To those who celebrate this festival, happy Purim. Here's a question for you: while discussing what some of the children would dress as for the megillah reading, I asked if any would write Haman's name on their shoes so that when they make noise and stamp their feet, they would be grinding the villain into the ground. Everyone looked perplexed. Was writing Haman's name on the shoes something only kids in my hebrew school did? I thought it was more common...

~Adam

Adam
Happy Purim to you !!!!
I did the same thing in Hebrew School!!

Happy Purim to everyone : ) lets party!!!

Not knowing anything about Purim, I went to the Jewish FAQ and learned, among other things, that "According to the Talmud, a person is required to drink until he cannot tell the difference between 'cursed be Haman' and 'blessed be Mordecai.'" So it's obvious we must take this partying seriously!

Happy Purim, you guys! Enjoy!

Ah redsoxbreath, though the idea of getting so drunk that one cannot tell the difference between the cursed Haman and the blessed Mordechai (transliterated from the Hebrew: Ad sheloh yadah arur Haman v'baruch Mordechai) which has come to mean drinking til you don't know your enemies from your friends is a fun one, even the sages of old warned of getting so drunk that one couldn't perform one's duties. In other words: don't get so drunk you forget the prayers!! Damn!!! Of course, a lot of folks I know still make sure to have a designated driver following Purim festivities.

~Adam

Will I get slapped silly if I suggest that I'm beginning to think that Purim is the Jewish version of St. Patrick's Day? eek! wink

As a child, I was simply pleased to rattle my little noisemaker every time hamen's name was mentioned. I did hear that in some congregations they now do the same thing when mentioning Mel Gibson's name.

[ March 08, 2004, 10:23 AM: Message edited by: Cattledog ]

Happy belated holiday, guys. Sorry I missed out on the celebrations and best wishes yesterday. Mel Gibson...ugh! My ultra-liberal Baptist pastor denounced him yesterday.

Yes, happy belated Purim, shalach manos, and time for one of my favorite treats, Hamentaschen!!!

The weirdest thing happened to me this Purim. I found an envelope in my mailbox labeled with my address and "Fraylecha Purim" (Yiddish for happy Purim or Festive Purim). Inside was a $50. Now, that doesn't fulfill the obligation of Meshloach Manot because it isn't food, and it doesn't fulfill Matanot Lev'Yanim, as I'm not poor. Anyone ever hear of this sort of tradition?

BTW, I think I had heard about the shoe thing, but had never been among a congregation in which it was done.

I never heard of the tradition of leaving money for the financially sound (I do give food to my local foodbank--I do this regularly, but always makes an extra donation on Purim) but enjoy the gift! And Joe in Philly--Purim is often thought to be sort of like a Jewish Halloween in that kids wear costumes, there are parties, and general jocularity ensues.

~Adam

In addition to the parties and costumes, the traditions of giving food to people, and whenever food is being given out, there are going to be kids getting candy, make this holiday more like Haloween than Hannuka is like Christmas.

Costumes, parties, drinking, money left in mailboxes, donations to food banks...you know, if by some miracle I ever fall in love, and he's Jewish, I might be like Charlotte on "Sex and the City" and convert. wink

It's that time again. To those celebrating, happy Prim 5766. May you not be deafened by some child overusing a grogger and may you have at leat one homemade hamantaschen .

HAG SAMEACH!!

~Adam

[ March 13, 2006, 05:10 PM: Message edited by: Adam ]

Just re-read my comments from 2004. Nothing's changed. wink

Hmmm, my Jewish History class meets tommorow. Maybe my prof. will have a surprise for us.

Guess what? One of my co-workers made some hamantaschen and shared it with us all in our office! It was great! A lot like kolachkeys (I know I blew the spelling on that one, my grasp of the Polish language is iffy at best). I love those holidays that involve pastries! Happy Purim to all!