You may have noticed that one of the traditional foods which is eaten on Purim is a triangular shaped cookie, usually filled with prunes, poppy seeds, chocolate or apricot filling. These cookies are known as "Hamantaschen", or “Haman’s pockets" in Yiddish, and referred to as "Oznei Haman," "Haman’s ears," in Hebrew. It is also customary to eat seeds and nuts during Purim to remember the foods that Queen Esther ate in the palace of the King when she had no access to kosher food. In addition to conducting a Purim feast with delicious foods during the day on Purim, it is also part of the practice of Purim to deliver gifts of food to friends, neighbors and relatives on Purim day, to add to the communal sense of joy all people should share in on Purim. And to make sure that no one at all is left out, there is a special commandment to deliver gifts of food or money to people in need, so that they, too, can celebrate the holiday in the joy it is meant to be celebrated.
Rabbi Balkany wishes you and your family, and all people around the world, a very happy and special Purim celebration.
