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"Lion King & Mamma Mia!"

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8/10-12. 8/17-19, 8/31-9/1
$469,

Cover Story

"Stratford" 1.2 & 3 Days
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8/25-26, 10/13-14 3 Days: 7/13-15 Call for details!

"Shaw" 2 & 3 Days
2 Days: 6/9-10, 7/4-15, 9/29-30.10/13-14
3 Days: 8/24-26 Call for details!
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"Stratford/Shaw Combinatiogs"
$315
Music of "Sinatra" - Harry Connick, Sr.

8/11-12 & 9/8-9 Call for details!

Mt. Pleasant Casino Package 4/10

"America's 1st Ladies"

69

Grand Rapids

$59

5/8 or 5/10

Holland Tulip

$69

5/18 "Shirley Jones", 5/19 "Parade" from

"Mamma Mia " & "West Side Stpry'_'-

Chicago 5/18-20

$449

"Mamma Mia" & "Famous People Players"

6/8-10 or 6/29 - 7/1
with "Mysteriously Yours" 6/22-24

(Price is right)

What it com'tTeV 1''''"

$409

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BERKLEY TOURS AND TRAVEL

248-865-8890 • 1-800-875-8687

Mythic 4 ,,travet

Study Tours for Imaginative Travelers

torkey

Jewieh Ufa
Veal 1113gak
Goddess Temple:
Archaeological Dip

ezisch
ReAribtic

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Caekt2

Art Nouveau
Folk Festivals
Archaeological Digs

Intimate

Groups Affimdabla Luxury
Off tha beatan path
Fun

Dr. Rashid Ergener. lecturer/guide. Turkey
Dr. Nana Srackova. guide. Czech Republic
Dr. Adrienne Moral. lecturer/US !lawn

(800) 228-0593 oxt 12
www.mgthie-traval.com
infoemgthic-traval.com

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When it happens: The 14th
day of Adar, which this year cor-
responds to sundown, Thursday,
March 8, until sundown, Friday,
March 9.
What it commemorates:
How Queen Esther and
Mordechai thwarted the plans of
the evil Hciman to kill all the Jews
during the reign of King
Ahaseuerus of ancient Persia (4th
century B.C.E.).
What the name of the holi-
day means: Purim means "lots"
(objects used in making a choice
1 by chance, such as dice). It refers
to the lots cast by Haman to
determine the month in which to
exterminate the Jews (Esther 3:7;
9:26), a macabre lottery.
Ceremonies and Rituals:
The main event of Purim is the
public reading of Megillat Esther ,
commonly known as the Megillah
which in Hebrew means
"scroll."
The day before Purim is Taanit
Esther, the Fast of Esther. This fast
begins iNn\the morning (5:46 a.m.
Detroit time) and ends at sun-
: down, although we do not eat
until after Maariv, the evening
prayer service, when Purim

begins. In most synagogues, the
Megillah is read during the
evening service. Some syna-
gogues hold additional readings
after the service. The Megillah
also is read in the synagogue the
next morning, during the Shachar-
it service. Some synagogues hold
further readings later in the morn-
ing.
How to celebrate: Attend
both the evening and morning
readings of the Megillah. Drown
out with sound every mention of
Haman's name. You can boo and
hiss, or use any type of noisemak-
er. The traditional type that spins
and makes a clicking noise is
known in Yiddish as a grogger.
One of the main themes of
Purim is that things are not as they
seem. Accordingly, adults as well
as children dress in costume.
Purim is a festival of unbridled joy
and a day of fun. Humorous skits,
practical jokes and general silli-
ness are part of the day.
Aside from the Megillah, we
observe three practices:
1) We send gifts of food to fol-
low Jews. The gifts, known as
mishloach manot in Hebrew
("sending portions") or shlach-
moness in Yiddish, consist of at
least two different types of food
that are ready to eat or can be

enjoyed with minimal preparation.
2) We give money to the poor.
The minimum amount we give is
the lowest denomination of curren-
cy — and it must be given to at
least two poor persons. Fortunate-
ly, most of us can afford substan-
tially more, so it is proper to be
generous.
3) We eat a festive meal. On
Purim, we include more wine or
liquor with the meal than usual —
enough to make things lively, but
not so much as to be unable to
recite the grace after meals. The
repast may extend into the
evening after Purim, but it must
begin during the daylight hours of
Purim. This year, with Purim falling
on a Friday, it goes straight into
Shabbat, so it's advisable to con-
clude the Purim feast during the
,
aylignt flours. (It is proper to eat
daylight
a festive meal on Shabbat also,
and the rabbis advise us to enter
Shabbat with a good appetite.)
Other rules and regula-
tions: In the Shemoneh Esrey, or
Amidah (standing) prayer, and in
Birkat Ha-Mazon (grace after
meals), we include the prayer of
Al Ha Nisim. We do not recite
the Tachanun (penitential) prayer
at morning and afternoon ser-
vices. Unlike the major holy days,
on Purim all manner of work is
permitted: fires may be kindled,
electricity may be turned on and
off, cars may be driven, etc.
The day after Purim: This is
known as Shushan Purim. The
Jews of Shushan, Persia's capital
city, did not gain their deliver-
once until the 15th of Adar
(Esther 9: 1 8). Because Shushan
was a walled city, it became the
law that Jews who live in walled
cities or in cities which were
walled from the time of Joshua
celebrate Purim on the 15th of
Adar. Jerusalem is one such
place. The only place in North
America that qualifies is Quebec
City in Canada. 0