SHUSHAN PURIM AT THE ZOO

Celebrating Purim with the Children

I made my annual visit to the zoo on Shushan Purim and celebrated with a mixed crowd of animals, some furrier than others, and weirdly some even had human faces. Midget Royalty paraded through the zoo park: a host of kings and queens, princes and princesses, cohanim, butterflies and ladybugs, and more. We all know that Purim is not Purim without children showing off their costumes and painted faces. Yet, you often wonder who are enjoying showing off their little ones in costumes more, the children and babies or the proud parents and grandparents. Especially when you observe a young child attempting to pull his wings off or quickly snap his head off, or makeup smeared from ear to ear which makes you contemplate as to what or who they were originally, all the while parents are frantically trying to keep them together in one piece, at least until the photo shoot is over.

MISHLOAH MANOT FOR PURIM

The celebration of Purim symbolizes the triumph of good over evil. The customs of Purim include exchanging food portions with friends and neighbors, giving gifts to the poor and underprivileged, holding a festive meal or banquet, and most important is the reading of Megilat Esther. I was on the list of several friends, including my synagogue, as a recipient of their generous mishloah manot delivered directly to my front door. It really gives an older person a warm feeling to receive surprising gifts of such generosity. May we become a partner with Hashem and triumph over the wicked Haman of our generation!