Spirituality

HOLIDAY 101

Purim!

Get ready for a lot of fun, merriment, food and a great opportunity for tzedakah.

Stories by Elizabeth Applebaum
Special to the Jewish News

S

omething a little fishy is going on at the
Pergament home this Purim.
Aaron and Adina Pergament of Huntington
Woods and their children Noa, 5, and Eitan, 2, are
passing on the typical mishloach manot fare and opt-
ing instead for sushi.
The Pergaments are a family with a sense of humor
and a sense of adventure. So on Purim, they like to
pick a theme for the day and let their imaginations go
wild. This year, they'll celebrate Purim Asian style.
"We went a little crazy on a trip to New York City
this past fall and bought full costumes for all of
us — right down to the slippers and hats — in
Chinatown;' Adina says.
Having secured their costumes, the family will
next make mishloach manot of sushi and fortune
cookies. Then comes "the best part: piling everyone
and the mishloach manot into the car and going to
all our friends' houses, delivering the packages to
everyone while in costume — and seeing everyone
else in their costumes?'
While this year's theme offers a nod to the East,
past projects have included an Italian basket, with
spaghetti, pasta sauce and wine, and a black-and-
white food collection in honor of the children's cow
and zebra costumes.
The whole theme thing "can be challenging," Aaron
admits, "but it's fun to get creative?'
(Not that there isn't a place for tradition. Just
before Purim, the Pergaments and other families from
throughout Huntington Woods meet to make hamen-
tashen. This gathering, sponsored by Aish HaTorah of
Huntington Woods, attracts a diverse group of Reform,
Conservative and Orthodox families and results in a
varied collection of hamantashen, as well. "We use fun
and funky flavors like PB&J, mocha-cappuccino, white
chocolate-chocolate chip, cinnamon-apple spice, even
pumpkin:' Adina says.)
Giving mishloach manot is just one of the mitzvot, or
commandments, the Pergaments observe on the holiday.
"On Purim night and early Purim morning, Aaron
and I go to adult Melilla readings;' Adina says. "We usu-
ally have to tag team so one of us is home with the kids
while the other is at shul, but we also take the kids to a
family/kids' Melilla reading. Young Israel of Oak Park
has done a great program the last several years, and
this year, Aish HaTorah in Huntington Woods is doing a
fabulous family program?'
What's not to love with all the little children in cos-
tumes, shaking greggers and "making a ton of noise
when Haman's name is read — they really seem to love
that part!" Adina says. There's also always a big Purim
party and carnival with puppet shows, moon bounces,
magicians, "and, of course, the candy doesn't hurt?'

Eitan, 18 months, dons his Purim costume

Finally, it's time for the big meal. The Pergaments join
friends and family (a very small crowd means 20) for a
meal that is like a party.
"The more the merrier is always the case with the
Purim seudah," Aaron says. "Kids, and some adults, are
usually still in costume, and the meal is filled with good
food, good company, music and singing?'
Which is the perfect time to remember those less
fortunate.
"Even though there are a lot of fun and exciting parts
of the holiday, one very important mitzvah is to give
tzedakah to those who are less fortunate Aaron says.
"We try to pay equal — if not more — attention (and
money) to charity on Purim than what we spend on
everything else?'
The Pergaments collect tzedakah year-round to make
donations at Purim. This year, for the first time Noa will
help decide where the money goes — with an emphasis
on Metro Detroit.
"We feel that it's important to pay special attention to
giving to local charities, groups and organizations these
days:' Aaron says."Matan B'Seter [the Oak Park-based
service for needy families] is a great organization as is
Yad Ezra [the Berkley-based kosher food pantry], both
of which are doing all they can to help those most vul-
nerable in on our community?'

❑

Noa, 41/2, as Queen Esther

Purim — At A Glance

• When Purim is: Adar 14, this year sundown,
Saturday, Feb. 27, until sundown, Sunday, Feb. 28.

• What it commemorates: How Queen Esther
and Mordechai thwarted the plans of Haman to kill
all the Jews during the reign of King Ahaseurus
(Achashverosh) of ancient Persia (4th century BCE).

• About the name: Purim means "lots" (objects,
like dice, used in making a random choice). It refers
to the lots that Haman cast to determine the month
in which to exterminate the Jews (Esther 3:7; 9:26).

Purim At A Glance on page 30

JN

February 25 2010

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