“Meat” For Purim?

How do we celebrate this holiday these many years later? What follows is not a comprehensive list, but a general description of the ways in which most celebrate Purim. 

The first way that we celebrate Purim is to hear the reading of the Purim story from Megillat Esther (the scroll of Esther). 

This is read aloud and the tradition of most is that when the name of the evil Haman is said, the crowd drowns out his name with boos or sounds from noisemakers called graggers. We listen to the reading of Megillat Esther twice over the holiday. Once in the evening, and again the next day. Children and adults also dress in costume in reference to the fact that G_d performed miracles which were hidden in plain sight. 

Food and drink are also a part of this holiday. We celebrate as we are able, but we also remember that there are some in the world who are less fortunate who may not have the wherewithal to indulge in a celebration. In order to remedy this, we give gifts of food and drink, called Matanot La’Evyonim, to those in need. We also give gifts of food and drink to friends.These are called Mishloach Manot. 

And who could forget Hamentashen, the triangular shaped treats that are filled with poppy, prune or fruit filling? 

But how do we celebrate with food and drink? Through a festive meal. We gather together with friends and family before the end of the day of Purim and fête with food, songs, wine and joy. In fact, many follow the tradition that we should imbibe in spirits until we cannot differentiate between Mordechai and Haman. 

However you celebrate this year, please do so in a safe, healthy way full of love, happiness, and gratitude for the amazing gift of life that we are enjoying. Chag Purim Sameyach! 

(Editor’s note: One of the world’s oldest known Megillahs has recently been gifted to the National Library of Israel in Jerusalem, home to the world’s largest collection of textual Judaica. Scholars have determined that the newly scroll was written by a scribe on the Iberian Peninsula around 1465, prior to the Spanish and Portuguese Expulsions at the end of the fifteenth century. These conclusions are based on both stylistic and scientific evidence, including Carbon-14 dating. There are very few from the medieval period in general, and from the fifteenth century, in particular. Torah scrolls and Esther scrolls from pre-Expulsion Spain and Portugal are even rarer, with only a small handful known to exist.  It has  been made available online for the first time.)