Spirituality HOLIDAY 101 Purim At A Glance Elizabeth Applebaum Special to the Jewish News W hen it happens: The 14th day of Adar, which this year corresponds to sundown, Monday, March 9, until sundown, Tuesday, March 10. • What it commemorates: How Queen Esther and Mordechai thwarted the plans of the evil Haman to kill all the Jews during the reign of King Ahaseurus (Achashverosh) of ancient Persia (4th century BCE). • What the name of the holiday means: Purim means "lots" (objects, such as dice, used in making a choice by chance). It refers to the lots cast by Haman to deter- mine the month in which to exterminate the Jews (Esther 3:7; 9:26). • Ceremonies and Rituals: The main event of Purim is the public oao reading of Megilat Ester, the Book of Esther (or Scroll of Esther), commonly known as the Megillah (which in Hebrew means " scroll"). The day before Purim is Ta'anit Ester, the Fast of Esther. This fast begins in the morn- ing (Monday, 6:43 a.m. Detroit time) and ends at sundown (8:01 p.m.), although we do not eat until after Ma'ariv, the evening prayer service, when Purim starts. In synagogues, the Megillah is read dur- ing the evening service. Some hold additional readings after the service. The Megillah also is read in the synagogue the next morning (Tuesday), during the Shacharit service. Some synagogues hold further readings later in the morning. • Eat a festive meal. On Purim, include more wine or liquor with the meal than usual, enough to make things lively, but not to become drunk. Begin the meal during daylight, but if it extends into the evening when Purim is over, that's OK. • How to celebrate: Attend both the evening and morning readings of the Megillah. Drown out every mention of Haman's name by booing and hissing or use noise maker. The traditional type that spins and makes a clicking noise is known in Yiddish as a gregger. One of the main themes of Purim is that things are not as they seem: the beautiful Queen Esther of Persia is actu- ally the Jewish girl, Hadassah; loyal pal- ace guards are scheming insurrectionists; the great conqueror, King Ahaseurus, is a drunken lecher; the capable administra- tor, Haman, is a genocidal maniac; events seem to happen by themselves, but all is determined by God. In accordance with the theme, children and adults hide their identity by dressing in costume. Because the Jews survived the planned massacre, Purim is a festival of joy and a time of fun. Carnivals, skits, practical jokes and silliness are all part of the day. • Other rules and regulations: In the Amidah (silent, standing) prayer and in Birkat HaMazon (grace after meals), include the prayer Al HaNisim. Do not recite the daily Tachanun (penitential) prayer at morning and afternoon services. On Purim, unlike other holidays, work is permitted: fires may be kindled, electricity turned on, cars driven, money handled, etc. In addition, we observe three practices: • Send gifts of food to fellow Jews. The gifts — known as mishloach manot in Hebrew ("sending portions") or shlach- moness in Yiddish — consist of at least two types of food ready to eat or that can be enjoyed with minimal preparation. • Give money to the poor — generous- ly, to the best of your ability. The mini- mum amount is the lowest denomination of currency (1 cent), and it must be given to at least two poor persons. The rabbis teach that donations to the poor should form the bulk of our Purim expense. • The day after Purim is known as Shushan Purim. The Jews of Shushan, Persia's capital city, did not gain their deliverance until the 15th of Adar (Esther 9:18). Because Shushan was a walled city, it became the law that Jews who live in walled cities or in cities that were walled at the time of Joshua (the leader who succeeded Moses, about 1,400 BCE) cele- brate Purim on the 15th of Adar. The Old City of Jerusalem is one such place. The only walled city in North America (north of Mexico) is the Old Town district of Quebec City, Quebec, Canada. P1 Elizabeth Applebaum is a marketing spe- cialist at the Jewish Community Center of Metropolitan Detroit. Purim Limerick Ahasuerus, a groyser* fool und Mordechai der Yid** so cool. Esther zayer shain*** und brave Asked der king her folk to save. Now, kinderlach,**** make noise in shul! groyser — big und Mordechai der Yid — and Mordechai the Jew zayer shain — very beautiful kinderlach — little kids Rachel Kapen of West Bloomfield writes Yiddish limericks in memory of Martha Jo Fleischmann, the late JN limerick writer. A28 March 5 • 2009 Holiday Discussions Rabbi David Ackerman, national outreach director for the Jewish Theological Seminary in New York, will teach Kollot study sessions locally the week of Purim. He will discuss "Purim's Legacy of Violence noon Wednesday, March 11, at Sun Communities, 27777 Franklin Rabbi Road, Suite 200, Ackerman Southfield. A dairy lunch is available and walk-ins are welcome. Wednesday evening, March 11, Rabbi Ackerman will teach at a pri- vate home in Huntington Woods about "The Masks We Wear (and What They Say About Us)." For reservations: (248) 258-0055 or beroth@jtsa.edu. Rabbi Ackerman will lead a program for Adat Shalom parents and fifth- and sixth-grade children at 5:30 p.m. March 11. At 8 a.m. Thursday, March 12, he will speak to Hillel Day School of Metropolitan Detroit parents. Visit sponsors arethe Detroit Jewish Theological Seminary Cabinet, chaired by Norma Dorman and Steve Weisberg. Purim Celebration Adat Shalom Synagogue will host its Purim Party Plus fundraiser Sunday, March 8. A "Wild Wild West" party will include a buffet, music and prizes. On Monday, March 9, the Mega- Megillah evening begins at 6 p.m. with a Purim story by Rabbi Aaron Bergman for kids through kindergar- ten age. Rabbi Rachel Shere will lead a Mishpacha Minyan Megillah Reading for older kids and their families. At 6:30, a carnival will include entertain- ment by Joe Cornell. The Megillah reading by Adat Shalom teens begins at 7:15 p.m., led by Noah Betman, Cameron Blum, Vanessa Farkas, Abbie Ginis, Ali Gornbein, Jill Gornbein, Victoria Greenstein, Elizabeth Isack, Zach Jirik, Josh Morof, Sydney Rosen, Jonathan Schiff, Danielle Schostak, Zoe Soble and Alex Vieder. On Wednesday morning, March 11, nursery and kindergarten youngsters will have Purim activities in class. The sisterhood will hold a Purim luncheon on Thursday, March 12. for JVS, Kadima and JARC clients. For charges/reservations: (248) 851-5100 or info@adatshalom.org .