Purim is all about the story of Esther, a Jewish queen who saved her people from the evil plans of Haman, an advisor to the Persian king. The holiday is celebrated with costumes, food, and lots of noise-making. Purim for Hebrew Year 5784 begins at sundown on Saturday, 23 March 2024, and ends at nightfall on Sunday, 24 March 2024.
During Purim, people dress up in colorful costumes, eat triangle-shaped pastries called Hamentashen (also spelled hamantaschen, and variations between the two) — there's some thought the shape is meant to resemble Haman's hat — and make noise with groggers (noisemakers) every time Haman's name is mentioned during the reading of the Megillah (the biblical book of Esther).
So, whether you're a kid or a kid at heart, Purim is a time to let loose and have some fun. Just remember — when it comes to Purim, the louder, the better! Join the fun on Sunday, March 17 the JCC of Middlesex County is hosting a Purim Carnival from 11 am - 2 pm.
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Basic Hamentashen recipe
From Merri Cohen
Hamentashen cookies are crunchy and crumbly with just the right amount of sweetness. Use a variety of fillings to make a beautiful platter! Ideas on what to use include apricot, cherry, or raspberry preserves, prunes, chocolate chips, or Nutella.
- 4 cups of flour
- 1 1/2 cups of sugar
- 4 tsp. baking powder
- 1/2 tsp. salt
- 1 cup butter, softened
- 2 eggs, beaten
- 1/4 cup orange juice
- Filling of choice
Directions:
- Sift together dry ingredients. Work in butter to dry ingredients.
- Add the eggs and orange juice. Mix all. The ingredients should be stiff and difficult to mix.
- Knead with your hands (the mixture should not stick to your hands. If it does or if it looks wet add a little more flour)
- Wrap dough in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least two hours, or overnight.
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
- After refrigerating, roll the dough onto a floured surface. You want it to be between 1/8 and 1/4 of an inch typically.
- Use a cup or glass to make circles in your dough (about a 6-inch circumference).
- Add about a teaspoon of your choice of filling in the center of each dough circle.
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9. Fold three sides up to make it look like a triangle. Make sure most of the filling is in the dough. Seal the sides tightly!
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10. Place on a greased cookie sheet and bake for about 15 minutes or until lightly browned.
