This year, the Jewish holiday of Purim begins on Saturday night, March 15 through the next day, Sunday, March 16, 2014. Included are local events for you to enjoy with the kids in Camarillo, Oxnard and Ventura, details about the holiday, plus Hamentashen recipes and crafts for the kids.
LOCAL EVENTS
March 15
Saturday Night Live! Megillah Reading @ Chabad of Oxnard ~ 8:00 PM (OXNARD)
Saturday Night Live! Megillah Reading and Purim Party @Chabad of Ventura ~ 8:15 PM (VENTURA)
Megillah Reading @ Chabad of Camarillo ~ 8:00 PM (Camarillo)
March 16
Purim Brunch and Carnival@ Chabad of Oxnard ~ 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM (OXNARD)
Princess & Pirates Purim Carnival ~ 10:15 AM - 12:30 PM (VENTURA)
Temple Ner Ami Purim Carnival ~ 1:30 PM- 4:00 PM (CAMARILLO)
Purim Fiesta and Torah Dedication with Chabad of Camarillo ~ 2:00 PM (CAMARILLO)
Wild West Purim Feast @Chabad of Ventura ~ 5:30 PM (VENTURA)
THE TRADITIONS
The Story of Purim
One of the most important traditions of this holiday is to read the Story of Queen Esther (Click HERE for the full story), also called the Megillah, which is read once on March 15 and once during the day of March 16th.
SOME FUN PURIM CRAFTS FOR KIDS
Materials Needed for Both Instruments:
- Toilet paper roll for rain stick
- 2 paper plates for tambourine
- Construction paper
- Tape (wide, packaging tape is easiest)
- Beans or rice
- Yarn, string, or ribbon
- Decorative materials (foam shapes, scrap paper, markers, etc.)
- Fill the paper towel roll or toilet paper roll with some rice.
- Wrap 1 piece of construction paper around toilet paper roll, making sure both ends are well covered.
- Place tape over any seams.
- Decorate!
- Put rice on one plate.
- Place the second plate over the first, facing each other and tape edges together. You can also glue and then staple together, or punch holes and weave ribbon, string or yarn through it.
- Decorate!
Click HERE for an Easy Recipe and Instructions from Gan Camarillo Preschool
Other Hamentashen Recipes to Try Out
Traditional Hamentashen Recipe
Hamentashen Recipe from Cake Mix
Cream Cheese Hamentashen Recipe
Send Gifts & Give Charity
Purim is a time to celebrate Jewish unity and friendship. Jews send packages containing at least two different kinds of ready-to-eat foods (e.g. hamantashen and fruit) to at least one friend (men give to men and women give to women). These gifts, Mishloach Manot, are traditionally sent by a friendly messenger (kids like to get dressed up and deliver the gifts).
It is also customary to give (or set aside )charity to give to at least two poor groups or causes on Purim day, March 16. This is called "Matanot Laevyonim".
Kids love this holiday because they get to deliver the gifts dressed up in their favorite costumes (To join the World's Biggest Costume Contest click HERE for details).
Check out the cool Purim costumes Gan Camarillo Preschool pinned on Pinterest at pinterest.com/chabadparents/purim-costumes.
Information on Purim provided by Gan Camarillo Preschool, visit their blog at GanCamarilloPreschool.blogspot.com .
