After Purim...

It is a good and positive thing for people to always remember the wicked deeds of the people of Amalek and their attack upon Israel, and to arouse hatred for them--because they were the first to attack Israel without fear. [As described in Oz Yoshir, the Song of the Sea.] *See Rambam Hilchos Melachim 5:5, SMAG Mitzvas Aseh 115, Chayei Odom 151:2

The Sefer HaChinuch (Mitzvah 603) writes that one of the purposes of this is so the world will recognize that those who cause pain to Israel are despised by G-d and that the level of their destruction will be meted out according to their level of enmity against Israel. Since Amalek’s enmity for Israel was greater than that of all other nations they are to be completely obliterated.

Jews and those who stand with Israel should teach this to their children and future generations. (That is why Jews have been commanded to “erase his name“. Jews are instructed in Torah to “not forget the deeds of Amalek.” This means that Amalek is to be despised even with the passage of time, and to remember that G-d saved Israel from them, and that Israel will eventually avenge their deeds and eradicate them. (See S’mak 53 and Sefer Yereim 189)

IMPORTANT NOTE: The Rambam (Hilchos Melachim 6:4) writes that an Amaleki who makes peace with Israel and accepts the seven commandments for non-Jews upon him/herself is not to be hurt. In fact, the reason that the descendents of Haman “learned Torah in Bnei Brak” (Gittin 57B) is because they were the descendents of those sons of Haman who DID NOT fight AGAINST Israel. (Sefer Adar U’Purim p. 68)


We can read about Amelek - those pure haters of G-d and His people, Israel, all throughout the history of the Bible. Ancient Amalek attacked the Children of Israel right after the Exodus from Egypt during the time of Moses and Joshua. The Philistines were the haters of G-d in the time of Samson. The Amelek hatred for G-d and Israel continued on in the times of King Saul and King David, and then in the times of Queen Esther and Mordechi. And continues on even today.

Jewish tradition states, and the Mishnah taught more then 1500 years ago, that there is no particular people that can be identified as Amalek today. But what is known is that the idea of Amalek DOES remain, and it is very powerful and relevant today. Amalek is any and all people who have the intention to exterminate the People of Israel.

Hitler and the Nazis are examples of Amelek in recent history. Fatah and Hamas are current examples of Amelek in our generation.



Hamas is committed to destroying Israel and all her people by the most vicious and vile means possible. The Arab educational systems throughout the West Bank, and the Fatah propaganda through the years has been filled with content taken directly from Hitler and his Nazi ideology. Direct quotes from Hitler's evil minister of propaganda Goebbels fill Palestinian material.



The PLO, was not created as a National Liberation movement, as is commonly believed, but was created for the purpose and goal of destroying the State of Israel.

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is certainly an example of Amelek. The leaders and people of Gaza who constantly attack Israeli citizens are proof that Amelek is alive and still very active in a vain attempt to destroy G-d and His Chosen People, Israel.


Many people throughout the world deny this truth, and by doing so, become part of Amelek. By ignoring or denying the enemy of G-d, one becomes the enemy of G-d.

Most of Israel's citizens want peace - at almost any price. They are on the defensive against their enemy and NOT on the offensive. But the majority of Arabs on the West Bank and in East Jerusalem embody the spirit of Amelek and support bombings on buses filled with school children, cheer and celebrate when a sleeping Jewish family is murdered in their home (and the infant sleeping in her father’s arms is beheaded), and are loyal to the groups who carry out these kinds of terror attacks - not only in Israel, but throughout the world.


In East Jerusalem, the West Bank and almost all of the Arab world, terrorists, suicide bombers, Saddam Hussein and Bin Laden are national heroes. This hatred is Amelek.


We read in the Bible, in Genesis 12:3: “And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee…” This indicates that one must take a stand. Everyone must choose which side of the line in the sand we will stand on: The Side of G-d and His chosen People, Israel, or on the side of Amelek. Where will you stand?

My answer is this: “…as for me and my house, we will serve the L-rd.”

We have all heard the saying, “In order for evil to flourish, all that is required is for good men to do nothing.” It is true.

The following famous poem also reminds us that we cannot stand silently by and do nothing when evil is raging:

When the Nazis came for the communists,
I remained silent;
I was not a communist.

When they locked up the social democrats,
I remained silent;
I was not a social democrat.

When they came for the trade unionists,
I did not speak out;
I was not a trade unionist.

When they came for the Jews,
I remained silent;
I wasn't a Jew.

When they came for me,
there was no one left to speak out.

May the eradication of Amelek come soon and in our lifetime!

Purim 2011

Purim is the celebration observed by religious Jews and some Noahides because of the downfall and defeat of an evil man who tried to exterminate them. The Megillah (the Book of Esther), which is read on Purim, instructs people to keep the 14th of Adar as a day of joy and happiness.

If you have not started celebrating Purim yet, I hope you will learn about this meaningful holiday before next year and will include it in your family's special celebrations. I hope you will get some ideas from our pictures, and will share your own with me next year.

I have to let you know in advance that many of the pictures are very blury. I have been having lots of eye problems for a couple of years and don't see very well. In fact, this morning I had another surgery, in hopes that my sight will be restored.

When I was taking the pictures I had no idea that the camera lens was covered in schmutz (my daughter's word), and that the pictures were coming out blury. Everything looks blury to me. Anyway, some of the pictures are not good quality, but I still want to share them.

Everything doesn't have to be perfect or expensive to be fun and to raise the level of holiness in your home. I hope our family's ideas will help you to come up with some ideas of your own and will encourage you that YOUR FAMILY TOO can celebrate Purim (and all the holidays) no matter where you live.

If you have ideas I'd love to hear about them. I'd love to see your pictures too, if you have a blog, FB, or other way to share.

Blessings!

***********************************

We had a lot of fun decorating the house for the party. The girls are getting old enough now to have ideas of their own about how they want things to look. I love having them help with the decorating.


I buy bags of balloons at the dollar store instead of the party store. I buy about 10 bags at a time so we always have some on hand. I also buy ribbon on the big spools so we never have to worry about running out.


I bought several packages of shiny stars on clearance at Hobby Lobby a couple of years ago and they always come in handy for any kind of party.


I hit the bargain jackpot after Hanukkah last year at Target. I picked up lots of shiny blue garland for $.45 each, Star of David lights for $3.00 a string, and window gel decorations for $.40 a package. The girls love the window gels. I would have spread them out a little more than they did, but the most important thing was for them to have fun.


We used colorful plates, cups, and napkins, from the dollar store, candy and snacks, some yummy food, and of course the Queen Esther Crown cookies. I thought the table looked great. (I don't like the traditional hamentaschen cookies and have never learned to make them yet.)


The girls sorted all the groggers by color and style so everyone would be able to find one that was just right to use while booing Haman.


A few years ago I found this Haman punching balloon. Kids always have so much fun punching him in the face. It really looked funny for all the beautiful little Queen Esthers dressed in pink and wearing crowns to be rolling around punching out the bad guy.


Last year I bought a bunch of cheerleader pom poms at the dollar store so we can cheer and yell Yea! Yea! when we hear the names Esther and Mordeichi. It adds a little more excitement and something else for the young kids to listen for during the reading - which can be quite long for them.


I added another fun activity to the reading of the Megillah last year. I got to thinking about how kids might not understand the concept of "casting lots" and thought about how throwing dice is similar. So I bought some big dice, some red dice with flashing lights inside, some regular dice, and some necklaces that are made of shiny dice beads. During the part of the story that talks about the lots I tossed the dice all over the room. The kids had fun gathering them up, then playing with them at the same time they were listening for the names of Haman, Esther, and Mordechai.


People dress in costumes on Purim. There are a number of reasons. Here are a few:

*costumes symbolize the fact that the spiritual world is hidden from humanity
*masks symbolize the fact that the whole Purim incident was wrapped in "the hidden nature of G-d's countenance
*G-d's name isn't even mentioned in the Book of Esther - G-d is "hidden"
*The name "Esther" means "hidden"

We all chose our costumes, and asked our friends to wear costumes when they came to the party if they wanted to. But we also had masks, face paint, wigs, and crowns available for those who didn't have costumes.

I came across lots of sets of face paint after a popular pagan holiday that is celebrated in October. They were on sale in the clearance section of Wal Mart for a dollar each. This is an awesome price since each set normally costs anywhere from $5 - $10 at the party store. The girls loved the hearts and rainbows I painted for them. That's about as artistic as I am when it comes to face painting. I had never done it and will have to learn how to do more detailed designs.


I found these adorable crowns with pink feathers at the Dollar Tree. They were perfect for our little Queen Esthers.


I put out a selection of masks, and the kids had fun wearing them too.


After reciting hamotzi (blessing for bread) and the bracha for wine, we all enjoyed the Purim seudah (special meal) together.


Our family also follows the tradition of making a small package for each guest who celebrates with us. This is called giving Mishloach Manot. Each package consists of at least two ready-to-serve foods. This year we gave soft drinks and nut snacks.


We also made packages to give to the homeless. Giving these gifts is called Matanot L'evyonim. The girls decorated paper bags before putting in the fruit juice and crackers.

Purim is so much fun! So next year grab a few decorations, put on a mask or costume, invite some friends for lunch, and celebrate a great victory over evil.