Torah, Purim and More!

Post date: Mar 10, 2017 5:01:01 PM

Shalom Beit Chaverim members!

Come this Sunday to St. Paul's and do one of the

Mitzvot of Purim and hear the Megillah!! Hoping

there 'might' be someone besides me in costume!!!

This week's Torah portion ends with a special reading

about Amalek. He and his people were infamously

known for attacking the sick, elderly, and young who

were in the rear of the multitude leaving Egypt.

We are told Never to Forget what Amalek did to us.

Haman was the 'Amalek' of his day. That is why this

reading is done right before Purim.

Purim (lots for lottery performed by Haman) - Adar 14 - י"ד באדר, תשע"ז, is celebrated on Sunday, March 12, 2017. Purim commemorates the cancellation of the decree against the Jewish people by Haman in ancient Persia in 425 BCE. After the destruction of Judah, the Jews were taken into the seventy-year Babylonian captivity.

The Book of Esther (H: Megillat Esther) tells the story of King Ahasuerus

(H: Achashverosh) of Persia who organized a feast in Shushan to celebrate

Queen Vashti's beauty. She refused his command to come to the party and

he dethroned her. Ahasuerus chose Esther as his new wife. He was saved

by Mordechai, Esther's Jewish cousin, who revealed the conspiracy by

Bigthan and Teresh (two royal guards) to assassinate the king. Haman

(the royal advisor) vowed to exterminate all the Jews after Mordechai

didn't obey him. Ester intervened and the Jews were saved.

Traditions of Purim include reading the Megillah and making a lot of noise

with a noisemaker (H: ra'ashan) when Haman's name is mentioned.

We give Mishloah Manot (parcel of food portions) to poor people, family

and friends. Hamantashen (H: Oznei Haman - Haman's ears),

or triangular pastries, are eaten. Kids love to dress up in costumes and

masks and parade with them. How about you??

See you Sunday!

Reb Betsy

Betsy Roth

Spiritual Leader

Congregation Beit Chaverim

Prince Frederick, MD 20678

(410) 586-0090

Free Hebrew lessons available online.

Here is the link:

http://www.behrmanhouse.com/cl ick-and-read-free