Today is the festival of Purim and as Wikipedia defines it http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Purim a festival that commemorates the deliverance of the Jewish people of the ancient Persian Empire from Haman's plot to annihilate them, as recorded in the Biblical Book of Ester.
With the threat of Israel's annihilation expressed constantly by Ahmadinajad of Iran (yesterday's Persia), the festival could not be more appropriate. Nevertheless, to look around the country and see in the streets, all the children dressed up in costumes ranging from the traditional Queen Ester or Mordechai to the more exotic outfits of Superman or Spiderman gives an atmosphere of fun and allows one to forget, for one day at least, the troubles of the region.
As is traditional, our day began in the synagogue with the reading of the book of Ester and was followed by the giving of mishloach manot http://www.holidays.net/purim/mishloach_manot2.htm. Our usual giving is made to those organisations dealing with the poor of the city and those less fortunate than ourselves.
With beautiful spring like weather, we then spent an hour walking through the Hecht Park, (named after Dr. Reuven Hecht, one of Haifa's leading citizens).Haifa's largest park area, which is parallel to the coastal strip and offers a range of leisure time activities for the whole family and then on to the Dado Beach where families were enjoyed the days holiday before returning home to spoil ourselves and relax with a BBQ of fish on our balcony overlooking the Mediteranean.
Showing posts with label Purim. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Purim. Show all posts
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Sunday, March 23, 2008
When did Boxing Day Fall on Good Friday?
The old question is asked “When did Boxing Day fall on Good Friday?”. To those who maybe were not old enough when this question first came out and the e-mails have not caught up with such oldies --- yet!, the answer referred to a horse named “Boxing Day” that fell at a hurdle in a race meeting at Kempton Park in the UK held on Good Friday!
Well on that theme, we have had this year, the festival of Purim falling on Good Friday. Purim is that festival where people give each other mishloach manot http://jewishappleseed.org/apple/shalach.htm , gifts to friends and family and also to those less fortunate than you.
As has become traditional for us, we give such gifts to a home for battered women, here in Haifa. Although I am not familiar with (no that is a bad phrase!!) aware of the details of the women there, I do know that there are a number of women from the Arab community also housed there.
Traveling down to the area of the home, it was necessary to pass through the neighborhood of Wadi Nisnas http://www.tour-haifa.co.il/eng/modules/myalbum/viewcat.php?cid=8 . With all the talk of “ethnic cleansing”, “apartheid” etc, one sees the predominantly Christian community and Moslems going about their daily activities at ease in their surroundings. One feature on the journey on this particular day was the sound of hymns ringing in the streets throughout the neighborhood as the Christians citizens celebrated their Good Friday Easter festival.
On returning home, we began to prepare for our Purim celebrations. In the blog at the beginning of last week, I referred to the children dressing up in various costumes and traveling around the city, one saw fancy dress of many different types. Well it is not only the children!! At the reading on the Book of Ester in the synagogue, some of the “older” members also take the opportunity to “let it all hang out” – see pictures.
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In spite of the potential for terror attacks, the citizens entertained and were entertained by a vast range of fun activities. Surely a day to let your hair down and enter into the spirit of the festival, forgetting briefly of the troubles surrounding us.
Well on that theme, we have had this year, the festival of Purim falling on Good Friday. Purim is that festival where people give each other mishloach manot http://jewishappleseed.org/apple/shalach.htm , gifts to friends and family and also to those less fortunate than you.
As has become traditional for us, we give such gifts to a home for battered women, here in Haifa. Although I am not familiar with (no that is a bad phrase!!) aware of the details of the women there, I do know that there are a number of women from the Arab community also housed there.
Traveling down to the area of the home, it was necessary to pass through the neighborhood of Wadi Nisnas http://www.tour-haifa.co.il/eng/modules/myalbum/viewcat.php?cid=8 . With all the talk of “ethnic cleansing”, “apartheid” etc, one sees the predominantly Christian community and Moslems going about their daily activities at ease in their surroundings. One feature on the journey on this particular day was the sound of hymns ringing in the streets throughout the neighborhood as the Christians citizens celebrated their Good Friday Easter festival.
On returning home, we began to prepare for our Purim celebrations. In the blog at the beginning of last week, I referred to the children dressing up in various costumes and traveling around the city, one saw fancy dress of many different types. Well it is not only the children!! At the reading on the Book of Ester in the synagogue, some of the “older” members also take the opportunity to “let it all hang out” – see pictures.
.JPG)
In spite of the potential for terror attacks, the citizens entertained and were entertained by a vast range of fun activities. Surely a day to let your hair down and enter into the spirit of the festival, forgetting briefly of the troubles surrounding us.
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