Be Happy, It's Adar!

That saying was posted on the walls of Temple Sinai when we were growing up.  My sister and I make a tradition of calling each other this time of year and yelling, "BE HAPPY, IT'S ADAR!"  Oh, how we laugh!  Why is it funny?  I couldn't explain.  You must understand our sense of humor--we also crack up at hearing "Do you know what a plethora is?"  and "Simchas Torah, my favorite holiday" our favorite lines from our favorite silly movies.

But, all in all, Adar is fun.  We've got Purim and, let's be honest, Purim is about as fun as our hoidays get.  We get to dress up and run around making noise and exchange baskets of food and eat pastry-like cookies, and go to a carnival and (we're supposed to, but I have never done this one) drink so much that we can't tell the difference between Mordechai and Haman.  OK, it's not dressing in pretty party dresses and running all over the yard looking for chocolate (oh, why can't we have a holiday like that?), but Purim is fun.

So, let's help our children enjoy it as much as possible (except the drinking 'til they can't tell the difference between Mordechai and Haman).

As crazy and crowded and hectic as the Purim Carnival always is, I love going and feeling like I am celebrating with my congregation--Purim gives one a great sense of being part of the Jewish community.  Even if you go to a carnival at a JCC or a synagogue you are not a congregant of, that sense of community is still present.

I know in Israel, Jews dress up as anything--not necessarily Purim characters.  Personally, I think we should dress up in costumes having to do with Purim.  For those of us who dress up for Halloween, we should distinguish Purim from other costume holidays.  Use Purim to teach of children about our history and traditions.  If you can make your costumes with your children, do so.  Having them be an active participant in thinking of the costume and creating the costume, helps them learn and helps them engage in the holiday. 

It's not hard.  I have given you instructions for no sew costumes that you only need pillowcases, scissors and ten minutes to make.  I've also seen some other creative and easy ideas--a hamantaschen (just cut two triangular pieces of poster board, paint a smaller triangle in the center of one board to represent the filling and then string the boards together and hang over your child's shoulders.)  I remember a great costume one child wore in my daughter's nursery school class.  A hamantaschen baker.  It was so easy and cute--a chef's hat, apron, baking mits and flour all over his face.

When your children are older, it's harder to convince them to dress up, but, teenage girls might identify with Vashti, who wouldn't even let the king tell her what to do, and maybe a teenage boy would like to be the king who got his pick of all the beautiful girls of Persia.

I also try to take the weekend before Purim to make hamantaschen with the children.  It's not an easy recipe and takes a lot of time, but we're talking once a year so I deal.  The kids can cut out the circles of dough and help drop teaspoons of filling (or Hershey kisses) in the center of the cookies.  I've yet to make pretty hamantaschen--they open up and are uneven--but they are soooooo yummy!

And, add an element of tzedekah to Purim, by creating Mishloach Manot baskets, not only for friends, but for those in need.  Call your local senior home or women's shelter or hospital children's ward and see what is allowed.

So, get your groggers out!  And, BE HAPPY, IT'S ADAR!

 

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