|
|
Purim
Feb 20, 2015 7:36:58 GMT -8
alon likes this
Post by Elizabeth on Feb 20, 2015 7:36:58 GMT -8
My kids and I will learn and do what we can to "celebrate" on our own. We may try to incorporate a custom we can do on our own as well. They will probably help me cook something traditional, which I then insist they must eat while reminding them they cooked it. 
Thanks for the reminder. I will get going on my research to prepare. We are having a lot of fun learning about Judaism together, but my kids are tough on me . Most of our lessons consistent of them offering unremitting questions as they watch me fumble around with notes and books to try and keep up. I usually walk away with a list for further research so I can get back to them.
|
|
tonga
Full Member
Posts: 243
|
Post by tonga on Feb 20, 2015 11:56:13 GMT -8
I am going to be out of town and am not sure what I will be doing.
However, given I will be in Florida there will be plenty of my fellow Yidden to share with...the
biggest challenge will be who to choose, lol.
|
|
|
|
Post by alon on Feb 20, 2015 12:27:59 GMT -8
I'll just do what I can here. I'll fast on 4 March/13 Adar. Then I'll write Haman's name on my shoes and read the book of Esther on the 5th/14th. Maybe I can convince my wife to go out for a meal (shouldn't be too hard ...). Maybe go bowling ... pretend the pins are Haman and his evil henchmen! 
Dan C
edit: was going to wear something silly when we go out, but looking at my wardrobe- I need a trip to the thrift store!  edit-edit: Well, I'm in luck! I'll have to travel some, but friends have invited me over to a (for lack of a better term) party! Still think I'll head on over to the Thrift Store and see what I can find to wear ...
Dan C
|
|
|
|
Purim
Mar 7, 2015 1:36:32 GMT -8
Post by alon on Mar 7, 2015 1:36:32 GMT -8
Esther 9:27 (ESV) the Jews firmly obligated themselves and their offspring and all who joined them, that without fail they would keep these two days according to what was written and at the time appointed every year,
Esther 9:27 (YLT) the Jews have established and received upon them, and upon their seed, and upon all those joined unto them, and it doth not pass away, to be keeping these two days according to their writing, and according to their season, in every year and year;
Esther 9:27 (OJB) The Yehudim established, and took upon them, and upon their zera, and upon all such as joined themselves unto them, so as it should not fail, that they would keep these two days according to their writing, and according to their appointed time shanah v’shanah;
There are those who say Purim is not a commanded feast. They are correct, for the simple fact it was not in  . It is not one of God's moedim, His appointed times wen He would interact with mankind as part of His salvation plan. However that He did intervene here in order to save His people from annihilation is self-evident. However the point I wanted to make is that the Jewish people themselves made an obligation- one which rests squarely on us as "descendants" and "those who have joined themselves unto them" to observe this feast day and the fast which precedes it .
The Purim holiday is traditionally preceded by a minor fast, the Fast of Esther, which commemorates Esther's three days of fasting in preparation for her meeting with the king.
The primary commandment related to Purim is to hear the reading of the book of Esther. The book of Esther is commonly known as the Megillah, which means scroll. Although there are five books of Jewish scripture that are properly referred to as megillahs (Esther, Ruth, Ecclesiastes, Song of Songs, and Lamentations), this is the one people usually mean when they speak of The Megillah. It is customary to boo, hiss, stamp feet and rattle gragers (noisemakers) whenever the name of Haman is mentioned in the service. The purpose of this custom is to "blot out the name of Haman."
We are also commanded to eat, drink and be merry. According to the Talmud, a person is required to drink until he cannot tell the difference (or him'n just don' get it anymoredecai  ) between "cursed be Haman" and "blessed be Mordecai," though opinions differ as to exactly how drunk that is. A person certainly should not become so drunk that he might violate other commandments or get seriously ill. In addition, recovering alcoholics or others who might suffer serious harm from alcohol are exempt from this obligation.
In addition, we are commanded in the Talmud to send out gifts of food or drink, and to make gifts to charity. The sending of gifts of food and drink is referred to as shalach manos (lit. sending out portions). Among Ashkenazic Jews, a common treat at this time of year is hamentaschen (lit. Haman's pockets). These triangular fruit-filled cookies are supposed to represent Haman's three-cornered hat.
It is customary on Purim to dress like the characters in the story and hold parties, do plays or parodies, and hold beauty contests and contests for best costume. We in the US sometimes refer to Purim as the Jewish Mardi Gras. Not really an accurate description of the holiday, but there are certain shared characteristics.
Purim is not a Sabbath- so no restrictions on work or other activities like some other holidays have; however, as much as possible we should not go do ordinary work out of respect for the holiday.
Dan C
|
|
|
|
Post by alon on Feb 28, 2016 13:58:43 GMT -8
Purim is once again upon us (2016/5776). 23 March is the fast of Esther, 24 March is Purim and 25 March is Shushan Purim.
Fast of Esther (Ta'anit Ester, אֶסְתֵּר תַּעֲנִית ) is a minor fast observed from dawn until dusk on erev Purim, each 13th of Adar. It commemorates the Fast observed by Mordechai and Esther, and indeed all Israel. The enemies of the Jews planned to destroy them. However the Jews prevailed over their enemies. Whenever the people of Israel were faced by war fasting was observed . Moshe Rabenu fasted when he came to wage war against Amalek, a forefather to Haman. The fast affirmed that a man does not prevail by martial might, but only by lifting his eyes heavenward in prayer wherefore Divine Mercy might give him the strength to overcome in battle. The fast observed by Israel at the time of Haman served not only this purpose, but it assured the king’s favor on Esther when she appeared in his court unbidden. He could have killed her, and the war thus would end before it started. A yearly Fast was fixed for all generations on that day in memory of their Fast. Like all things we do, they are reminders to us not only of Biblical history, but of our duties before HaShem. We are each year to recall when we fast that God accepts prayer and penitence of individuals and of nations in the hour of our trouble.
Purim (פּוּרִים ) Pûrîm "lots", commemorates the salvation of the Jews in the ancient Persian Empire from the schemes of Haman “to destroy, kill and annihilate all the Jews, young and old, infants and women, in a single day.” It is celebrated every year on the 14th of Adar. This year is a leap year in the Hebrew calendar however, and so as is customary Purim is celebrated in Adar II (the second month of Adar).
It is customary to read the book of Esther each Purim, as this is where the story takes place. Other customs are giving money to the poor, sending gifts of food to friends, a festive Purim feast, and children dress in costumes. It is a very festive day. One typical way of celebrating even the reading is everyone writes the name Haman on the soles of their shoes. Then whenever his name comes up in the reading they all stomp their feet and make noise by banging tables or spinning growlers. And of course, we eat!
Shushan Purim- fighting in the walled city of Shushan continued through the 14th of Adar; so those living in what were walled cities celebrate Purim on the 15th of Adar. For us this has little meaning, except that if for some reason you need to postpone your celebration one day I’d say it is acceptable to do so. Heck fire, I say hold two! One at synagogue and one at home! Never waste a day- that’s my motto here.
Dan C
|
|
|
|
Post by alon on Mar 21, 2016 0:52:25 GMT -8
I got this in an email, and thought some of you might like to know what the parent synagogue is doing:
Since Rav S is in South America right now working with our new synagogue there and most of my small group are also out of town/state, I/we won't be doing anything really special for Purim this year. But it is nice to know how others are celebrating. For anyone not living in a divided house, this is a really good time to invite friends over to see how much fun Judaism can be! Look up Purim recipes on You-tube; there are a bunch there and they look really easy and (most important) good! I'd be tempted to try my hand at some of them, but I don'twant my wife to know I know how to turn on the stove ...
Dan (  ) C
|
|
|
|
Purim
Mar 22, 2016 12:41:08 GMT -8
Post by Elizabeth on Mar 22, 2016 12:41:08 GMT -8
What does "minor fast" mean? There are different rules for fasting according to age and health in the Catholic Church. I guess elderly people and some people with health conditions were making themselves quite sick so they developed guidelines and actually encourage a restricted amount of eating even while fasting.
I am not encouraging my children to fast at this point. I will just help them avoid sweets and treats for their purposes. However, I am curious if there are fasting guidelines Messianic believers tend to abide by for children and adults with certain health issues. I think I will recognize when it's ok and advisesble for my kids to start participating in fasting as they grow, and I anticipate a gradual approach. I am just wandering if there are more concrete guidelines and what others suggest.
|
|
|
|
Post by alon on Mar 22, 2016 13:13:59 GMT -8
What does "minor fast" mean? There are different rules for fasting according to age and health in the Catholic Church. I guess elderly people and some people with health conditions were making themselves quite sick so they developed guidelines and actually encourage a restricted amount of eating even while fasting. I am not encouraging my children to fast at this point. I will just help them avoid sweets and treats for their purposes. However, I am curious if there are fasting guidelines Messianic believers tend to abide by for children and adults with certain health issues. I think I will recognize when it's ok and advisesble for my kids to start participating in fasting as they grow, and I anticipate a gradual approach. I am just wandering if there are more concrete guidelines and what others suggest. A minor fast in Judaism lasts from dawn to full darkness instead of the full day of fasting. You can eat breakfast, but you must be finished before first light. And many Jews eat a good meal after dark falls in the evening.
Good question about exceptions for fasting. In Rabbinical as well as Messianic Judaism provisions are made for the sick, the elderly, nursing women and children. Basically, the preservation of life and health is the higher mitzvah. I take meds that can tear my stomach up, and so even on Yom Kippur which is an important commanded fast I will eat just enough to settle and protect my stomach. The minor fasts (there are five) are all traditions. There is only one commanded fast, and that is Yom Kippur, The Day of Atonement:
Leviticus 16:29-31 (ESV) “And it shall be a statute to you forever that in the seventh month, on the tenth day of the month, you shall afflict yourselves and shall do no work, either the native or the stranger who sojourns among you. For on this day shall atonement be made for you to cleanse you. You shall be clean before the Lord from all your sins. It is a Sabbath of solemn rest to you, and you shall afflict yourselves; it is a statute forever. [/a][/font] [/p]
To afflict yourself is an idiom for fasting. This is a full 24 hr fast, though most halachot adds 1/2 hr before and after daylight as a fence so that we don't transgress this important event.
With kids, I believe even Jewish families for the most part break them in slowly. When they are ready, just have them fast a part of the day, adding more next year and so on. At what age to start depends on you and the kids. But if they have reached the age of accountability (13 in Judaism) they should fast (at the least on Yom Kippur), unless there are extenuating circumstances.
Dan C
|
|
|
|
Purim
Feb 17, 2019 22:35:28 GMT -8
Post by alon on Feb 17, 2019 22:35:28 GMT -8
Tomorrow, 18 Feb 2019 at sundown starts the feast of Purim. Sundown, 20 Feb ends Shushan Purim.
|
|
|
|
Purim
Feb 27, 2019 10:51:56 GMT -8
Post by alon on Feb 27, 2019 10:51:56 GMT -8
Tomorrow, 18 Feb 2019 at sundown starts the feast of Purim. Sundown, 20 Feb ends Shushan Purim. OK, I messed up big time! Surprised no one called me on it ... Purim was not last month, it is this month- March 20-22, 2019: * Wed, 20 March is the Fast of Esther, and Purim starts at sundown * Thur, 21 March continues Purim, with Shushan Purim starting at sundown * Fri, 22 March continues Shushan Purim until Sundown, at which time the weekly Shabbat begins I apologize for any inconvenience. We are remodeling, and my "desk" is a pile in the living room. I was probably looking at the wrong month and got confused ... a thing that happens more frequently the older I get! Compassion for the senile, I beg of you!  Dan (really embarased) C |
|
|
|
Purim
Feb 27, 2019 14:33:54 GMT -8
alon likes this
Post by Elizabeth on Feb 27, 2019 14:33:54 GMT -8
Tomorrow, 18 Feb 2019 at sundown starts the feast of Purim. Sundown, 20 Feb ends Shushan Purim. OK, I messed up big time! Surprised no one called me on it ... Purim was not last month, it is this month- March 20-22, 2019: * Wed, 20 March is the Fast of Esther, and Purim starts at sundown * Thur, 21 March continues Purim, with Shushan Purim starting at sundown * Fri, 22 March continues Shushan Purim until Sundown, at which time the weekly Shabbat begins I apologize for any inconvenience. We are remodeling, and my "desk" is a pile in the living room. I was probably looking at the wrong month and got confused ... a thing that happens more frequently the older I get! Compassion for the senile, I beg of you! Dan (really embarased) C I had something on my calendar about Purim Katan so thought you were referring to that, which I'm not familiar with. To be honest I'm pretty drained and scatter-brained these days myself and just decided it would be too much for me. |
|
|
|
Purim
Mar 19, 2019 22:48:56 GMT -8
Post by alon on Mar 19, 2019 22:48:56 GMT -8
Tomorrow evening starts Purim. Apparently there is evidence that traditionally in the 1st cen many Jewish sects celebrated both months in a leap year. Why not? Fun and good food, sounds ok to me!
Dan C
|
|
- there are 70 faces to 
) between "cursed be Haman" and "blessed be Mordecai," though opinions differ as to exactly how drunk that is. A person certainly should not become so drunk that he might violate other commandments or get seriously ill. In addition, recovering alcoholics or others who might suffer serious harm from alcohol are exempt from this obligation. 
) C
