On the way home from the funeral, we discussed Amalek. It was Purim time, 1996. Israel was living through one of its worst spates of terrorism in years. Two students, Matt Eisenfeld and Sarah Duker, boarded a bus together and were killed, along with 24 other people. Matt was my friend. He and Sara were…
Because Halloween, as All Hallows’ Eve, has its roots in pagan mythology and the Christian calendar, Jews traditionally don’t celebrate it. But increasingly people (including Jews) around the world are celebrating American Halloween and that’s a terrible mistake. Maybe I am aging into a curmudgeon — certainly young children and LGBT communities have righteous fun…
NEW YORK — Leaders in the Jewish community of New York’s Rockland County condemned the hanging of a black-faced doll with dreadlocks outside a local home apparently in celebration of Purim. The effigy, which according to a News12 Hudson Valley report Thursday evening was spotted outside a Spring Valley house, angered many African-Americans and others…
Inspired by the shape of megilla scrolls, these cinnamon buns (still unglazed above) make mouthwatering mishloach manot, or purim gifts. Both the Gregorian and Hebrew calendars have given us a little wiggle room this year with an extra day — February 29 — and an extra month — Adar Bet. Many people welcome the month…
Forget those stereotypes about Jews abstaining from alcohol. At , Jews must drink. The Talmud instructs: “A person is obligated to drink on Purim to confuse the difference between the phrases ‘cursed be Haman’ and ‘blessed be Mordecai.’ Megillah (7b). Why not aspire to Purim tipsiness by downing some boozy truffles. A fitting recipe, for…
Following terrorist attacks in Brussels, the crisis management center of the Jewish community of Antwerp urged locals not to wear masks on Purim. In addition to this instruction, the Jewish Crisis Management Team in Antwerp requested in an announcement it published Tuesday that revelers, including children, refrain from carrying toy weapons or using firecrackers or…
JERUSALEM — Israel has closed off the West Bank to prevent attacks over the Purim holiday. The closure went into effect on Wednesday morning and will remain in place until Saturday night, the Israel Defense Forces announced. Purim takes place this year on Wednesday night and Thursday throughout Israel; Jerusalem and Tiberias in Israel’s north…
With Purim around the corner, it occurs to me that many people see Donald Trump as Haman, the genocidal villain of the Purim story. That’s not quite right: He’s Ahasuerus, a different kind of danger, and one that’s worth contemplating today. In case you need a refresher, Ahasuerus, in the Book of Esther, is the…
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