Shalom aleichem! I hope everyone had a blessed Chanukah. The celebration of Purim is right around the corner - March 4, 2007. Although it is not a Biblically commanded holiday it is a day that holds much wisdom and meaning for those of us living in the last days. The story of how Purim can be found in the book of Esther. Many of us are familiar with the story of how a young girl named Hadassah became Queen Esther of Persia, and saved her people from annihilation, but what does this book have to do with us - especially a book which does not even mention the name of God? When we look at Esther with Hebrew eyes and mindset, instead of Greek ones, we begin to see much more than a good story! The Winter 2007 issue contains information on Purim, and I hope that you will take the time to learn more about this feast, why we should remember it and the different ways we can celebrate it.
Shalom,
Hadassa
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| Peter at the home of Cornelius. |
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On His Mind
Part 2
In part one of this article published in the Summer 2006 issue I discussed one of two actions that places us on the mind of God. I would now like to discuss the second action of Cornelius, which according to Acts 10:2 is the giving of alms, or giving to the needy. This is not an article on tithing, although the Bible tells us when we tithe according to the Torah that a percentage of that tithe is to go to the needy. I'm sure most of us understand how prayer keeps us on the mind of Yahweh, but how does giving to the needy?
Yahweh has always been concerned with the poor. They are mentioned many times throughout Scripture. When we are concerned and act on that concern, then we are doing the will of Yahweh, and when we do His will, we are on His mind. This is an excellent time to discuss giving because one of the acts we can perform to celebrate Purim is to give to those in need. This is not to say that we do it only at Purim. We want to be sure that it is a regular part of our obedience to Yahweh.
For the poor will never cease out of the land: therefore I command you, saying, You shall surely open your hand to your brother, to your needy, and to your poor, in your land. Deuteronomy 15:11
This Scripture tells us that the needy will always be among us. It also commands us to aid them. Yahweh has made us responsible to help them.
John Wesley, the co founder of the Methodist church understood this very well. He believed that as servants of God we should work hard and earn as much money as we can, but not so that we can improve our lifestyle, or to spend it on frivolous things. He also advocated being thrifty and saving as much money as possible. It was not to be wasted on expensive foods, extravagant clothing, homes, and decorations. It was also not to be placed in a savings account for a rainy day. So what, according to Wesley was one supposed to do with the all the money made from working so hard? Give it away. This was Wesley's entire motivation for earning. His plan was:
1. Give to yourself what you need for your living expenses.
2. Take care of your family and employees, because if you did not you were worse than a heathen.
3. Give to the household of faith
4. Finally give to the poor and needy, even if they were not believers. Giving to those who did not believe you demonstrate God's kindness and love, and make His presence known to others.
To John Wesley money was for giving. He practiced what he preached. In one year he made over $1 million dollars, quite a large sum in those days. He lived on 2% of his income, and gave 98% away. It is said that when he died, he only had a few coins and a couple of silver spoons in his home. This was a man who did all that he could to aid the poor.
It was also John Wesley who said, "Preach 90 percent Law and 10 percent grace." and "Before I preach love, mercy and grace, I must preach sin, Law and judgment."
Our attitude in giving also matters to Yahweh.
Let each man give according as he has determined in his heart; not grudgingly, or under compulsion; for God loves a cheerful giver. 2 Corinthians 9:7
Because we are commanded to aid the poor, we should be happy to do it, because we are fulfilling His word.
And if a brother or sister is naked and in lack of daily food, and one of you tells them, "Go in peace, be warmed and filled;" and yet you didn't give them the things the body needs, what good is it? James 2:16
In Hebrew thinking giving is considered Tzedakah, (righteousness) righteous behavior. One of the highest forms of giving is to give to someone in need and the recipient does not know who the giver is. Giving is an act of love and kindness. It is also our duty according to the Torah. Loving and caring for one another shows that we love God.
For I was hungry, and you gave me food to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave me drink; I was a stranger, and you took me in;
naked, and you clothed me; I was sick, and you visited me; I was in prison, and you came to me.'
"Then the righteous will answer him, saying, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry, and feed you; or thirsty, and give you a drink?
When did we see you as a stranger, and take you in; or naked, and clothe you?
When did we see you sick, or in prison, and come to you?'
"The King will answer them, 'Most assuredly I tell you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.' Matthew 25:35-40 WEB
We know that our Messiah Yeshua gave to the poor.
"Why wasn't this ointment sold for three hundred denarii, {300 denarii was about a year's wages for an agricultural laborer.} and given to the poor?" Now he said this, not because he cared for the poor, but because he was a thief, and having the money box, used to steal what was put into it. John 13:5-6 WEB
The Messiah and the talmidim (disciples) kept a money box which Judas was in charge of. Here we are given a peek into Judas' character as a person who would steal from the poor.
In Yeshayahu (Isaiah) chapter 58 the people are wondering why when they fast does Yahweh not hear or notice. He answers that it is because they fast and do their own pleasure, and that it leads to strife and contention. A fast to Yahweh is not to put on sackcloth and spread ashes over ourselves.
Isn't this the fast that I have chosen: to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the bands of the yoke, and to let the oppressed go free, and that you break every yoke? Is it not to distribute your bread to the hungry, and to bring the poor that are cast out to your house? And when you see the naked, that you cover him; and that you fulfill your duties to your family? Isaiah 58:6-7 WEB
A true fast of Yahweh is to give what you would have eaten to those that are hungry. What does the Eternal say He will do when we do these things?
Then your light shall break forth as the morning, and your health shall spring forth speedily: and your righteousness shall go before you; and the glory of Yahweh shall be your reward. Then shall you call, and Yahweh shall answer; you shall cry, and He shall say here I am. If you take away from your midst the yoke, the finger pointing, and the speaking of unrighteousness; and if you extend your heart to the hungry, and satisfy the afflicted being: then your light shall rise as noonday: And Yahweh shall guide you continually, and satisfy your being in drought, and make fat your bones: and you shall be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water whose waters fails not. Yeshayahu (Isaiah) 58: 8-11
What wonderful promises!
In a time when everyone seeks to get more for themselves let us be more mindful of those who don't have and give to those in need. We all should desire to be like Cornelius, and be on the mind of Yahweh, so that when we call on Him, He will say Hinayni (Here I AM).
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| Esther Accuses Haman |
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Celebrating Purim
The Feast of Purim is the story of how a courageous young woman saved the Jews from annihilation during the time of Ahasuerus, King of Persia. Although the name of God is not directly mentioned in the book, there is no doubt that He is in control. The word Purim comes from the word meaning "lots". Haman who was an advisor to the king hated the Jews and wanted to destroy them. He used lots to determine the day of their destruction.
The lot is cast into the lap, But its every decision is from Yahweh. Proverb 16:33
How do we celebrate Purim? Here are some ideas.
With the family...
Gather the family together and read the Book of Esther. If you have younger children, you can have a Purim party and have them dress up as Queen Esther, Mordecai, Queen Vashti. You can also have them act out certain parts of story.
It is traditional that during the reading of the book that the children have groggers. Groggers are noisemakers and every time the name of Haman is mentioned they twirl them. Whenever Mordecai's name is mentioned the children cheer. (I have links where you can find directions for your children to make their own at the Children's Corner)
You can also have them put on a puppet show to tell the story.
After the reading have a special meal that would include Hamantaschens, or "Haman's pockets" (Be sure to check out the Kosher Kitchen for recipes).
Sharing and helping others...
Put together a special Purim basket with foods and treats and deliver to someone who is sick or shut-in or give financially to help the poor or those with a special need. This is a wonderful way to teach our children on giving.
Fasting
In Jewish observance it is tradition to fast on the day before Purim. This is called the Fast of Esther. The are actually two fasts called for in the Book of Esther. The first one by Esther herself when she agrees to seek the King on behalf of her people and tells Mordecai to have the Jews fast for three days. The second fast is called for on the 13th day of Adar the day before Haman's decree is to be carried out. It is actually this fast that is being commemorated, but it is called the Fast of Esther in honor of the heroine of the story.
More Than Meets the Eye
The book of Esther is an exciting story, full of suspense and intrigue, but what exactly does this book mean to us? Esther was raised up by God "for such a time as this." At the time Esther was taken into the palace there was no threat. However, the Eternal who knows all placed Esther in the position of Queen long before there was a hint of danger. This was no coincidence. Coincidences do not occur in the lives of those who follow Yahweh. The name Esther means hidden. In a book where His Name is not mentioned, He is there quietly working behind the scenes - arranging everything to occur the way He has ordained it to be. Yahweh is not absent from the book of Esther, but His work was hidden from their site. He had secured the means of rescue before the trouble began!
There are times perhaps when we find ourselves in situations where we do not want to be. We get angry, even rebel against our circumstances. (By the way - do you think Esther wanted to be queen?) However, there comes a time when Yahweh speaks to us and tells us He has placed us in our circumstances for "such a time as this." Personally, I remember when my husband announced that we would be moving from my much loved home to a place that, well lets just say it did not make my list of top 100 places I would ever want to live. I tried to make the best of it, but then when we got there I was miserable. That is until I realized that Yahweh had been quietly working in my life to bring me where I was for a purpose. At that point I began to understand things about Him, that in my learning had been hidden from me. In these days let us be more aware that Yahweh is not a God who sits on the sidelines and only gets involved when we ask Him to. He is always working quietly, behind the scenes even using those who deny Him, to bring about His purposes.
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| Hamantashen |
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Shalom ladies!
Our next set of recipes are going to be themed for Purim.
From Wikipedia:
"Purim is a joyous holiday that commemorates the deliverance of all the Jews at the time who were living under the authority of the Persian Empire, resulting from the Babylonian captivity (after Persia had conquered Babylonia), from Haman's plot to exterminate them, as recorded in the Biblical book of Esther. It is characterized by public recitation of the Book of Esther, giving mutual gifts of food and drink, giving charity to the poor, and a celebratory meal (Esther 9:22); other customs include drinking alcohol, wearing masks and costumes, and public celebration.
Purim is celebrated annually on the 14th of Adar. In cities that were walled in the time of Joshua, including Jerusalem, Purim is celebrated on the 15th of the month, known as Shushan Purim. As with all Jewish/Biblical holidays, Purim begins at sundown on the previous secular day."
I hope that you enjoy the recipes!
HAMANTASHEN
6 eggs
1 cup butter or shortening
2 cups sugar
2-1/2 teaspoon baking powder
6 cups flour
1/3 cup milk
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 teaspoon orange extract
This makes a soft dough. Roll dough out and cut into rounds. (It is easier to use an ice cream scoop. Cut scooped dough in half and pat into a circle with your fingers.) Use flour on board. Put about 1 teaspoon of filling on each round and bring edges together into triangles or hats. Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes. Use prune, mohn or your favorite filling.
PERSIAN LAMB STEW
6 tablespoons margarine
2 scallions, chopped
1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped
3-1/2 lbs lean lamb meat, cubed
1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
1 lemon, cut into wedges
1 (16-ounce) can red kidney beans, drained
1 tablespoon salt
2 teaspoons freshly ground black pepper
Melt 2 tablespoons margarine in a large pot. Add scallions and parsley - fry until the parsley is dark green. Melt the remaining margarine in another frying pan. Add the lamb and brown the cubes.
Add the lamb to the other pot. Add lemon juice and lemon wedges. Cover with water. Stir, cover and simmer for 1 hour 15 minutes. Stir in the kidney beans, salt and pepper. Add water to cover the food, plus an inch. Cover and simmer for another 20 minutes, until the lamb is tender. Serve with rice.
NOTE: What would a feast of Shushan be without some good Persian cooking? This is a treat from one of the oldest Jewish communities in the world, dating back to the exile of Nebuchadnezzar, King of Babylon in BCE.
POPPY SESAME COOKIES (LOW-FAT)
5 tablespoons butter
1/3 cup sugar
2 tablespoons corn syrup
2 tablespoons milk
1/2 cup sesame seeds
2 tablespoons poppy seeds
2 tablespoons millet
These cookies spread out as they cook, so a small amount of dough goes further than you might think. Bake as many as you like, cover the remaining dough with plastic wrap and refrigerate up to one week. Millet is available in some supermarkets and health food stores.
Cook butter, sugar, corn syrup and milk in medium skillet over medium heat and stir with wooden spoon until butter is melted and all ingredients are thoroughly combined. Add sesame seeds, poppy seeds and millet and mix well. Transfer
to glass bowl, cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate or freeze until firm, about 30 minutes.
Shape batter into 1-inch rounds and place 2 inches apart on foil-lined baking sheet. Bake at 350 degrees until browned evenly, about 10 minutes. Watch closely because cookies brown quickly. Cool. Peel off foil.
Have a FUN and blessed Purim! :)
In our Messiah Yeshua,
Vered
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Movies for Purim
Esther (1998) from Trimark Home Video Bible series. Esther is played by Louise Lombard, and Mordecai by F. Murray Abraham. This is a good movie, which stays pretty much faithful to Scripture.
One Night With the King. The movie stars Tiffany Dupont, Luke Goss, John Noble, Omar Sharif, John Rhys-Davies. While this movie is more recent, and with an obviously bigger budget than the aforementioned Esther, I find that I did not like it as much. It focused too much on the political, and not enough the actual story.
VeggieTales - Esther, the Girl Who Became Queen Great movie for young children, (and also the young at heart  )
If you have older children, I would recommend Esther, because it is more faithful to Scriptures and although One Night With The King is more visually stimulating it may be a little difficult for children to follow because of the political story line and other elements added that do not follow Scripture. In my opinion the story of Esther is exciting enough without adding anything to it.
These movies can be purchased from Amazon.com.
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Ruth & Esther: Shadows of Our Future by Frank Morgan, MD
Book description from Amazon.com:
This inspiring book explores the timeless love stories of Ruth and Esther. It shows how these enchanting narratives speak of the elect of all Israel and even reveal our future as Believers. The God of Israel long-ago divided Israel, His bride, into two houses: Ephraim and Judah. The history of both of these houses of Israel, and their divine destiny, is hidden in these fascinating books of Scripture. In breathtaking fashion they reveal the redemption and restoration of all Israel. In his encouraging style, Frank Morgan shares some of the wonderful insights the Father has allowed him to see in the Word (Jeremiah 33:3; Isaiah 48:6). He unveils the deep truths found in these stories of a widow and a maiden, both of whom were used mightily by the God of Israel. Morgan eloquently provides glimpses of the depth of YHVH's great love for each of us; he also provides many insights into the Father's great and glorious latter-day plan for a reunited, redeemed, and fully restored people of Israel.
Sarah's Tent:
I enjoyed reading this book. The Books of Ruth and Esther take on a completely different perspective, as Dr. Morgan shows us that they are shadows of our future. This book is published by Key of David Publishing, and can be purchased from www.mim.net and Amazon.com.
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I have created two worksheets in pdf format that you may download and print as many as you like for Purim.
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Chag Purim Sameach!
Berachot b'shem Yeshua HaMashiach!
(Blessings in the name of Yeshua the Messiah)
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