Enhance your family's holiday experience while honouring the Purim obligations

There are four things we are obligated to do on Purim. Using the four mitzvot as a guide, here are some suggestions for making this year’s Purim more meaningful for your family.

Mitzvah #1: Hear the Megillah

• Watch a DVD of one of Beth Tzedec’s past Purim plays before you hear the Megillah. You will see the story come to life (with a twist) so that you are familiar with it before Purim night.
• Make a candy greggar! Decorate a box of Mike & Ikes (or other candy) and use the decorated box as your greggar to share when you hear Haman’s name. At the end of the story, share the candies with your family. The Megillah story will never sound sweeter!
• Make Megillah finger puppets of each character and use your fingers to tell the story. Click here for template finger puppets.

Mitzvah #2: Have a Purim Seudah

• The story of Purim took place in Persia. Have a Persian-themed seudah this year, with your menu fitting the setting of the Purim Megillah.
• Instead of a placecard, give people a mask with their name on the back. All of a sudden, even people who didn’t have a costume have something festive to wear. Click here to try these Megillah character masks.
• Get creative with dessert. Click here to check out this great article featuring 32 different hamantashen recipes.

Mitzvah #3: Send Mishloah Manot

• Come to the Beth Tzedec Purim Carnival on Wednesday, March 4 and help make mishloaẖ manot that will be given out to the elderly in the community, and sign up as family volunteers to help deliver them.
• Have each member of your family choose one of the items that goes into your mishloaẖ manot. This will help personalize them and make each a unique gift from your family.

Mitzvah #4: Give Gifts to the Poor

• As a family, pick a charity that supports those less fortunate and make a donation—either money, food or giving of your time.
• Take one of the mishloaẖ manot that you made and give them out to someone on the streets.
• Make a donation to Beth Tzedec’s Out of the Cold program.