(C) Copyright 2008 by Washington Hebrew Congregation. All rights reserved.

Washington Hebrew Congregation

Ingredient 3. Matanot le-Evionim (Gifts for the poor)

Sometimes, when eating, drinking and being generally merry, we tend to forget about those who can't afford it.

We invite all our families to come and celebrate Purim on Friday, March 21^st at 6pm at the Temple. There will be a special service, a “Trattoria” kid-friendly dinner and special fun program! As we encourage people to RSVP for dinner, we also request that everyone brings with them some canned food, which we shall take to the local food bank. Even if you cannot come to celebrate with us on March 21^st, perhaps you still want to bring some canned foods with you next time you come to Temple? This way, the givers and the receivers remain anonymous (to each other) which is one of the highest forms of charitable- distribution (according to Maimonides, great Jewish scholar and commentator). Maimonides also said in relation to Purim: "It is better for a man to increase gifts to the poor than to enlarge his feast and to increase gifts to his friends. For there is no greater and more wonderful joy than to make happy the hearts of the poor..."

The custom of giving gifts to friends, and especially to the poor, along with praying and celebrating together, teaches us the importance of unity and community. We are responsible for each other, and working together we can accomplish miracles.

4. Having fun and Masking it up!

This is by no means a commandment, but it's fun! Because the main theme of Purim is that things didn't turn out quite the way it seemed they would, it became a the custom to dress up and mask one's own identity. Get the connection? Often, people (children and grown- up children) attend the Purim feast dressed up.

So, now knowing all the essentials of the Purim celebration you can imagine what the Purim party might look like. Your Purim party might look like this:

The Banquet of Esther and Ahasuerus
1640s, Jan Victor
Oil on canvas
Staatliche Museen, Kassel

or like this:


Esther's Feast: The Story of Esther Series
Wool and silk; tapestry.
France. Paris. 1764
Hermitage Museum

And if, like us, you are not satisfied with just seeing the fun Purim party, there’s still a chance to celebrate with all of your friends at WHC!

Click here for more information about the Purim celebration
at Temple on Friday March 21^st.

Recipe directions...