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~~ The Reading Room ~~
presents:
My Jewish Holidays
)
©Bes
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the personalized information you provide)
David Michael Miland
celebrates Jewish Holidays
For a dear son, from
Mom & Dad
with all our love!
David Michael Miland, age 7, of
Minneapolis, Minnesota, was excited because he was going to a
Purim festival. Tyler and Jamie also looked forward to the holiday
because during Purim you get to
dress in colorful costumes and wear masks.
David was thinking about what to wear when he remembered the biblical story of Esther, which explains why Jews celebrate Purim.
Long ago, a wicked advisor, named Haman, convinced the king that he should destroy the Jewish people. Queen Ester and her uncle Mordecai were Jews who uncovered a plot against the king and saved the king's life. The king rewarded them by saving the lives of the Jewish people.
To honor Mordecai, the king ordered Haman to parade the royal horse through the streets while Mordecai rode proudly.
During Purim there are plays, gifts and games. There are always treats like hamantaschen, three-cornered cakes filled with fruit or poppy seeds. Tyler and Jamie looked forward to eating these special Purim treats.
Since David couldn't decide what to wear to the Purim celebration, he thought, "What about dressing like a hero from Hanukkah?"
In the Hanukkah story, a non-Jewish king named Antiochus would not let the Jews worship God in their Holy Temple in Jerusalem. Mattathias, together with his son, Judah, organized a group of freedom fighters called the Maccabees. They fought and won a war against the king's powerful army.
"Maybe I could go to the party as Judah the Maccabee?" thought David.
After the war, the Maccabees wanted to rekindle the light of the menorah in the Holy Temple. They found a small jar of oil, enough for just one day. Miraculously, the oil burned for eight days and nights.
David knew that Jews celebrate Hanukkah for eight days by lighting the menorah. One candle is lit on the first night, then two on the second evening and so on until all eight candles are burning brightly.
During Hanukkah friends and families exchanged gifts. There are delicious treats like potato pancakes, called latkes, and jelly donuts. We play games with a four-sided top called a dreidel and receive Hanukkah gelt.
"Hannukkah is a lot of fun, but I still can't decide what to wear to the Purim carnival," thought David.
"Maybe I could dress like Moses," David thought.
Tyler and Jamie had told him the Passover story of how Moses freed the Jewish people from slavery in Egypt. Moses led the people of Israel across the sea to the desert where they traveled for 40 years. Finally, they returned to the Holy Land.
On the night of Passover, families gather for the Sedar. They read the Haggadah, a story that tells of the exodus from Egypt.
The people of Israel left Egypt in such a hurry that there was no time to wait until they bread dough could rise. That's why during Passover Jewish people eat unleavened bread, called matzo.
They also display special foods like a roasted bone, a roasted egg, horseradish, parsley and a tasty apple dip, called charoses.
David knew that during the Seder, the youngest child asks "the four questions" and everyone answers. They eat a delicious meal and drink four cups of wine. The leader of the Seder hides a piece of matzo, called the afikoman. The child who finds the afikoman gets a reward.
David thought again about which costume to wear to the Purim celebration. All of a sudden, he had the answer and started to work on the best costume ever!
Can Tyler and Jamie guess what he will be for Purim? Will you tell us, David?
~ ~ ~
David Michael Miland,
Enjoy this book.
A special gift from
Mom & Dad
