PURIM

Customs Old and New

In Israel, men and women, young and old, throng the streets in costume during the days of Purim to bring gifts to the poor, to family members, and to neighbors. Schoolchildren exchange small gifts. In the synagogue, the entire Megillah (Scroll) of Esther is read on Purim. Children bring all kinds of noisemakers to drown out the name of Haman whenever the reader pronounces it. The tumult adds to the carnival atmosphere of the day. Another custom is to write Haman's name on the sole of one's shoe and to stamp one's feet until his name is erased. At one time, there was a widespread custom of burning an effigy of the evil Haman and dancing around the bonfire.

Purim plays or skits such as the selling of Joseph, the story of Jacob and Esau, David's victory over Goliath, Hitler's defeat, and of course, Esther and Mordecai's triumph over Haman are traditional. Each skit is based upon the words in Esther: "Venahafoch hu", "the opposite happened". In other words, in each play, the tables are turned on Israel's enemies causing endless joy, expressed by much clowning and humor.

The traditional food of the day is Hamantashen, a triangular pastry filled with sweetened poppy seeds, shaped like Haman's three-cornered hat.

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