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March 2007
Regional News
San Francisco As March approaches, many of us in the Jewish/interfaith community are looking forward to the festivities of Purim in the beginning of the month (beginning at sunset on March 4) and will be starting to prepare for the celebration of Passover, which begins with the first Seder at sunset on April 2. Purim is an opportunity for children and adults alike to dress up, eat hamantaschen (triangular cookies filled with jam, said to represent the three-cornered hat of Purim’s evil villain, Haman), read and listen to the Book of Esther and give “shloach manot”—gifts to one another and to those in need. If we look closely, Jewish holidays such as Purim and Passover offer us the opportunity to enrich our daily lives with deeper meaning that can resonate for all of us, no matter what our religion or cultural background. There are many ways to make a holiday like Purim relevant for your family. Here are a few that work for mine. Remember the importance of occasionally letting go and having fun in the midst of our busy, often stressful lives. Dress up, go to a carnival, go to or have a party, bake hamantaschen. In other words, do something silly and/or fun together. Click here for a hamantaschen recipe: Explore the meaning of standing together as a couple, family and/or a community in times of trouble—sharing stories/memories about times when things got tough and difficult experiences brought us closer. Look at why the retelling of an old story holds such power, often bringing us closer to one another. Share family stories that shed light on who we are as individuals and as a family; look at family photo albums together; ask your parents or grandparents to tell a story that is meaningful to them, that may have been passed down for generations. Listen to the Purim story and ask each other why we keep reading it year after year Be conscious of how giving to others can enrich our own lives. Make special gift bags with food/treats for a special group of people, such as those in a retirement community or a homeless shelter. To read the Purim Story in full, please log onto http://www.myjewishlearning.com/holidays/Purim/TO_Purim_Community/Story.htm I hope this brief message empowers or inspires you to try something new—and to enjoy the festive times that are coming up by making them your own! Here are two activities for Purim and Passover that you can be a part of. Annual Family Purim Carnival. Sunday, March 4, from 2-4 p.m. Jewish Community Center of San Francisco, 3200 California Street. Our annual gathering, featuring entertainment, games, music, food and the retelling of the Purim story. $5-$7/couple or family. Celebrating Passover: An Experiential Workshop for Couples and Families. Sunday, March 18 at 1:00 p.m. Or Shalom Jewish Community, 1250 Quintara, SF. The workshop will include crafts, cooking, and opportunities to explore the themes/rituals of the holiday in order to make them relevant in your own lives. Please RSVP to (415) 292-1252. FREE Helena McMahon, LMFT « Previous Article |
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