Purim begins at sundown, on the 15th of the month Adar, which is Sunday, February 28th and lasts until sundown, March 1st 2010.

You can read the story of Esther for yourself and understand the reason for this two-day Jewish celebration, but there are a couple of things I’d like to point out that will shed some light on its significance to us as believers. It shows God’s plans coming to pass hundreds of years later, and the importance of His timing in all things. We can take heart in believing His Word is true and all He has said will come to pass in His own time.
1.    In I Samuel 15, we read the story of Saul’s disobedience to the Lord to destroy all of the Amalakites, including their King, Agag.  Out of his disobedience, comes a descendant…Haman.  In II Samuel 16, we have the story of Shemei, of the house of Saul, who curses David upon his return from exile. David’s men want to kill him, but David spares his life… His descendant is Mordechai.

2.    The other thing of note is the fact that Satan sought to destroy the entire race of the Jews. Had he succeeded, there would have been no temple, and no Messiah to die for our sins. David’s mercy, and Saul’s disobedience made this story and the outcome possible, and the Lord was in complete control of it all!

Purim is a festival of much rejoicing and making merry with a sumptuous feast and excessive drinking of wine. The book of Esther is read, and whenever Haman’s name is mentioned, people boo, hiss, stomp their feet and rattle graggers--ratchet style noisemakers, so as to “blot” out his name. There are costume parties and parades, giving it the feel of an Israeli Mardi Gras. During Purim there are four obligatory mitzvahs (good deeds) one must perform:

1. The reading of the Megilla (scroll) of Esther. This is to be read day and night. Wearing good  Shabbat    clothes or a costume is preferred to everyday clothes.
2. Feasting and rejoicing. Sumptuous meals with meat and wine are to be eaten. Wine is said to be the downfall of Queen Vashti and Haman and is highly encouraged at this time.
3. Shalach Manot (sending gifts) of food or drink to others. They can be sent to as many as one wants but are to have importance and meaning and should be food or drink, which can be eaten without any further preparation.
4. Matanot l’Evyonim (2 gifts to the poor). A gift to two poor people of food or drink or clothing. Even the poor must perform this mitzvah by exchanging their food or drink with someone else, so that both fulfill the obligation and neither has less in the end.

One of the foods prepared during Purim is a fruit-filled pastry called Hamentaschen (Haman’s hat) referring to the traditional three-cornered hat he was supposed to have worn.

Recipe for Hamentaschen

•    2/3 cup butter or margarine
•    1/2 cup sugar
•    1 egg
•    1/4 cup orange juice
•    1 cup white flour
•    1 cup wheat flour --wheat flour is necessary to achieve a proper texture
•    2 tsp. baking powder
•    1 tsp. cinnamon
•    Fruit preserves/ butters or pie fillings.

Blend butter and sugar. Add egg and blend thoroughly. Stir in orange juice. Add flour, 1/2 cup at a time, alternating white and wheat, blending thoroughly between each. Add baking powder and cinnamon with the last half cup of flour. Refrigerate batter a couple of hours. Roll or pat as thin as you can without getting holes in the dough. Use a cutter to make 3-4 inch circles. Put a spoonful of filling in the middle of each circle. Fold up the sides and pinch into three corners. Bake at 350 degrees for 15-20 minutes, until golden brown.

Traditional fillings are poppy seed and prune, but apricot, apple butter, pineapple preserves, pie fillings or Nutella can be used.

I came up with my own filling: In a saucepan, simmer one box (12oz.) of dried prunes, covered with water, until soft. Add ¼ to ½ cup of apricot preserves and enough orange juice to mash into a soft filling. Let cool before making the cookies.

Makes 20-24 cookies depending on the thickness of the dough and size of the circle.

Enjoy!

Mid Stutsman
		About the author:
		Mid Stutsman has had a heart for Israel from the time she received her first Bible at age 10 and encountered Yeshua-Jesus. God’s love rescued her during a turbulent time in her life as a rebellious young adult, and since then she has endeavored to serve Him with her heart and gifts. She is a wife of 32 years, a mother of 12, and a Nana of 10 darlings.  Mid and her husband, Fred, reside in Northern Indiana on their 85-acre heritage farm. A love of nature is reflected in her artwork, and a passion for inspirational writing is revealed in her poetry, short stories and novels, showcased on her website: http://midspoint.com