Purim

I grew up in a religiously conservative household. My mother kept — and still keeps — a Kosher house, and up until I turned 13, we went to synagogue weekly and to Hebrew school on Wednesdays and Sundays. Now that I’m older, it’s clear to me that my parents subjected us — and I use that term lightly — to the traditional Jewish upbringings that they both had, and not because they devoutly believed in any particular aspect of the religion.

At this point in my life, I wouldn’t consider myself traditionally religious, but I would certainly consider myself Jewish and practicing. And, as Purim fast approaches, I fondly remember Congregation Beth Shalom and their annual Purim Carnival. I’ll always associate this particular holiday with the goldfish I would win – and that would die a week later – at the carnival, and the hamantaschen we’d pick up on the way home from one of the Kosher bakeries.

I never once dressed up for the holiday, though some equate the modern celebration of Purim to the Jewish Halloween. I did get pretty feisty with the gregors, though.

If you’re looking for a way to celebrate Purim with minimal effort, try your hand at making these de-licious hamantaschen. To all those celebrating, חג שמח!