Purim

The water trickles over rocks to open an infinite afternoon of ice drinks melting slowly on our tongues as I return to forever and recall a moment in time when music changed for me for all time. I had been playing folk music, and played with a coupla guys in bars around Monterey, as well as hitting the wharf with our guitar cases open. Three part harmony with songs that were as simple as we were.

Guest Post by DAVID VAN BIEMA Today more than two billion Christians around the world will mark the gravest observance on their Calendar, Good Friday, the day Jesus died on the cross. (To be... NOT RECOMMENDED FOR THE OVERLY RELIGIOUS, POLITICAL OR STUPID!

Today, in Jew world, is PURIM! The most festive and fun of the holidays. In the talmud, it actually commands us to become so drunk that you can't tell the difference between the evil Haman or the beloved Mordecai (one of the few none-jews to be celebrated). On Purim people dance around and eat. I love it because I get to make my lovely Hamentaschen. I made horrible ones last night because I lost my special recipe, but today I will not fail! So....Happy Purim!(Note: dressing up in costume, especially drag, is one of the more funny traditions of reform jews...)-Nut Job or Chaya

י'ד באדר ב' תשס"חRaven 15Just in time for Purim! I received the tumbled garnet stone, garnet earrings, and the garnet and onyx pendant I ordered a few days ago in the mail this afternoon. Garnet is my birthstone.Happy Purim!Related Walking On Fire Entries:Disasters That Never HappenedThe Contest That Never HappenedConsciousness Without DeathUp From The GraveHoly Holy Holy HostThe Holy Serpent & Creating The FutureScepter Of SelectionOther Related Articles:Almog & CoralThe Pur Of PurimGarnet, The Pomegranate Stone Of Seven SpeciesOnyx, The Stone Of Clarity

Happy Purim!!   I am writing this as my fast for the fast of Esther is almost concluded as I will soon break-the-fast and make my way to Synagogue to fulfil one of the five mitzvoth of Purim, to hear the Megillah of Esther being read. We all know of Purim. But do we know of the Holiday of Nicanor, which for a time was more important than Purim to the Jewish people? Read on to learn, please.   The fast of Esther is on the 13th of Adar and unlike  most of our holidays and holy days, this fast does not start at sundown the evening before the day. It started at dawn today. And it ends at sundown of the day of 13th. Of course, we understand, that when sundown comes on the 13th, the 14th of Adar begins, and hence Purim begins.   The Fast of

Yes we have shipped out over 10,000 Purim Baskets all across the USA. We wish we can see the SMILE on the faces when the UPS driver rings 10,000 door bells. Happy Purim to all our customers and thanks for choosing Oh! Nuts.

Hag Purim Sameach ! asta nu e asa funny dar n-am gasit altceva   I’m comin from the Tribe and I ain’t talkin bout questI mean the people with the Chai hangin over their chest Friday night, shabbos dinner, got the Levitts in the House With their bubbe always pourin Manischewitz in my mouth Challah back (challah back) if [...]

There are two holidays on which we spin: on Chanukah it is customary to play with a dreidel, and on Purim we spin the gragger. The dreidel is spun from the top and the gragger is spun from the bottom. Ever wonder why the dreidel is spun from the top by a spindle which becomes wider and why the gragger is spun from the bottom by a stick leading to a larger head? In the Purim chronicle, when the Jewish people learned of the total destruction Haman planned for them, they undertook a bottom-up effort and fasted and prayed to change their fate. In contrast, the Chanukah miracle took place when many Jews sided with the Greek point of view and did not join the Maccabee fight. It was God's top-down merciful intervention that saved the day. Setting a dreidel in motion by twirling it from above rec

Thursday March 20th 20087:30PM PSTKabbalah.com will be offering a LIVE Streaming Connection to Purimwith Kabbalists Rav and Karen Berg.Register HERE to WatchWe are born with the potential to climb to such great heights. Yet, too often we settle for less because we become consumed with doubt. That’s why the greatest challenge we face in life is defeating our own doubt. It’s not easy. Uncertainty is so ingrained in our consciousness that we are blindly conditioned to it. Fortunately, the Creator assists us in removing aspects of ourselves that are of darkness. The holiday of Purim is one such assistance. Known as the Holiday of Joy, Purim has the energy of destroying doubt. As Rav Brandwein taught the Rav, “there is nothing that creates greater joy than the removal of doubts.”

Just because your friend or family member is diabetic and can't enjoy the wonderful Purim treats because of sugar, don't leave them out! Oh! Nuts now presents to you a sugar free Purim basket that contains Sugar Free chocolate, candy and sugar free Purim cookies in fancy basket for Purim. Now you can give your 'Sugar Free' friends Purim Mishloach manos as well! This pretty Purim gift contains: 1 Container with 6 Sugar Free Raspberry Hamantashen, 1 Wissotzky English Tea Gift Box 1 Container Unsalted Pistachios, 1 Bag Sweet 'n Low Coffee candy, 1 Sugar Free Bittersweet Torino Chocolate Bar, 1 12 pc Box Sugar Free Truffles, 1 bag Must Sugar Free Candy 1 Sugarless sesame halva, 1 Must Sugar Free Gum. Kids allergic to nuts or gluten? The perfect solution is here! Don't be afraid of your kids

During Purim, Jews celebrate the bravery of Queen Esther with good cheer and lots of food. This year the four-day Jewish festival of Purim or the Feast of Lots falls on 20-24 March, 2008, The Festival of Purim celebrates the story of Esther (also known as Hadassah), as related in the Book of Esther (or the [...]

During Purim, Jews celebrate the bravery of Queen Esther with good cheer and lots of food. Works for me. This year the four-day Jewish festival of Purim or the Feast of Lots falls on 20-24 March, 2008, The Festival of Purim celebrates the story of Esther (also known as Hadassah), as related in the Book of Esther (or the Megillah). The story is set at a time when the Jews had returned from Babylonian captivity and built the Second Temple in Jerusalem, and lived under Persian Rule. The ruling King is called Ahashverosh .When Ahashverosh is presented with the virgin Esther, he is so struck by her beauty that he appoints her his Queen. In the meantime the wicked vizier, Haman, advises the King to annihilate all the Jews in the empire. By seeming coincidences, Esther saves her people by gainin

I'm a very 'just in case' type of person. I always pack extra things 'just in case', buy things 'just in case' and I'm always on look out for ideas and inspirations 'just in case'. Even though I don't really have any special event, party or occasion to plan for, I totally imagine it in my head as I checkout party planning websites and browse through party favors magazines. Since I do that all the time, I was thinking that I should share my ideas and thoughts with you people out there, especially since Purim is just around the corner. Mishloach Manot giving is a big deal, you know it and although you don't want to, admit it! Buying the Purim gifts may be a hassle for some but when you have a place to do all your Purim shopping, it really shouldn't be. Firstly, Oh! Nuts offers it all. It

RABBI ARTHUR SEGAL: PURIM: TAKE SERIOUSLY CALL TO CIVIC PARTICIPATION   Copyright © The Island Packet, 2008.   Take Seriously Call to Civic Participation Published Saturday, March 1, 2008  The Jewish holiday of Purim (March 21), celebrating the victory of Persian Jews against their planned destruction, is discussed in the Book of Esther. Their nemesis, Haman, cast lots (purim) to determine the date of the annihilation. Purim also means "ballots." Every four years we are concerned about our democracy. Seventy-six years before Athenian democracy, Babylonian Jews developed majority rule in their academies and courts. The commandments to work toward justice fall upon Jews each day and not just when voting. "If your brother becomes poor, and his means

  RABBI ARTHUR SEGAL: ON PURIM, LOTS, AND BALLOTS   Dear Editor:   The Jewish Holiday, Purim (3/21/07), celebrating victory of Persian Jews against their planned destruction circa 357 BCE, is discussed in the Book of Esther. Their nemesis, Haman, cast lots (purim) to determine the date of the annihilation.    Purim also means ''ballots.''  Every four years we are concerned about our democracy. 76 years before Athenian democracy, Babylonian Jews, developed majority rule in their academies and courts.   The commandments of working towards justice falls upon Jews each day and not just when voting. "If your brother becomes poor, and his means of support fail, you&n

Everyone loves Purim, there's no doubt about that! But when it comes to thinking about Mishloach Manot...that's a different story. Some people will just purchase the products themselves and make the Purim gifts at home. While you, aaah, you have so many people to send to that it's not worth the hassle. So your search begins! You look at scores of websites, searching for the Purim gift Basketwhen you finally come to Oh! Nuts. You are so excited that you finally find a website that offers quality gifts and delivers virtually anywhere. Whatmore, you can choose from a large variety of kids Purim gifts and other, unique Purim gifts and Purim baskets and trays that fit your budget! What I'm here for is to provide you with the information that you need and well, some info that just might int

We are ready for Purim with our huge selection of Mishloach Manot baskets and Purim Candy and special Mishloach Manos for kids. We also have yummy Purim Hamantashen Cookies and many more fun Purim stuff. So whatever your Purim Baskets need are we have it .

Purim's coming up so I gotta mention something very important. They fill your dreams but haunt your waistline. And what is it about them that necessitates mass production to skyrocket during the months of February and March? Sheer thrill electrifies the air at the mention of this delicious commodity. Wait a minute! Mass production, delicious, dreams, fat? What am I talking about? Sorry, I always get ahead of myself. I meant the famous fabulous Purim Hamantashen! Oh, right. Just you wait - this is gonna get good! Let me give you a little background about Hamantashen so you may better understand me. The most popular explantion of why Jews eat this three cornered pastry on Purim is that Haman wore a three-cornered hat. Eating an image of Haman's hat is a way to symbolically destroy his memory

י"ג באייר תשס"זA new spin to an old story. Esther 4:13-14 on modern day witch hunts. It is a Jewish issue.Then Esther bade them to return answer unto Mordechai: 'Think not with thyself that thou shalt escape in the king's house, more than all the witches.For if thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time, then will relief and deliverance arise to the witches from another place, but thou and thy father's house will perish; and who knoweth whether thou art not come to royal estate for such a time as this?'Technorati tags: psychics discrimination injustice intolerance philadelphia crusaders witch hunt purim

On the 21st of Adar…(courtesy of Chabad) In the course of a fight with a Christian fisherman, a Jew dealt him a blow which led to his death. The infuriated Christians of Narbonne, France, started rioting and attacking the Jewish community. The governor of Narbonne, Don Aymeric, quickly... [ visit A Jewish Blog to continue reading ]

This video is truly funny and well done. Kudos to Rabbi Chaim Danzinger of Chabad of Pasadena. http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-2184648019361361844 [ visit A Jewish Blog to continue reading ]

This is a great story about Lubavitchers reaching out to Jews in Alaska. Purim in Alaska In a small town, where there isn’t all that much going on, it doesn’t take much to get a large intersted crowd. For the 30 or so Jews in Sitka, Alaska they had there first dose of a [...] [ visit A Jewish Blog to continue reading ]

There are four mitzvot on Purim. All are Rabbinic in origin. Hearing the Megillah, once by day and once by night. Here’s an excellent audio shiur on the halachot of reading the Megillah. Sending Mishloach Manot (a food gift) consisting of at least two foods to another person. It should be a... [ visit A Jewish Blog to continue reading ]

This is a great audio shiur of Rabbi Shusterman teaching the practical Halachot (Jewish laws) of the Purim Megillah (Megilat Ester) reading. It took a little effort to integrate this audio player into this blog, but nothing is too good for my visitors. Duration: 19 mins. [See post to listen to... [ visit A Jewish Blog to continue reading ]

[Guest post by Chaim Binyamin. I, Shimon, have not edited it] QUESTION: We know that the name of something reveals its essence (example- the first man “Adam” expresses “adama” i.e. made from the dirt, and “dam” i.e. soul in the blood etc) … so why oh why is... [ visit A Jewish Blog to continue reading ]

ה' באדר תשס"זJason Miller (Protection & Reversal Magick) writes regarding confusion spells:Another way to remove an enemy working against you without bringing him or her into direct harm are rites of confusion. Some see this as a type of jinx in and of itself, but confusion spells have been used in hoodoo and witchcraft as protection for many, many years. When faced with an obsessive enemy who will not give up, a bit of confusion can be a tame but effective way to deal with that enemy.While Mr. Miller discusses confusion spells independent of general reversal magick, confusion may also return to sender in natural consequence to reversal magick alone, if one's enemy has, in the context of casting a curse, incorporated a "confusion spell" into the curse.Considering that a rite of confusion is a commonly known occult method of protection and/or cursing, one could posit a link between this occult rite and Purim. Three primary themes of Purim are cursing, protection-defense a

The Moshav band will be performing at the UCLA Purim Party on March 3rd, from 9pm till 1am. I just started listening to the Moshav Band, and I think they’re awesome. The party should be awesome with the Moshav Band rocking the house and a massive college crowd that’s all dressed up in... [ visit A Jewish Blog to continue reading ]

ג' באדר תשס"זלה Five sacred times fall out this year for this Jewitch on Saturday, 3 March. Each time is represented by one of five Welsh goddesses of Avalon (Isle of the blessed). (Goddess information from Avalon Traditions)Shabbat - Blodeuwedd is the Lady of Initiation.She calls us to cast off the garments of expectation and to peer into the darkness of the self to find, and ultimately live, our inner truth. She teaches us to fly where others would see us grounded. Mythological Sources for Blodeuwedd – The Mabinogion - "Math, Son of Mathonwy"; Hanes Blodeuwedd.חזק חזק ונתחזקLunar Eclipse in Virgo - Ceridwen is the Lady of Transformation.She calls us to enter into our darkness to seek out the seeds of our wholeness. She teaches us that the only path to wisdom is through trial and experience [1]. In Her Cauldron, the mysteries of death and rebirth are revealed, and we emerge to initiate the process once more. We ride the Wheel with our newfound insight and und

ומאי בהו אלא תהו היתה וחזרהSefer HaBahir, verse 2 excerptTraditional interpretation: "What is bohu (desolation)? It is something that has substance."Liorah's interpretation: "And what is bohu, but tohu sent out and returning?"ומאי and what isבהו bohuאלא butתהו tohuהיתה sent out (projected out)וחזרה and returningIn other words, tohu and bohu, whatever they are discovered to actually be in terms of substance, are MADE OF THE SAME ESSENCE, for bohu is nothing more than tohu which has been "projected out" and is now "returning to its source". In other words, tohu is like aur yashar, while bohu is like aur chozer.Interestingly, tohu is usually considered feminine, and aur yashar masculine. Similarly, bohu is usually considered masculine and aur chozer feminine. There is an interesting gender mix here.As with tohu and bohu, another interesting "same essence" connection flowing through my translation is with Purim, where we are commanded to drink w