Purim Delicacies
Purim food? Oznay Haman, Hamentashen, Kreplach (Jewish wontons)!

Purim is no exception! As in all Jewish Holidays, food is a major component. Jewish Celebrations are a unique and delicious mix of the spiritual and physical. How better to express our spiritual joy but with the pleasure of a good meal?

The Purim Meal, or Purim Seuda, fulfils a positive commandment. Its purpose is to commemorate the feast “thrown together” by king Achashverosh in the beginning of the Purim story. Traditionally the Purim meal is eaten in the afternoon. The holiday meal’s only distinction – save the food itself - is the paragraph added to the Grace after Meals, namely Al HaNissim.

Purim specialties include Kreplach in the soup (Jewish wontons) and the famous hamentashen, the three-cornered pastry, filled with poppy-seed.

Drinking on Purim is legendary too. The drinking commandment is based on the Talmudic dictum to "drink until you can't tell the difference between 'Cursed is Haman, Blessed is Mordechai.'" However, the commandment to consume alcohol on Purim is often a misunderstood! The idea of drinking until reaching a stage of incoherence is meant to bring out what is hidden within. This, of course, should only be undertaken by those inner thoughts that bear scrutiny. If drinking brings happiness and engenders kindness and gentleness, than go ahead, enjoy. But if drinking engenders behaviors of an aggressive or offensive nature, than stay away from the booze.

But always remember - DO NOT DRINK and DRIVE!!!!  

 · More about the Holiday of Purim
 · Purim Food
 · Hamantashen Recipe
 · Recommended Reading
 · Shop for Purim

For more fun, click on Jewish Humor and enjoy!

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