Purim by Sharon Rosenblum

Purim Spring is around the corner! That means it is time for the Festival of Purim, a time filled with fun celebrations and delicious foods. This is a time when we remember Queen Esther and her commitment to her people, the Jews.

According to http://www.beingjewish.com/, “Purim is about how God is hidden in everything. God performs miracles for us, all behind the scenes.” The main people in the Purim story are the King, Queen Esther, Mordecai, and Haman.

It was during the time that the Jews were in Exile in Babylon, after the destruction of the first Holy Temple. Cyrus, King of Persia, had permitted the Jews to rebuild the Holy Temple. His usurper/successor, King Ahasuerus (Xerxes), put a halt to the rebuilding. He felt it would diminish his own power.

The King began to consolidate his kingdom, and when he was done he made an enormous party for all his subjects. The Prophets and Sages declared it was forbidden to attend the party because of this denigration of the Holy Temple Vessels, but most Jews attended it anyway, out of fear of the king. As a result, God decreed a warning against them as a reminder of their duties to God.

At this party, the King got angry at Queen Vashti, and he had her killed. He searched for a new queen, and finally chose Hadassah, a Jewess. The Persians of the palace, however, called her Esther, after Ishtar/Astarte/Easter, who personified, to the Persians, beauty. What they did not know was that God had manipulated them in giving this nickname as well, for in Hebrew “Esther” means hidden.

The Intercession of Esther with King Ahasuerus

Public Domain

Haman then came into power as the King appointed Haman as viceroy. Haman decided to have all Jews killed. Mordecai, a prophet, refused to kneel down before Haman who wore an idol around his neck. It is against Jewish law to bow down before idols. So Haman decided to kill Mordecai for refusing to kneel and all the other Jews as well.

The Jews recognized their error in attending the King’s party, decided to make amends by fasting for three days and repenting.

In the Book of Esther, in the Bible, Mordecai pleads with Queen Esther to intervene on behalf of her people with the King. “…if you keep silent in this crisis, relief and deliverance will come to the Jews from another quarter, while you and your father’s house will perish. And who knows, perhaps you have attained to royal position for just such a crisis.” (Esther 4:13-14).

The Queen did plead with the King to free her people, as she told the King the truth of Haman’s actions against her people as well as the loyalty of Mordecai to the King. She did this at a banquet which is why when we celebrate Purim it focuses on a feast and celebrating.

I’d like to share with you a recipe for Kreplach, a popular food during Purim. It looks and tastes a bit like Chinese dumplings or potstickers. You may fill them with cheese, a meat concoction, or just vegetables. I use a Gluten-Free recipe for the wrappers, but you can purchase wrappers at the grocery store, they are usually made with wheat flour (and are also used for egg rolls).

For the recipe see the full article.

Enjoy and Happy Purim!, Sharon

Sharon Rosenblum adopted a Gluten Free and Whole Food lifestyle and is adept at modifying recipes to suit different dietary needs. A healthy approach to eating also serves her as an Empath and Intuitive.

Eating “clean” foods brings clarity when working with her guides and spirit. And, her joints are no longer achy or sore.

Sharon is an Assistant Editor on our Star Nations Magazine Executive Staff and has her own editing business—The Feathering Quill.

TheFeatheringQuill@gmail.com

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