Students celebrate Jewish holiday by baking pastry

Nearly two dozen children in B’nai Israel Jewish Center’s religious school were busy one Sunday last month preparing a traditional food to give to older members of the center, family members and classmates.

The 23 children, members of the Irving and Edna Newman Religious School, baked over 500 “hamantaschen,” a triangular pastry made with different fillings — apricot, raspberry and apricot preserves, as well as the traditional poppy seed and prune preferred by many adults — on Feb. 21 as part of Purim, one of the most joyous holidays on the Jewish calendar. The holiday commemorates when Jewish people living in Persia were saved from extermination.

“It is a time of joy, when Jewish kids dress up, have a carnival and give to family members and friends,” said Tamar Landau, director of the school.

They were assisted by members of the center’s Men’s Club and Marsha Harris, a re-nowned challah- and hamantaschen-maker.

These children added the hamantaschen to the “shlach manot” (derived from “mishloach manot,” meaning “the sending of gifts”) boxes, which were also filled with candy — jelly beans, lollipops, chocolate raisins and/or Hershey’s kisses — as well as raisins and oranges.

More than 100 boxes were created, and the students left with two boxes each, one given to them by a classmate and the other to give to a friend or family member. The remaining boxes were delivered to the oldest members of the center by some of the families and then by small groups of students, accompanied by their teachers and parents.

“This way, the kids are able to get the whole concept. It’s a learning experience for them,” Landau said.

Giving shlach manot is one of the “mitzvot” (“commandments”) done on Purim, which also including hearing the story of Queen Esther, having a festive meal and giving to people in need.

(Contact Dan Johnson at dan.johnson@arguscourier.com)