The Rabbis wrote: “With the start of the month of ADAR, we increase joy.”

Here are some great ways to celebrate the Purim laws and customs:

1. Listen to the reading of the Whole Megillah!
2. Eat Hamantaschen (see recipes below)
3. Dress up in costume and attend a party!
4. Send Mishloach Manot (gift baskets) to friends and family
5. Enjoy a festive Purim meal (seudah) recalling the banquets given by Queen Esther
6. Contribute tzedaka (charity) to those less fortunate like Mordechai did for the poor in Shushan.

Check out these websites to learn more about these traditions:

www.myjewishlearning.com

www.jr.co/hotsites/j-hdaypu.htm

or read To Life! By Harold Kushner or The Jewish Holidays by Michael Strassfeld

EASY BAKE HAMANTASCHEN RECIPE

Original Recipe Yield 24 cookies

Ingredients

• 3 eggs
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 3/4 cup vegetable oil
• 2 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1/2 cup orange juice
• 5 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 tablespoon baking powder
• 1 cup fruit preserves, any flavor or other fillings (nutella, Pb and J)

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease cookie sheets.
2. In a large bowl, beat the eggs and sugar until lightly and fluffy. Stir in the oil, vanilla and orange juice. Combine the flour and baking powder; stir into the batter to form a stiff dough. If dough is not stiff enough to roll out, stir in more flour. On a lightly floured surface, roll dough out to 1/4 inch in thickness. Cut into circles using a cookie cutter or the rim or a drinking glass. Place cookies 2 inches apart onto the prepared cookie sheets. Spoon about 2 teaspoons of preserves or other fillings into the center of each one. Pinch the edges to form three corners.
3. Bake for 12 to 15 minutes in the preheated oven, or until lightly browned. Allow cookies to cool for 1 minute on the cookie sheet before removing to wire racks to cool completely.

I really tried to fulfill the commandment of forgiving and asking for forgiveness over Yom Kippur but one person refused to even talk to me.  A few months ago she heard from a mutual acquaintance that I had said something negative about her. We have been friends for a long time but instead of asking me about it, she just decided to believe this other girl and stop talking to me completely without even finding out if it was true. AND, it wasn’t.  It was totally taken out of context. What should I do?

-Rachel, 3^rd year

Dear Rachel,

What you are describing is so frustrating and sad. It also leaves you with so many unanswered questions…Why would she believe this other girl who is only an acquaintance over you? Why won’t she give you the benefit of the doubt? It sounds like you have attempted to reach out to her but had no response. In our Jewish tradition we are taught to reach out and apologize at least 3 sincere and authentic times. Although you truly believe that what you said was taken out of context, the fact is, she is hurting by something she thinks you said. Express your compassion by letting her know how sorry you are that she felt betrayed by anything you may have said inadvertently that could have been misconstrued. Let her know you honor her desire for space but that you sincerely want to clarify what happened, not defend it, and wish to heal this rift.

Rabbi Irwin Kula gave me insight into forgiveness recently. He shared the story of the Golden Calf where Moses, trusting his community to wait for him and have faith while he went to get the 2 tablets, felt completely betrayed that soon after he was gone, the community built an idol. ( It would be like getting married and then within a month finding out your spouse cheated!). Moses was so angry he broke the 2 tablets. The community recognized and took responsibility for their actions and promised never to do that again. Moses forgave them and went back to receive a new set of tablets but rather than forget, he placed the 2 broken tablets in the ark alongside the new tablets.  What I learned from this, is that it is possible to forgive but it is not necessary to forget. It is ok to create a safe space in my heart and mind for these experiences but not let them cloud the future.  Kula reminds us that forgiveness involves realizing what we have done, feeling the regret, resolving to do better, and repair the relationship.

You are on the right path by sincerely inquiring into what happened and your role but do not let it take over your life. You cannot know what she is thinking until she communicates. We just concluded the Fall holidays with Simchat Torah which reminds us that the Torah really is “a tree of life to those who hold on to it”. So whether or not she ever talks to you or you find resolution, hold on to these lessons and learn and grow from it.

B’Shalom, In Peace,

Devora

10 Questions Based on 10Q ReBoot www.doyou10Q.com

1. Describe a significant experience that has happened in the past year. How did it affect you?

2. Is there something that you wish you had done differently this past year? How would you have done it differently? And how can you learn from it to improve how things turn out in the future?

3. Think about a major milestone that happened with your family in this last year. How has this affected you?

4. Describe a broader event in the world that has impacted you this year? How? Why?

5. Have you had any particularly religious or spiritual experiences this past year?

6. Describe one thing you’d like to achieve by this time next year? Why is this important to you?

7. Is there a part of yourself that you want to work on in this new year?

8. Is there something (a person, a cause, an idea) that you want to investigate more fully this year?

9. What is a fear that you have and how has it limited you? Think about how you could overcome it this year.

10. When September 2011 rolls around and you revisit your answers to these 10 questions, how do you think you’ll feel? What do you think/hope might be different about your life and where you’re at as a result of pondering these questions?

I know how you feel. It has taken me a long time to learn that giving isn’t just about money and possessions; It has taken even longer to learn that giving my attention, a listening ear, a commitment, or my presence is often needed and appreciated beyond any monetary amount I could have offered. More surprisingly, it has been out of this type of giving that life seems to go deeper and peaceful. Connections open up, trust builds.

Maimonides, the great Jewish philosopher and scholar,  outlined 8 levels of Tzedaka (charitable giving):

• Help someone to help themselves

• Donor does not know who receives, receiver does not know the donor

• Donor knows the receiver, receiver doesn’t know the donor

• Receiver knows the donor, donor doesn’t know the receiver

• Give before being asked

• Give when asked

• Give-but less than you can and with happiness

• Give…unwillingly

I used to think that this ladder of giving was only intended as it relates to financial giving. Now I can see how giving encompasses so much more. So, ask your friend if there is anything you can do to support her during her training (run with her, give a massage), bring over a bowl of pasta the night before the race, send her an encouraging email or make a card, find out how you can volunteer on race day and hand her some juice or water, ask her to share about how she has been affected by cancer, or be at the finish line with a flower or balloon. Get creative and start recognizing what a giving person you are, with or without spare change.

My roommate is very wasteful and refuses to take the extra step to recycle or even turn the water off when brushing her teeth. Any suggestions?

Dani, class of 2012

This morning I was about to turn on my dishwasher and noticed a setting called “Eco.”  How did I not see this before? I have had the dishwasher for about a year…. Maybe I just didn’t have my eyes wide open. Cool. I am already considered to be pretty eco-conscious but I also like technology and efficiency. It’s really easy to get on my own soap box about what others are not doing, but the truth is, I have to first focus on what other steps I can take and just share why it matters to me and invite others to try it too.

This is the perfect time to be thinking through these issues and take a personal inventory of my personal carbon footprint… Earth day was fist celebrated in 1970 and this year it is celebrated on April 22. The Torah is filled with ways in which the Earth needs to be treated and the consequences we can expect if we are careless. The book of Leviticus, for example, warns the Children of Israel that immorality will cause the Land of Israel to “vomit” them out (Lev. 18:24-28, 20:22). Gross.

We also learn in the “Shema” that if we follow God’s word, we will receive rain, fertility and abundance  – but if we ignore God then we can expect drought and famine (Deut. 11: 13-21). Personally, I like to think of these passages as a very strong recommendation to be conscious as to how I care for the earth and the environmental consequences of my action. The shema warns: “Beware that your heart be deceived and you turn and serve other Gods and worship them” (Deut. 11:16). Maybe this verse is referring not to the typical idol but to greed and power which can cause corruption and oppression leading to the poorest people paying the price of pollution, drought and deforestation.

As students, soon to be leaders in our global economy, you have a large say in shaping the future of our planet. Just as Yom Kippur and Passover are days for reflection, so is Earth Day. Think about and appreciate the many gifts we receive from the Earth, from clean air and water to the many plants, animals and other organisms that fill our world. Get outside, go barefoot, and celebrate. Breathe in the fresh air, go see the new movie  “Oceans”, check out Hillel’s community garden on the patio… then commit to taking a new action that will bring about a stronger, more sustainable world  from buying organic food and clothing, planting a window herb garden, to signing up for Jewish Farm School’s alternative breaks (www.texashillel.org) or planting a tree in Israel (JNF).

Judaism is a tradition of taking action. What will you do?

For more information check out http://www.coejl.org/~coejlor/celebrate/earth_jewish.php

Sometimes I feel kind of lost in the crowd at UT – like no one would notice whether I am there or not. Any suggestions? – Amy, class of 2013

Hi Amy and all our readers,

You are not alone at all when it comes to feeling like this and I am so glad you brought it up.

This last Shabbat I was reading along with the Torah portion for the week and it was called Vaeira and is all about the plagues of Egypt. Heavy stuff. .But underneath all of that was this really great practical guide for living consciously and creating meaningful partnerships and community. Something that Hillel is really striving toward. The word Vaeira comes from the Hebrew word Roeh, to see, and in this case means “To be seen.” In this portion it is speaking of G-d appearing to Moses but can be viewed metaphorically as an opportunity to reflect on what is happening in our lives in the present moment and revealing ourselves authentically to those around us. It is really easy to hide out at a big school like UT but with some faith and some courage, you can speak up, reach out, and initiate friendships and community. In Vaeira Moses elicits the support of his brother Aaron to assist him in forwarding G-ds promise for redemption. We all need support in life to fulfill on our hopes, goals, and dreams. Try to find someone in your life that shares some common purpose and interests and then invite other like-minded people to join you. Turning to others who have assets we do not possess is a sign of strength, not weakness. At Hillel, we have several micro-communities that are forming regularly by people just like you. For wellness-minded folks, check out Hamsa Yoga…entrepreneurs can look into J.O.B.S…foodies should check out J-Snack….creative artists get involved with the Jewish Arts Alliance. There are so many opportunities to be Seen (known, appreciated, etc.). Do not get caught up in the plague of loneliness, disconnect, and doubt. Judaism is a tradition of taking action. Contact me today to talk more about how you can find meaningful connection and experiences.

Devora Brustin
Senior Jewish Educator
dbrustin@texashillel.org