A joyous community of Jewish women engaged in prayer, study and spiritual growth
Experience the Merriment of Purim at Lev Eisha
Our next service is on March 3, 2007 (13 Adar 5767).
Sing and dance with music and song by Cindy Paley, Mollie Wine, Robin Winston and Joy Krauthammer. We begin at 9:30 a.m. with Rabbi August in the Adat Shalom Sanctuary.
Please arrive on time, as we will be starting promptly in order to accommodate this fulfilling service.
(Contact catering@leveisha.org if you wish to sponsor a future Kiddush or breakfast.)
2007 Calendar of Events
March 3, 9:30 a.m.
Service in the Adat Shalom Sanctuary
March 3, evening
Time to Read Your Megillah!
April 2, sundown
Passover begins
April 7, 9:30 a.m.
Service in the Adat Shalom Sanctuary
April 22, 2 p.m.
Garden Party Tea
From Barbara's Kitchen: Purim Challah and Hamantaschen
Although most people buy their hamantaschen at the local bakery, there are still some who prefer the homemade variety. I have been asked to share my favorite recipes in this space.
Both the cookie dough and the filling may be prepared the day before and refrigerated.
One Small Purim Challah
Dissolve one package dry yeast in 1/4-cup warm water and set aside.
Pour 1/4 c. oil, 2 tsp. salt and 1.5 tsp. sugar into a large mixing bowl. Add 1/2 c. boiling water and stir.
Stir in 1/4 c. cold water. Add 2 beaten eggs, and mix well.
Add yeast mixture and stir.
Add 3.5 - 4 c. flour and mix well.
Knead on a floured board until dough is not sticky. Add more flour if needed.
Return dough to bowl and cover with a towel. Put in a warm place until double in bulk for about one hour.
Punch down. Let rest and grease a cookie sheet.
Shape dough into a large round. Place poppy seed filling in the center. Use one whole recipe (below).
Fold the sides as you would a hamantasch. Brush with beaten egg.
Bake at 375 degrees for 40 minutes.
Remove to a wire rack to cool.
Poppy Seed Filling
Break up 1 c. poppy seeds with a mortar and pestle or a coffee grinder.
Combine with 1/2 c. milk, 1/2 c. honey, 1/2 c. raisins, 1 tbsp. butter or margarine, and 2 tsp. lemon juice, in a medium saucepan. Cook over medium heat for about 10 minutes, stirring constantly until mixture has thickened. Remove from heat and chill before using.
Cookie Dough for Hamantaschen
Sift together 3.5 - 4 c. flour and 3 tsp. baking powder and set aside.
Mix 3 eggs, 1 c. sugar, and 1/4 tsp. salt. Gradually add 3/4 c. oil, then 1/2 c. water, then 3 tsp. vanilla.
Add flour mixture and blend well. Chill before using.
Roll out the dough on a floured board to about 1/8 inch thick.
Cut into 3-inch circles. Add about a teaspoon of filling in the middle and pinch up to resemble a triangle. Pinch the edges together tightly. Place on a greased baking sheet.
Bake for 15 minutes at 350 degrees. Edges might be slightly brown.
Remove to a wire rack for cooling.
As with other cookies they will be soft when they come out of the oven.
Join the women of Lev Eisha for our 5th Annual Fundraising Event as we enjoy a lovely Afternoon Tea and Silent Auction surrounded by a beautiful Garden Party theme, Sunday, April 22, 2007, 2:00 - 4:00 p.m.
We will be honoring two incredible women who enhance the lives of Jewish families in Los Angeles: Cindy Paley Aboody, musical educator and performer, who brings the joys of Jewish music to teachers, students, families and our monthly Lev Eisha services; and Sally Weber, LCSW, Director of Jewish Community Programs at Jewish Family Services of Los Angeles.
Invitations will be mailed to everyone on our roster. If you think we may not have your address, please call the Synagogue (310.475.4985) or send us an e-mail to membership@leveisha.org with your mailing address. We're looking forward to sharing this day with you.
The Hiddenness of Purim by Rabbi Toba August
My sister was visiting while I wrote this column and she wondered why we should care about Purim. Put on a costume, shake your grogger, eat hamantaschen. What else is there?
There is so much more. But like the masks we wear - the deeper meaning of Purim is hidden and is yet to be revealed!
The very word Megillah which is the scroll we read, and the name Esther, our heroine for the Purim story, are both words which literally mean "hidden".
God too is not mentioned at all in the Megillah, yet the "hidden hand" of God is a part of the Purim tale.
In our lives, we believe we see, hear and know so much. But the truth is that there is much more that we can barely grasp or comprehend.
Esther, in the Purim story, did not believe she was capable of saving her people. Yet she found inner resources that enabled her to rise to the task.
This is the "hidden hand" of God.
When we find parts of ourselves that are yet to be revealed, we are involved in "hidden miracles." This is the wonder and deeper meaning of Purim.
Let us look beyond the obvious and beyond doubt or lack of faith. Hidden deep within us, are resources that we can access to reveal hidden miracles, of love, hope, dreams and healing. Chag Samach - Happy Purim!
Purim Pleasantries by Barbara Haberman
Purim is a time for fun and games for adults and children alike. It all begins with the reading of the Megillah that tells the story of how Queen Esther outsmarted Haman and saved the Jews. During the reading everyone makes loud noises and shakes their noisemakers to drown out Haman’s name each time it is mentioned. Queen Esther has always been a role model for Jewish women. She was courageous and smart.
I can’t help think about the other Queen we read about in the story, Vashti, who defied the King and would not prance around for the delight of his drunken guests at a party. They both play a part in our heritage. While Esther is the heroine of the story, Vashti represents the first woman on record who liberated herself from the improper demands of her husband.
The holiday has many facets. Children enjoy dressing up in costume as Mordecai, Esther’s Uncle, King Ahasuerus and of course, Queen Esther. Queen Vashti has always gotten a bad rap. Very few girls think about depicting her in costume, which is really too bad.
In Israel the celebration includes parades and masquerade balls. It is also customary to give gift baskets of food, both there and here. The baskets often include cookies, pastries and other assorted sweets. The most popular are hamantaschen which are triangular cookies to resemble Haman’s hat. The most popular filling is made with poppy seed.
Milestones
If you have a milestone to share please send it to: editor@leveisha.org. Our newsletter gets printed about a week before each service. Please send the info ASAP.
Lev Eisha of Adat Shalom
3030 Westwood Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90034 info@leveisha.org
