How To 
Celebrate Purim
   5777 (2017)


A Project of Chabad Community Center

Help Others Celebrate Purim 
 
In This Issue
Help Others Celebrate Purim
What is Purim?
Fast of Esther
Half Shekel
A Purim Message
Sources of Customs
Purim To Do List
Recipe For Hamantaschen

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What is Purim?
Rabbi Avrohom Lipszyc  Purim is a one-day celebration observed on the fourteenth day of Adar (this year, Sunday, March 12, 2017). It commemorates the Persian Jewish community's escape from Haman's evil designs to exterminate them.

The events described in the Book of Esther took place about 450 BCE The name Purim derives from the word PUR, which means lottery, the method used by Haman to select the date on which he intended to release his hordes for a general massacre of the Jews.

The designs of Haman have had their unfortunate parallel in the evil designs of many other rulers in whose lands Jews have dwelled throughout the ages. The precarious nature of Jewish survival in countless countries of the Diaspora, where the fate of the Jews were often subject to the whim and caprice of the local ruler, is epitomized by the story of Purim. The sudden turn of events in the story of Purim, which reversed the tables on the oppressor and enabled the Jewish community to defend itself against assault, has provided a spark of hope and encouragement to oppressed and victimized Jewish communities throughout the centuries.
Fast of Esther
 
Prior to the holiday of Purim, on the 13th of Adar the Jews of Persia were permitted by royal decree to fight any of Haman's allies who tried to harm them. They accompanied the battle with prayers of fasting. In commemoration of their fast, it is customary to fast every year on the 13th of Adar. However, being that this year it is on Shabbat, therefore, we move forward the fast to Thursday, March 9, 2017

North Miami, Florida
Fast Begins:
North Miami: 5:24 AM
Fast Ends:
North Miami: 6:50 PM
Note:
For all other areas:
(In the top left corner, where you will see "Miami 33181" click "Change" and enter your zip code and click on "Go.")

Half Shekel
In addition to distributing gifts to the poor, it is customary to perform the ceremony of machatzit hashekel (half shekel). In the Torah (Exodus 30:11-16) we are commanded that every Jew, from the age of 20 and up, should contribute a half shekel once a year to the Holy Temple, toward the cost of the public sacrifices. The sages of the Talmud instituted that these contributions were to be made during the month of Adar, the month in which we celebrate Purim.

As a remembrance of the half shekels that were brought to the Temple, Jews still donate similar amounts to a special charitable fund. To keep the idea of the half shekel alive, later authorities suggested that although their comparative values may differ, the monetary unit normally designated as "half" should be used, i.e.; half a dollar, half a pound sterling, etc. Since in treating this subject, the Torah employs the word "half shekel" three times, we give three coins that are the equivalent of these "half" shekels.

The Biblical restriction on this obligation to those aged 20 years and above, is not carried out strictly. Even children should be taught to give.

Do The Mitzvah Here: 
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Rabbi Avrohom Lipszyc
Dear Friend,
 

 

Purim is traditionally a celebration of
The Mask. Children and adults alike dress in costumes and celebrate the holiday of Purim in festivity.

What lay behind this tradition of the mask?

For starters, the heroine of the Purim story is Queen Esther. Her Hebrew name was Hadassah, and yet she is known for her Persian name Esther. Esther also has a Hebrew meaning from the word
Astir, which means to hide. Additionally, the story of Purim is documented in the Book of Esther, which is the only book of the Torah that does not mention the name of G-d even once! Why? Because the story of Purim is hinted in the biblical verse of, "
Hastir astir... Hide I shall hide on that day..." Thus, on a spiritual level, Purim is all about revealing the higher
Hidden Light, which transforms from darkness itself.

A mask and a costume can serve as a way to either betray you or preserve you. Here is a story that tells the story of the mask very well:

Rabbi Gurarie, a chosid of Rabbi Shmuel of Lubavitch, was a very affluent business man, with many dealings in the city of Leningrad. When Rabbi Gurarie was in the city of Lubavitch he dressed like a chosid, however, when he went on his business trips to Leningrad he would dress like a modern day business man.

One day, Rabbi Gurarie thought to himself
I am lying to my Rebbe! I dress here like a chosid, while in Leningrad I dress like a modern day businessman... How dare I lie to my Rebbe?! I must present myself before my Rebbe honestly, for who I am when I am not amongst my fellow chassidim!

The next time that Rabbi Gurarie went into the Rebbe for a private audience he dressed as he did when he was in Leningrad. The Rebbe lifted his holy eyes in question for the meaning of this, and Rabbi Gurarie burst out in tears revealing to the Rebbe that this is how he dressed when he was in Leningrad, and he asked the Rebbe for forgiveness for fooling the Rebbe and dressing like a chosid in Lubavitch.

The Rebbe responded with, " I know how you dress when you are in Leningrad. However, I thought that you were fooling them! Now, you tell me that you were fooling me..."

My friends, we all wear masks, and we all have our true appearance. The story of Purim is to remember which bis our mask, and which is our true appearance.

L'Chaim!

 

Your friend as ever,

 

Avrohom
A Purim Message
Rabbi Avrohom Lipszyc
By the Grace of G-d
19 Adar Sheni, 5711 [1951]
Brooklyn, New York
 
...Persia, in the days of Ahasuerus, was the mightiest empire in the world. It also boasted the most advanced civilization of those days. On the other hand, the Jewish people at that time was in despair. The Holy Land and the Beth Hamikdosh [Holy Temple] lay in ruins. The opinion was widely circulated that G-d had abandoned His people. This was supported by miscalculations purporting to show that the period of seventy years' exile prophesied by our prophets was at an end, yet the promised liberation had not come. This, in fact, was one of the reasons why Ahasuerus made that pompous feast and dared to profane the holy vessels.
Under the circumstances, when the head of the mightiest world empire and civilization arranged the royal feast, inviting to it representatives of all nations, the Jews among them, many Jews could not resist the temptation. They were not deterred by the fact that this banquet was to mark the beginning of a new "era" of complete assimilation and were deluded by the friendly slogan of "no compulsion." Thus, they became a party to the profanation of the holy vessels.
Symbolically, the profanation of the holy vessels of the Beth Hamikdosh marked also the desecration of the Divine soul which forms the sanctuary of every Jew and Jewess. The purpose and mission of this Divine spark is to light up one's immediate environment and one's share in the world at large with the light of the highest Divine ideals. Far from fulfilling their soul's mission upon this earth, those weak Jews lent aid and comfort to the forces of assimilation and darkness. By partaking from the "food" of Ahasuerus they contaminated both their bodies and souls.
Purim, therefore, reminds us not to be carried away by the outer sparkle of foreign civilizations or cultures, and not to be misled into assimilation by the notion that it appears to be in no conflict with our spiritual heritage.
We are a unique people, as started in the Megillah: "There is one people (although) scattered and spread among the peoples of the world, (yet) their laws are different from those of other peoples." We have preserved our unity and uniqueness despite our being dispersed in the world, because we have preserved our laws. It is by preserving our Torah and Mitzvoth that we Jews in general, and our youth in particular, can best contribute towards the enlightenment of the world at large and bring real happiness to ourselves, our people, and humanity as a whole...
 
[Signed: Menachem Scheerson]
Sources of Customs & Laws of Purim 
Purim ListThe observances related to Purim are based on the following quotation from the Book of Esther
" And Mordechai wrote these things and sent letters to the Jews... to enjoin them that they should keep the fourteenth day of the month of Adar... that they should make them days of feasting and gladness, and of sending portions one to another, and gifts to the poor. And the Jews took upon themselves to do.... and upon their descendants, and upon all such as joined themselves unto   them.... that they would keep these two* days according to the writing thereof and according to the appointed time, every year" (Esther 9:20-23:27).

* Because the capital city of Shushan celebrated on the fifteenth, cities like Shushan, which have been walled since the days of Joshua, were to observe Purim a day later, on the fifteenth of Adar.  That day is now called Shushan Purim.  In Jerusalem, Purim is observed on the fifteenth of the month instead of the fourteenth.
Purim To Do List: Four Mitzvot 
Megillah Reading
Both men and women are required to listen to the reading of the Megillah twice, Saturday, March 11th at night, and again on the following day, Sunday, March 12th during the daytime. Children should also be trained to attend the synagogue to fulfill this duty. Many people twirl " groggers" (noise makers) whenever Haman's name is mentioned.  This custom derives from the Biblical injunction to " wipe out the name of Amalek" the first adversary to attack the Jews after the Exodus. (Haman was a descendant of the family of Amalek).
 
Mishloach Monot Mishloach Manot
Purim emphasizes themes of unity and friendship, which helped bring about the miracle, and are therefore commemorated by sending gifts of food to friends and family. To fulfill this obligation, one is to send a gift of at least two different kinds of ready-to-eat foods, to at least one person. These gifts should be sent through a third party, as it is called mishloach manot (sending gifts) in the Megillah.
Join our annual Purim Basket Fundraiser and 
order your basket here: >PurimBaskets< 

Sending Gifts To The Poor
Concern for the needy is a year-round responsibility for the Jew. However, special significance is added at the time of Purim, when we help needy people celebrate their own Purim, indicating that we are still a people united by a common bond. Mordechai and Esther decreed to celebrate Purim in this manner. The mitzvah is fulfilled by giving gifts to at least two needy people.  Maimonides codified that one should spend more on the mitzvah of sending gifts to the needy, than on the other mitzvot of Purim.  One should encourage even small children to fulfill this mitzvah.
Here is a link to an organization that will deliver your donation to the poor in Israel: >charityforisrael.com<
 
Purim Meal
Purim Meal
A fourth requirement of Purim observance is to " Eat, drink and be merry". A festive family dinner should be held on Purim day.  Customarily, the meal begins in the afternoon and continues into the evening.
**Join us at our Purim Masquerade Ball**
Sunday, March 12, 2017
hors devours ~6:00 PM
~
Chabad of North Miami 
12407 Biscayne Boulevard
North Miami, Florida 33181
~ 
Costume Theme: 
Disney Charatcers
~Your favorite hero/heroine or villain~
~ 
RSVP Here: >Adults $30< ~ >Kids $18<
 Family of Five $100 
 
Hamantaschen Recipe
Ingredients 4 eggs
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup oil
juice of one lemon
rind of 1 lemon, grated
1 tsp. vanilla extract
5 cups flour
2 tsps. baking powder
Fillings: 
1 pound prepared poppy seed filling
or, 1 pound lekvar (apple or prune butter)
or 1 pound strawberry or apricot preserves
Preheat oven to 350
Grease cookie sheets.
Beat eggs and sugar. Add remaining ingredients, and mix well. Divide into four parts.
Instructions:
1. Prepare dough of your choice. Divide into four portions
2. On a floured board roll out each portion to about 1/8-inch thick. Using a round bicuit or cookie cutter cut 3-inch circles.
3. Place 1/2 to 2/3 teaspoon of desired filling in the center of each circle.
4. To shape into triangle, lift up right and left sides, leaving the bottom down and bring both side to meet at the center above the filling.
5. Bring top flap down to the center to meet the two sides. Pinch edges together.
6. Place on grease cookie sheet 1 inch apart and bake at 350 degree preheated oven for 20 minutes.
Services:
Saturday Night, 3/11/17   
Children's Party: 7:00 PM 
Megillah Reading: 7:45 PM

Sunday Morning, 3/12/17   
Shacharit:
9:00 AM
Megillah Reading:
9:30 AM

LOCATION:
Chabad Lubavitch of North Miami
12407 Biscayne Boulevard
North Miami, FL 33181