Celebrate Purim!

Purim, the Jewish holiday celebrating victory over oppression, begins at sundown on Feb. 25. This joyous holiday honors the salvation of the Jews from the wicked Haman, through the leadership of Queen Esther and her cousin Mordecai. Due to her courage and role in saving the Jews, the story is known as “Megilla Esther,” or the Scroll of Esther.

Elaborate festivals of food, music and games are held during Purim. Adults and children wear costumes, and charitable gifts, usually food, are given. The Scroll of Esther is read aloud. The villain Haman was known for his triangular hats, so hamantaschen, triangular cookies filled with fruit jam, are eaten.

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Purim Celebrations Around Atlanta

Family Purim “Car”nival at MJCCA at Zaban Park

Show off your Purim costume, receive hamentaschen and mishloach manot bags and sing along with Rabbi G. Feb. 25.

Purim Celebration at Temple Beth Tikvah

A family celebration to enjoy Purim festivities. Feb. 25.

Community Purim Celebration at Chabad Intown

Celebrate Purim with the Megillah reading, soup, challah and hamentaschen. Feb. 26.

Celebrate Purim at Children’s Museum of Atlanta

Celebrate with a special storytime featuring “Firebird” and a special craft. Feb. 28.

Making Hamantaschen

2/3 cup butter
½ cup sugar
1 egg
½ tsp vanilla
2½ to 3 cups all-purpose flour
1 tsp baking powder
Dash of salt
Filling: jar of flavored jam

Cream the butter and sugar. Add egg and continue creaming until smooth.

Add the vanilla. Stir in the sifted flour, baking powder and salt until a ball of dough is formed (a food processor is excellent for this).

Chill for 2-3 hours, or overnight.

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

Taking 1/4 of the dough, roll out on a lightly floured board to a thickness of 1/8 inch. Cut circles of dough with a drinking glass or round cookie-cutter. With your finger put water around the rim of the circle. Fill with 1 teaspoon of poppyseed filling or flavored jam (raspberry and apricot are popular flavors) and fold into three-cornered cookies. (Press two sides together, and then fold the third side over and press the ends together.)

Bake on a well-greased cookie sheet 10-16 minutes, until the tops are golden. Makes 36 cookies.

—From the The Jewish Holiday Kitchen

—Mary Williams

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