Purim is Celebrated This Week!

This week is a very special celebration called Purim. It comes from the book of Esther when all the Jewish people were set up to be destroyed, but God used Esther to get it turned around. I attend a Pentacostal church where the pastor is Jewish and he is wonderfully teaching us about our Jewish heritage---very important since we are grafted in because of our "father" Abraham. My Pastor talked Sunday about the celebration as being a turn around. Then Sunday afternoon I visited a local synagogue that I never even knew existed. They were open to the public that day and had tables set up depicting the different Jewish holidays. And there was a table for Purim. Below is a list of what is going on this week. As for me, I'm rereading the book of Esther and declaring my own turn around and the turn around of our nation to awaken to God.

Shabbos Zachor
Saturday, March 7 which is 11 Adar
Special Torah Reading - Parshas Zachor - to be heard by all members of the family - men, women and children.

Taanis Esther
Monday, March 9 which is 13 Adar
We fast from 3 hours before daybreak until after nightfall.
Half-Shekel.

Purim Eve
Monday Night, March 9 which is 14 Adar
After nightfall, during the Maariv/Arvit services, the Megilla is read from a parchment scroll for all those who are present in the Synagogue. If one is unable to attend, a private reading should be arranged. Contact your local Chabad-Lubavitch center.
The Al Hanisim prayer is added in the evening Amida.

Purim Day
Tuesday, March 10 which is 14 Adar
The Al Hanisim prayer is added in the Amida.
Special Torah Reading
Megilla reading
Giving of Mishloach Manot - food gifts
Matanot L'evyonim - Charity to the poor
Festive meal in the afternoon after Mincha services. If one is unable to attend the synagogue, a special Megilla reading should be made at their location. Contact your local Chabad-Lubavitch center.

Shushan Purim
Wednesday, March 11 which is 15 Adar
This day is celebrated as Purim Day in Jerusalem.
No Tachnun said.

"Purim is the festival that commemorates the breathtaking victory over the murderous designs of Haman. It is observed on the fourteenth day of the Hebrew month of Adar. In the event that there are 2 months of Adar (as this year 5763 - 2003) - due to the reconciliation of the Jewish Calendar which is Lunar and the secular/world calendar which is Solar, - Purim is celebrated in the second Adar. This joyous festival reveals the hidden Hand of G-d in the events of man. It is a day to be celebrated by the entire family -- not only adults and boys and girls past Bar/Bas Mitzvah, but youngsters too should be encouraged to fulfill the mitzvot of Purim." Taken from: http://www.sichosinenglish.org/cgi-bin/calendar?holiday=purim11

I pray you have a turnaround in your life this Purim festival.
Let the Destiny in You Arise!!