Purim is in the air

The Jewish holiday of Purim is in full swing here in the Holy Land.

I just came from the supermarket where people are buying gifts of food, baskets to put the food in and cellophane and ribbon to tie it all up. Wine is on sale, every size and shape of bottle. Costumes galore adorn every shop and hamantashen (triangle shaped cookies filled with fruit or nuts) are the hottest sale.

This year I have decided, due to lack of funds and a crazy week before and after the holiday, to keep my mashloach manot (gifts for the meal) very simple. I am making a potato kugel and delivering it to two friends with a bottle of wine. That’s it! No themed bags or junk to fill a basket. I attended a class where we learned that mishloach manot is supposed to be two different kinds of food (not necessarily two brochot) and they should be used for the seudah(festive meal). Simple, and useful. My favorite way!

Our family costumes are taken care of – although I think DB is too cool this year to dress up. Ely has a princess costume I bought in the States around Halloween. NED is going to be an American Snob (I can’t wait to see what THAT looks like!), MB is Minnie Mouse and for Ari I bought a blow up maid costume. I usually put on a crazy wig and hat. All in good fun…

We will be having two families for the seudah on Friday. All of our last years’ attendees took other offers, because we didn’t invite them soon enough. The best were our Purim meals in Boston! We are still making our way here.

Purim is a fun time for children and men. For women, it’s a spectator holiday. But that’s okay with me. I get to cook and have guests (not to mention eat!). And I enjoy watching my children have a good time.

If I don’t write again until then,

Happy Purim to all.