PURIM NOTES 2008


PURIM PARADISE
Come join us Saturday, March 3, for Purim Paradise featuring entertainment, carnival booths, inflatables, delicious dinner, music with frailich dancing, cotton candy and a special performance by our BIBA youth.
Click here for more details.

SHABBAT ZACHOR - MARCH 15, 2008
According to Jewish tradition, Haman was a descendant of the nation Amalek, who were the first enemy of the new Jewish nation after the exodus from Egypt. On the Sabbath before Purim we read a special portion from a second Torah Scroll about this first confrontation between Haman's people and our people.

FAST OF ESTHER - MARCH 20, 2008
This fast commemorates the days of fasting and prayer which preceded the Purim Miracle.

MEGILLA READING
Thursday night, March 20 at 7:00 p.m., Friday, March 21 at 6:45 a.m., and a second reading at 8:30 a.m.. The foremost observance of Purim centers around the public reading of the Megillat Esther. This reading is conducted at night and again in the morning. Men, women and children are all included in this Mitzvah. It is our custom upon hearing Haman's name read, to make loud noises, being careful to allow the Congregation to hear every word of the Megilla reading.

PURIM PARADISE 2008
Thursday night, March 20, 2008, following the Megilla Reading, join us for a Purim Bash with Supper. Come in costume, surprises for the kids!! Entertainment, Hamentashen and much more. Click here for more information.

MISHLOACH MANOT
It is a Mitzvah to send at least one friend a gift package of food. This gift should contain at least two varieties of food that require no further preparation

MATANOT LA'evyonim
Purim is the time of giving....this year let's all get involved! Additionally it is a Purim tradition for every Jewish man and woman to give charity to at least two poor people on Purim. If this is not possible, the charity should be set aside on Purim to be given later.

HALF-SHEKEL
It is also the custom for every Jew to give three half dollars to charity on Purim. This custom was instituted to recall the collection of the half shekel which took place in Temple times during the month of Adar, the month in which Purim falls.

SEUDAT PURIM
It is a mitzvah to celebrate Purim with a festive meal. This meal traditionally takes place late Purim afternoon to ensure that some of our celebration overflows to the next day. This year, as Purim falls on Friday, in order not to infringe on the honour of the Sabbath, the seuda takes place before midday on Friday. At this meal, it is customary to drink wine until one can no longer distinguish between "Baruch Mordecai" and "Ahror Haman".

If, however, as a consequence of excessive drinking he will neglect mitzovs, he should drink only a little more than usual.


THIS PURIM THINK OF YOUR FELLOW JEWS IN SDEROT
Less than three months ago, Raziel Sasson emerged from his rocket-proof closet, willing now to sleep just outside it, with the rest of his family, on mattresses circled on the living room floor. But Razi, 13, still wakes his father up three times a night, afraid to walk alone to the bathroom.

Four years ago, Razi was climbing a tree when a Qassam rocket, fired from nearby Gaza, flew over his head and exploded nearby. He remembers the spinning contrail of the crude rocket and its fierce whistle. The blast blew him eight yards to the ground. Sderot, a working-class town of mainly North African immigrants less than two miles from Gaza, has been hit over the past four years with some 2,000 rockets of improving range and explosive power - 22 in one week alone. Eight Sderot civilians have been killed by the rockets; Razi has seen 15 therapists. Show them you care, by supporting them this Purim....

If you are interested in sending a mishloach manot package to a child in Sderot go to www.ou.org/community_services/purimClick here for more details.