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David Samuel Steinberg
celebrates Jewish Holidays © Best
Love,
Mommy and Daddy
December 2006

David Samuel Steinberg, age 7, of New York, New York, was excited because he was going to a Purim festival. Ben, Steve and Paul also looked forward to the holiday because during Purim you get to dress in colorful costumes and wear masks.

Dave was thinking about what to wear when he remembered the biblical story of Esther, which explains why Jews celebrate Purim.

Long ago, a wicked advisor, named Haman, convinced the king that he should destroy the Jewish people. Queen Esther and her uncle Mordecai were Jews who uncovered a plot against the king and saved the king's life. The king rewarded them by saving the lives of the Jewish people.

To honor Mordecai, the king ordered Haman to parade the royal horse through the streets while Mordecai rode proudly.

During Purim there are plays, gifts and games. There are always treats like hamantaschen, three-cornered cakes filled with fruit or poppy seeds. Dan, Steven and Nancy looked forward to eating these special Purim treats.

Since Dave couldn't decide what to wear to the Purim celebration, he thought, "What about dressing like a hero from Hanukkah?"

In the Hanukkah story, a non-Jewish king named Antiochus would not let Jews worship God in their Holy Temple in Jerusalem. Mattathias, together with his son, Judah, organized a group of freedom fighters called the Maccabees. They fought and won a war against the king's powerful army.

"Maybe I could go to the party as Judah the Maccabee?" thought Dave.

After the war, the Maccabees wanted to rekindle the light of the menorah in the Holy Temple. They found a small jar of oil, enough for just one day. Miraculously, the oil burned for eight days and nights.

Dave knew that Jews celebrate Hanukkah for eight days by lighting the menorah. One candle is lit on the first night, then two the second evening and so on until all eight candles are burning brightly.

During Hanukkah friends and families exchange gifts. There are delicious treats like potato pancakes, called latkes, and jelly donuts. We play games with a four-sided top called a dreidel and receive Hanukkah gelt.

"Hanukkah is a lot of fun, but I still can't decide what to wear to the Purim carnival," thought Dave.

"Maybe I could dress like Moses," Dave thought.

Ben, Steve and Paul had told him the Passover story of how Moses freed the Jewish people from slavery in Egypt. Moses led the people of Israel across the sea to the desert where they traveled for 40 years. Finally, they returned to the Holy Land.

On the night of Passover, families gather for the Seder. They read the Haggadah, a story that tells of the exodus from Egypt.

The people of Israel left Egypt in such a hurry that there was no time to wait until the bread dough could rise. That's why during Passover Jewish people eat unleavened bread, called matzo.

They also display special foods like a roasted bone, a roasted egg, horseradish, parsley and a tasty apple dip, called charoses.

Dave knew that during the Seder, the youngest child asks " the four questions" and everyone answers. They eat a delicious meal and drink four cups of wine. The leader of the Seder hides a piece of matzo, called the afikoman. The child who finds the afikoman gets a reward.

Dave thought again about which costume to wear to the Purim celebration. All of a sudden, he had the answer and started to work on the best costume ever!

Can Ben, Steve and Paul guess what he will be for Purim? Will you tell us, Dave?

While deciding which costume to wear to the Purim Festival, have fun remembering famous Bible stories.
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