frontlines

A Purim Spiel

T

with calories

he Purim story has all the qualities of a great
novel — a delicious plot that has romance, sus-
pense, a hint of murder, karma and some awe-
some characters.
Just like breakfast starts the day,
King Achashverosh starts the story.
He's a bit of a flake and often had
his underlings Quaker-ing with fear.
He ends the Life of his wife Vashti
and needs a new one to feel Cheerio
again. (Esther gets the most Chex so
he chooses her to be his new
Honey Bunches of Oats).
Achashverosh supports
his No. 1 adviser in his
quest to stamp out all
the Jews to a
Krispie, not
knowing that his honey-nut in the
castle is one. Ultimately, he arranges
for Haman to be hanged (his neck
went snap, crackle and pop!)
Esther is a tall glass of something
cool and refreshing, though her new
husband doesn't know what's in-
cider head. He gives her half his
A, -.V
kingdom — quite a Power(ade)
trip — but still she remains cor-
dial and doesn't share that she's

a (Mountain) Dew. It's hard to keep her spirits (7-)up when
there's a death sentence on her people. She eventually cola-
berates with her Uncle Mordechai who suggests she might
beer in the castle to stop this calama-tea from happening.
She risks her life so-da Jews may live and, ultimately, it all
turns out grape and everyone is spilling over with joy.
Haman's like a moldy fruit. He is papa(ya) to 10 sons and
will be happy if the Jews, particularly a certain man-go to
his death. He has a berry rotten plan that he spreads via the
grapevine, which causes all the Jews to say, 'Oh, my Gourd!'
When invited to the queen's party, Haman feels just peachy,
until the Queen reveals she is Jewish and everything goes
pear-shaped. Then he's really in a pickle.
There are some great just-desserts and raspberry
twists. Ultimately, the Purim story is a miracle for
every Jewish bean — both human and
jelly. We celebrate every year by throw-
ing Hershey's kisses to each other,
dancing, singing 'Halvah Nagillah
Halvah and listening to the Megillah —
truly an Everlasting Gobstopper!
Have a scrumptious Purim! ❑

Roche) Burstyn lives in Southfield and recently

released her first book for teens, "Choices — an

- '

\ Assortment of Delicious Stories About Life's

\iirmium
-4.1.1116 "-
Challenges" (Torah Temimah), available at

amazon.com and Spitzer's in Southfield and

1 ,61 141"232

Borensteins in Oak Park.

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March 13 - 19, 2014 I 11 - 17 Adar II 5774

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Vol. CXLV, No. 6

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Danny Raskin
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Shabbat Lights And Holiday Times

Fast of Esther: Thursday, March 13, 6:36 a.m.-
8:19 p.m.

Shabbat: Friday, March 14, 7:20 p.m.
Shabbat Ends: Saturday, March 15, 8:21 p.m.

Purim: Sunday, March 16

Shabbat: Friday, March 21, 7:28 p.m.
Shabbat Ends: Saturday, March 22, 8:30 p.m.

Times are from Yeshiva Beth Yehudah calendar.

Cover page design: Michelle Sheridan.
The Detroit Jewish News (USPS 275-520) is
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Long before Jonathan Fellows
joined the Hebrew Free Loan
Board, before he went into practice
as a neurologist, before medical
school and undergrad, he was a
high school senior looking for
options to pay his college tuition.
"My wife and I both had JELS
loans to help pay for college. We
also had conventional loans, but when
we graduated and started paying
back, we knew that the point of
community funds from JELS and
HFL was to get that money back in,
so it could go out again. We made
a choice to pay those loans first.
JELS payments were like tzedakah
themselves, because of the fund
recycling," Jon said.
A few years later, a chat with a
friend and current HFL Board
member reminded Jon how he felt
to receive those loans, as if he was
being backed by the community.
He met with Executive Director
David Contorer, and enthusiastically
became involved with the agency.
"Because of my JELS experience,
I'm excited about our William
Davidson Jewish College Loan
Program, which will help an even
greater number of students with
potentially larger amounts," Jon said.
"But whether people come to us for
educational, personal or business
loans, there is no better feeling than
to be in a position to help someone
who has the courage to come in
looking to improve their life."

Become an HFL Donor.
Click. Call. Give Now.
www.hfldetroit.org
248.723.8184

Health. A fresh start.
A good education.
The next great business idea.

Hebrew Free Loan gives interest-
free loans to members of our
community for a variety of
personal and small business
needs. HFL loans are funded
entirely through community
donations which continually
recycle to others, generating
many times the original value
to help maintain the lives of
local Jews.

HEB REW
FREE * LOAN

hfldetroit.org

We Provide Loans. We Promise Dignity.

6735 Telegraph Road, Suite 300 • Bloomfield Hills, MI 48301

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IN

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March 13 • 2014

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