Jewish Holiday Thread
 

Just wanted a place to say Hag Purim Sameach!

Purim is a festival holiday celebrated by reading the Megillah, The Book of Esther, entirely in Hebrew (this is one of the only books where there is no mention of G-d) and everyone has to dress up and we practice the mitvot of mishloach manot (giving of gifts) which are little baskets with hamentaschen (a yummy cookie), fruit and other yummy snacks. Also it is the one holiday where Jews are commanded to get drunk and be merry. It starts on Sunday. Kids love it because there is always a carnival at synagogue.

Anyway to all the Jews have a lovely Purim and enjoy the sweets and cocktails.

You can still have a cocktail and just call it Friday night!!!

Happy holiday to all .
 

Hag Purim Sameach to you and yours!

It was a lovely Purim! I had dinner with my family, none of whom are Jews. We ate yummy food and I brought some hamentaschen to share.

Julie I love your story. One thing I am sad about as a convert is that I do not have a Bubbe and Zayde to share holidays with. I don't have memories or traditions to fall back on. I love hearing stories about how other Jews grew up celebrating holidays.

Thank you all for the happy Purim wishes. Next stop is Pesach or Passover. Not my favorite. I would love to hear memories from those who celebrated this as children.

Until then!

a belated...
 

a belated Gut Yontif to all who celbrated Purim. it was one of my favorite holidays when i was a Rabbi....
namaste!
and shalom!
DamselFly:tea:

Pesach!
 

All right tribe it is time to gear up and clean for Passover. I am not Orthodox and so my cleaning regime is kind of partial. I clean the whole house, clean out the toaster oven of all crumbs and pack up the chametz and bring it to my sister's house. We try to keep kosher for Passover by not eating chametz at home. Chametz is all the good stuff: cookies, cupcakes, cereal, bread, pasta etc. We do still eat rice though. My daughter can usually do three days and then she wants a bagel.

I like matzah brei. We make the sweet version with maple syrup. I am curious what you all make.

We are going to a first night seder at my best friend's who is also a rabbi and an amazing cook. Her seder is very groovy and queer and I am looking forward to it.

So share your stories please. I especially interested in those who grew up celebrating with seders. I did not have a Zayde and Bubbe to celebrate Passover with.

Also post your silly Passover pics and stuff. Does anyone have the total tin foil kitchen picture? Here is a silly You Tube someone posted on FB.

http://youtu.be/4t7a66vbrN0

With sadness I decided not to make my annual family Seder this year because my college son could not get home from school.

Lo and Behold I have been invited to THREE Seders, so will not be Seder-less this year! :clap:

My own Seder is always an alternative affair - with our hommade Haggadah, (featuring family photos through the years), readings about liberation from many cultures, and a totally non-Kosher meal, (though I do refrain from using any yeast or flour).

Heart

Miss Scarlett I am so sorry you are not welcome at your shul! I am assuming you are Orthodox? I am at a Conservative synagogue and my Rabbi is very involved in Keshet and is so welcoming to me and my partner. It has been wonderful.

I have yet to do a true seder at my house. It is daunting and I feel intimidated. I am grateful that we have an invitation.

SO sunday is the big clean for me. We have our matzah already and except for the super chametz mix I feed our two ratties we will be chametz free.

I hope you have a good seder wherever you decide to go.

I am intrigued by your seder Heart! Thanks so much fo sharing this. Sometimes because I am a New Jew I feel like I can't bend the rules too much. I think I want to try your alternative seder next year and invite a bunch of friends.