The Pinnacle of Purim

Some quick revew. What are the four mitzvot of Purim? Let’s go over them again. Here they are:

1. Hearing the Megilla at night (Thursday March 24) and again the next day (we will be having a “last chance” reading on Friday at 5pm for those who can’t catch the early morning reading)

2. Having a seudah, a festive meal sometime during the day, Friday, in celebration.

3. Sending gifts to one-another (Mishloach Manot, or “shelach manos”). For this mitzvah you give a minimum of one person two or more different food items, or food and drink etc…on the day of Purim.

4. Gifts to the poor. This is also a mitzvah on Purim day. Here the mitzvah is to give to at least two people some food, or money to buy food with.

Now Here’s the Question…

Which of these mitzvot should one be the most scrupulous about?

The Megilla reading, perhaps? To know about the Purim story, to spend time studying it, to purchase one’s own kosher Megilla scroll to follow along, to learn how to read the Megilla? The Megilla is, after all, the source of the festival. Maybe it’s here that one should invest one’s major energies?

Or perhaps it should be the festive meal? The whole story of Purim centers around food and drink. King Achashverosh makes all these feasts, Esther makes feasts for her strategic meetings with the king and Haman, when the Jews are victorious they feast-everybody’s feasting over there! Maybe feasting is what best captures the essence of Purim?

Then again… Look at the mitzvah of giving gifts. Now here’s a mitzvah that people love to put lots of energy into, going way above and beyond the basic requirements of the mitzvah. Gift baskets full of food abound! What a beautiful way to bring festive spirit into the community!

And then there’s gifts to the poor, that in the midst of our celebrating we embrace those who are less fortunate and enable them to celebrate also.

Here’s what Maimonides says:

“It is better for a person to give extra gifts to the poor on Purim than it is to make a bigger feast or give many gifts to friends. There is no greater expression of joy than to gladden the hearts of the poor, the widow, the orphan and the stranger. One who brings joy to these people is like the Divine Presence, as it is written, ‘rejuvenating the spirit of the lowly and downtrodden’” (Maimonides, Laws of Purim, chapter 2)

With this in mind we have the opportunity this Purim to truly perform this mitzvah in a wonderful way. Through the efforts of Steve Klaber, we have a connection with the Jewish community of Khmelnitsky in the Ukraine, a community where people lack many basic necessities we take for granted, a community where just a few dollars can go a long way to bring joy to our brothers and sisters. We have coordinated to send them money before Purim that will be distributed to needy families on Purim day. If you want to take advantage of this excellent way of fulfilling this Purim mitzvah, send your check to the shule before March 15 made out to the shule and marked “Purim donation Ukraine.” In this way we will be observing the “pinnacle of Purim,” rejuvenating the spirit of the needy and enabling them to celebrate Purim along with their Jewish brothers and sisters around the world.

Happy Purim!

Rabbi Glass

FROM THE PRESIDENT - ROB CHEIFETZ

With Spring approaching, my thoughts turn, as always, to ice cream. Delicious ice cream. Ice cream sundaes, ice cream cones, milk shakes, ice cream cakes… yum. (Note: brilliant and subtle segue coming up) (Additional Note: “segue” is pronounced “segway”). Speaking of ice cream, Ben F. and I went out for ice cream the other night. Ben had seen an ad in the Solomon Schechter Ad Book for a local ice cream shop (in the little mall where Brooklyn Market used to be), called “Kaleidoscoops.” Seeing as how the store was nice enough to donate money to a Jewish school, and seeing as how the ice cream was advertised as “OU-D” (certified kosher by the Orthodox Union; the D is for “dairy,” which we pretty much would have guessed on our own), we decided to go there to satisfy our ice cream needs.

When we approached the door of Kaleidoscoops, we saw a big sign that read “All Ice Cream Is OU-D Kosher.” How nice, we thought, that a store was so proud of the kosherness of its food that it placed a big sign in the window advertising that fact. (This reminded me, by way of counterpoint, of the “Shallots” restaurant that used to be on Clark Street in Chicago, which had a teeny tiny sign noting that the restaurant was supervised by the CRC. The owners were concerned that a big sign advertising that it was a kosher restaurant would scare away non-kosher clientele). We expected to walk in and find a pale, bearded and perhaps streimeled Rabbi working behind the counter. Instead, we were surprised when the owner, a man with dark skin, a wide smile, and a thick Indian accent, warmly greeted us.

“Warmly greeted,” in fact, is an understatement. He could not have been more friendly or helpful. He (I am forced to refer to the owner only as “he” because, as many of you know, I am absolutely horrible when it comes to remembering names) showed us all of his many, many flavors, and proudly reiterated that his ice cream was “OU-D” certified. After we ordered (I had scoops of three different kinds of yummy chocolate) and sat at a table, he brought over some small milkshakes he made for us “for free, sirs, don’t you worry about it.” It was February and likely a slow weeknight for him, but still, it was such a pleasure to be welcomed so heartily. I certainly have tasted richer ice cream elsewhere (a shop in Oregon comes to mind), but I can’t recall having received friendlier service. And he had no idea (nor did I) that I would be writing about his store when he treated Ben and me with such kindness.

Which brings me, finally, to my points. The first point, which Rabbi Glass suggested to me, was how easy it is now to find kosher food of all types and flavors. The second point is that a warm welcome has tremendous value. I didn’t go to Kaleidoscoops for a warm greeting, but I will certainly return there because of it. Likewise, newcomers (and “old comers” too) should feel welcome when they come to our shul. A firm handshake (ask Bradley H. to teach you the proper way to shake hands), a smile, and a heartfelt “Good Morning,” “Shabbat Shalom,” or “Chag Sameach,” can go a long, long way and make a lasting impression.

Shalom and L’hitraot.

PROGRAMMING - JONATHAN LEVIN

Young Judaea’s most recent event was a huge success! We held a rock climbing and a Tu’bishvat Seder at the Foglia YMCA in Lake Zurich. At each event, we provide informal interactive Jewish education for the children. At this particular event, the children participated in a Tu’bishvat Seder, ate tasty fruits that symbolize all aspects of the holiday, and received JUF tzadakah boxes to raise money to plant trees in Israel. The children really enjoyed the challenge of rock climbing followed by a fun and educational Tu’bishvat Seder to celebrate the birth of the trees in Israel. If you have any questions about Young Judaea events, please contact Debbie Schwabacher at (773)296-6099.

Upcoming events:

Friday March 4: Shabbat dinner. Kabbalat Shabbat services will begin at 5:30 with dinner to follow. Reservations required.

Sunday March 13-Young Judaea Purim Carnival from 2-5 p.m. The cost is $10 per person with a $25 max per family. This will include entertainment, food, and access to all games. Booths will include face painting and gragor making, along with many of the favorites. There will be a magician, and a karaoke machine for all of our singers. Food will include popcorn, baked goods, and there will be an opportunity to make your own hamentashen. Please save the date and look for a flyer soon. Call the shul office today to make your reservations.

Kids Choir Meeting (“The Friday Night Singers“): Sunday, March 13 & 20, 5:00 p.m. Pizza will be served. RSVP to the shul office.

Sunday March 20 Magen David Adom presents, for a 3rd time in Chicago, world renowned South African Sydenham Shul Men's Choir, featuring Oshy Tugendahft. This magical Jewish musical extravaganza will be Sunday, Mar. 20, for 2 shows, 2 & 7 PM, at Niles North High School. Sponsorships available. Come support Israel's Magen David Adom while enjoying a wonderful musical performance! For more info, 847-583-0664 or magendavidadom@hotmail.com.

We are organizing a trip to the concert. We can order a block of tickets at $36 each to the 7:00 PM show, so Shul members can sit together. Please respond as soon as possible as tickets will be going quickly. If anyone has ever heard this group perform, you know this is a concert not to be missed!! Please call Jonathan Levin if you have any questions. No one will be sorry after attending this performance. It is an amazing show!

SISTERHOOD - JANICE HANDELMAN

Upcoming programs:

Lox Box delivery: March 12

Meeting to bake hamenstashen: March 14, 7 pm.

Chocolate Party: May ? We’re looking to reserve an evening in May.

Culminating dinner and Bingo: June 6 (tentative date). We will try to have the dinner catered by Simply Simchas.

Rummage Sale: July 10.

RITUAL - LARRY KLUGE

KABBALAT SHABBAT SERVICES ---Come join our Family Kabbalat Shabbat services at 5:30 p.m. every Friday evening during March. Don't forget to bring the kids!

Purim: Come in costume to our Megillah reading on Thursday, March 24, at 7:30 p.m. Our second megillah reading will be Friday morning at 6:00 a.m. We will have a Last Chance Megillah reading on Friday, March 25 at 5:00 p.m. (just before Kabbalat Shabbat services).

OUR LIBRARY NEEDS GOOD JEWISH BOOKS----This is a beautiful way to memorialize a loved one or honor someone special and promote Jewish education at the same time. No shul library should be without a set of Talmud. We need one! ---Artscroll Hebrew English Talmud ---$50 per volume---Your donation can dedicate one or more volumes today!

Return to the Bulletin index page