Purim Events and Celebrations Around Atlanta
Purim, the Jewish holiday celebrating victory over oppression, begins at sundown on March 6. 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.
Purim Celebrations Around Atlanta
Atlanta Jewish Life Festival
Celebrate “Purim Under the Sea!” at the Georgia Aquarium with Jewish food, music, art, culture, a costume contest and more. March 5.
Celebrate Purim at Children’s Museum of Atlanta
Celebrate with a storytime reading of “Sammy Spider’s First Purim,” a sing-along performance by “Mr. Michael” Levine, and a special craft. March 5.
Purim Carnival With a Cause at Temple Emanu-El
Celebrate Purim with carnival games and activities, plus mitzvah stations for children to bring awareness of issues of hunger and social injustice in the community. March 5.
Purim Celebration at Temple Beth Tikvah
A family celebration with a carnival, costume parade, dinner and Purim spiel. March 6.
JCC Purim Celebration at Zaban Park
Children are invited to wear costumes to this outdoor celebration featuring songs with Rabbi G, a stiltwalker performance, costume contest, games and hamantashen. March 7.
Community Purim Celebration at Chabad Intown
Celebrate Purim with a Megillah reading and glow party, Costumes are encouraged! March 7.
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
