed by every adult in
remembrance of the biblical tax of a
half a shekel.

MEELON (Dictionary)

hagim
hag
yeladim
yeled
simchah
tzahala
tze'eerim
mevugarim
mevugar
shem
hodesh

holidays
holiday
children
child
happiness
joy, happiness
young people
adults
an adult
name
month

yom
day
yehudim
Jews
yehudi
a Jew
Paras
Persia
mapala
downfall, defeat, failure
ha-rasha
the wicked
laharog
to kill
lehashmid
to destroy
minhagim
customs
minhag
a custom
hanaah
pleasure, enjoyment
ba-bayit
at home
batey-hasefer
the schools
batey-haknesset
the synagogues
rehovot-he-arim....streets of the cities
tahposot
costumes
tahposet
a costume
mesibot-Purim
Purim parties
mesibat-Purim
a Purim party

taharut-tahposot....a costume contest
prass
an award, a prize
mishloah-manot
sending of gifts
sasson
joy, happiness
se'udat-Purim
the Purim feast
mishpaha
family
aruha
a meal
gzeira
a decree
sameah
happy
aniyim
poor people
ani
poor
mahatzit hashekel
half a shekel
kesef
money

Nira Lev is director of the Agency
for Jewish Education's Hebrew
Interactive Learning Center and
director of the Community Jewish
High School's Hebrew Department.

Stream Of Memories About Purim

By FLO ZIFFER

"I'll wear this costume tonight and
something else tomorrow." "Hey,
you're going to the wrong bathroom.
Oh, sorry, I thought you were a girl.
Great costume." "Did you see what
the rabbi used to make noise at
Haman's name? That was so funny!"
"Can we go to the Purim party across
the street?" "All those boys came into
our dining room and began to dance
with Abba! I couldn't believe it." "Can
I go help deliver mishloah manot?"
"Someone else is at the door with
mishloah manot. I'll get it. Do we
have any shaliach gelt to give them?"
"Can't I just see what's in this
package? It looks so good." "One
more hamantash, p-l-e-e-z!"

Raashanim (graggers), maseichot
(masks), tahposot (costumes),
mishloah manot, hamantashen — our
senses are overwhelmed in the
sights, sounds, smells and tastes of
the holiday. As the hectic day wanes,
we join with friends and family in a
Purim se'udah — the last mitzvah of
the day.
When asked to write about a
memorable se'udah, I thought back
over years in New York as a college
student and as a newly married
woman, years in Boston with a small
family, and years in Detroit. I recalled
the friends in New York who invited
me (along with numerous other
college students) to their se'udah. I
remembered the picture of my
husband sitting at our first Purim
se'udah in our small apartment in
New York. I saw my sons as
daughters and my daughter as a son
as they masqueraded for Purim. I
heard the voice of a little "Mordechai"
telling us on video that he just arrived
from "Poorzha."
I thought about the new American

family who met us on Purim by
coming to our se'udah and how the
children — theirs and ours — danced
in our family room. I remembered the
Phantom of the Opera, Little Red
Riding Hood and the Wolf who joined
us at our se'udah. I remember getting
ready and enjoying the kugels and
chicken and meat recipes that friends
shared. I thought back to the Purim
se'udah three years ago when our

friends in Eretz Yisrael took off their
masks at the end of the Gulf War.
Stream of consciousness
memories reflect the nature of the
day — a day to celebrate physically
as we recognize God's Providence
and enjoy the great blessings of
friendship.

Flo Ziffer is a teacher at Akiva
Hebrew Day School.

Shalach Manot Bridges Gap

By JULIA GREENBLATT

It was as an adult that I began to
learn about Purim. I would and still try
to spend the weeks prior to Purim
immersed in Purim preparations, from
previewing the story of Esther to
coordinating a Purim seder. During
this time, mundane activities such as
grocery shopping took on new
spiritual heights as I designated
certain foods for Purim parcels and
others to be used in making
hamantashen.
One year, in the midst of my
pre-Purim ritual, my telephone rang.
On the other end was the wife of a
community rabbi. She had called to
ask for my help in delivering shalach
manot, prepared by her congregation,
to a number of new Americans living
in the apartments surrounding my
own. I was silent for a moment as I
thought, yes, I can do this. It won't
take long. I can easily fit it in between
work, school and my household
activities. "I would love to help," I
replied. "Thank you," said the voice at
the other end.
I don't recall the exact number of
parcels I delivered. What I do recall is
that with each knock of the door and
ring of the bell came a Jewish

adventure. As I delivered Purim
parcels that day, I felt as though I
was bridging the gap between
generations of Jews denied their
Judaism and a new generation free to
express their Yiddishkeit. Many of the
families I visited didn't yet speak
English. But, their tears of joy, warm
hugs and hospitality communicated to
me the importance of my mission.
Upon returning home, with tears of
joy in my own eyes, I telephoned the
rebbetzin who initiated my Purim
parcel adventure.
"Mission accomplished," I told her.
"Thanks so much," she replied. "No,"
I interrupted. "Thank you for allowing
me to get involved."
That was the Purim I discovered
the true gift.

Julia Greenblatt is an associate with
Jewish Experiences For Families.

FEB RUARY

By NIRA LEV

