Purim Celebrations

We finished learning why we celebrate Purim  last week, this week we learned how we celebrate Purim!

1) We hear the megilla two times! When we hear Haman's full name, we shake our graggers (noise makers) and make a lot of noise, because we don't even wanna hear such a wicked person's name!

Alan and Aaron make noise!

Gragger Song:

Did you ever shake a gragger, a gragger, a gragger?

Did you ever shake a gragger on a Purim day?

It rattles and shakes, oh what noises it makes!

Did you ever hear a gragger make such a loud sound?

Zaylin and Yonni create their graggers.

2) We eat a festive meal!

3) We give money to poor people so that they too, can celebrate Purim and have a festive meal.

4) We send a friend Mishloach Manos. We want everyone to be happy on Purim and we want to make sure everyone has enough food for their festive meal. We give at least one friend, two (or more) different types of foods as a gift. 

Friends prepare Shalach Manos baskets to give to their friends in Kindergarten. 

5) We get dressed up! In the story of Purim, Hashem was actively involved in saving the Jewish people. However, it could seem that he was not involved, because Hashem was hidden. That's why it is customary to get dressed up on Purim. Even though we may look different, it is still ourselves that we have hidden underneath our costumes. (http://www.chabad.org/holidays/purim/article_cdo/aid/366310/jewish/Masquerade.htm)

Who am I????

It is for this same reason, that we make Hamantaschen, three cornered pastries with fruit or chocolate hidden inside!

Pre-K Hamentaschen

First we make the dough.

Then we make Hamentaschen!

Hamentasch Song:

·       1 1/2 cups butter or margarine, softened

o      1 cup white sugar

o      2 eggs

o      6 tablespoons orange juice

o      1 tablespoon vanilla extract

o      2 teaspoons baking powder

o      4 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

·      1 container date spread/ chocolate spread or any other sweet filling

·       DIRECTIONS

o      In a large bowl, cream together the butter and sugar until smooth. Beat in the eggs one at a time, then stir in the orange juice and vanilla. Mix in the baking powder, then gradually stir in the flour until the dough forms a ball. Cover and refrigerate at least 2 hours. I like to do mine overnight.

o      Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Grease cookie sheets.

o      On a lightly floured surface, roll the dough out to 1/4 inch thickness. Cut into 3 inch circles using a cookie cutter or drinking glass. Place circles on the prepared cookie sheets. Spoon 1 teaspoon of filling onto the center of each circle. (Any more and it will ooze out) Pinch the sides of each circle to form a triangle, covering as much of the filling as possible. The cookies may be frozen on the cookie sheets if desired to help retain their shape while cooking.

·      Bake for 8 to 10 minutes in the preheated oven, until light golden brown. These are best undercooked slightly. Cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes before removing to wire racks to cool completely.