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For this Purim tradition, the
gettings as good as the giving.
ANNABEL COHEN SPECIAL TO THE JEWISH NEWS
THE DETROIT JEW ISH NEWS
PHOTOS BY DANIEL LIPPITT
78
Etna Ackerman, bee, 9; Danielle Platt, Cleopatra, 9;
Matthew Ackerman, doctor, 4; and Hallie Platt, cat, 6;
sport the latest in this year's Purim fashions.
Annabel Cohen is a chef, cooking instructor and writer.
urim means many things. There's the dressing in costume.
Then there's the customary gorging on the hamantashen until
prune or poppy-seed filling is exuding from your ears. And who
can forget Mordecai's own instructions to the Jews of Persia to
celebrate with "feasting and gladness"? Or his command to get
drunk enough so that you won't be able to distinguish between
the names of Mordecai and Haman?
But for Jews in the know, there is also the long-practiced custom of shalach
manot. Purim's own megillah, or Scroll of Esther, explains it all. The mitzvah
of mi'shalach manot is the sending of "portions" or gifts of food to friends, fam-
ily and the poor.
Basically, the rule instructs that at least two shalach manot, or portions,
be given to each family member on Purim. These days, the tradition has
evolved into giving baskets or platters chock-full of goodies.
-
Arleen and Allen Platt of Southfield make a "megillah" out of sending
shalach manot each year. Along with her daughters Danielle, 8, and
Hallie, 6, Arleen organizes and fills over 50 baskets, decorative buck-
ets or platters with a variety of cookies, candies and fresh fruit.
By the time they're finished, they've decorat-
ed an entire room with
wrapped packages ready
for delivery on or before
the holiday.
"Traditionally, shalach
manot are exchanged, so if
someone gives you a shalach
manot, you're obligated to give
one back," says Platt. "We always
make a few extra, just in case we
receive an unexpected gift."
Shalach manot can be as fan-
cy and elaborate as you wish."I've
seen huge picnic baskets loaded
with all kinds of treats," Platt
adds. In fact, many Jewish mu-
seums around the world dis-
play beautiful silver trays
that were once used exclu-
sively for shalach manot
and handed down from
generation to generation.
Better
Than
Martha
Stewart
t's not too late to start
your own shalach man-
ot tradition. Here's how.
If you'd like to start
small, practice by giving gifts
to family members. Be imag-
inative. Fill your package with
different foods. Each item
should be ready-to-eat, and
you should include some kind
of fruit. Here are some tasty
suggestions for different and
unusual shalach manot that
are sure to be big hits. And
check out our buying guide for
where to buy ingredients and
wrapping materials.
The Purim Gourmet
Line a flat basket or tray with
leafy lettuce or edible greens.