Purim 2010

Megillah Reading: Saturday, February 27 - 14 Adar 5770

Gideon Frishman gets help chanting. Photo by Peter Maer.

Join us for four easy steps to a wonderful Purim!

1. Purim Services with Full Megillah Reading, Saturday, February 27, 6:45pm. Megillah reading, special surprises, and kids' activities! See the flyer. Join the parade and come dressed in your favorite cartoon or comic book character. The Jetson Lounge will be open after the service for ice cream sundaes, coffee bar & video game challenges for the young and the young at heart! No charge!

2. Send Mishloach Manot. It's not Purim if you can't send mishloach manot (gifts of food) to all of your nearest and dearest friends. OT and Sisterhood make it easy for you to send gifts of food and help the Capital Campaign at the same time. We deliver the bags to your friends and neighbors in the area on February 23, 24, and 25. See our Purim Project mishloach manot information below.

3. Give Tzedakah. You know how to do this!

4. Eat and Celebrate. To help you get started, here are some wonderful OT hamentaschen recipes. (Watch for more in the next day or so.)

Talya's Favorite Hamentaschen (Pareve; this recipe makes a lot!)

Ingredients

6 sticks of margarine
6 cups of flour
1/4 cup water
juice of 1/2 lemon (about 2 TBS lemon juice)
1/2 cup sugar
2 bags (about 2 TBS) vanilla sugar*

*Vanilla sugar is an Israeli product that comes in small packets. It is available at KosherMart and other markets that sell Israeli products. You may substitute about 1 tsp pure vanilla extract for vanilla sugar.

Filling
Powdered sugar

Directions

1. Mix all ingredients in a mixer or by hand to form dough. Roll out dough to between 1/8" and 1/4" (thin, but not to the point of falling apart).

2. Use the rim of a glass to cut out circles. Fill each with approximately 1 tsp desired filling and pinch to close.

3. Bake on a greased cookie sheet for 35 min in a preheated 350 degree oven.

4. Sprinkle with powdered sugar when cool.

OT Preschool's Favorite, from the Preschool cookbook: Family Favorites (Pareve)

Ingredients

4 eggs
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup oil
juice and grated rind of 1 lemon
1 tsp vanilla
5 or more cups flour
2 tsp. baking powder

Directions

1. Mix all ingredients.

2. Add flour until dough is no longer sticky.

3. Form dough into circles, and add a spoonful of your favorite filling.

4. Fold sides up to form 3 corners. Press together.

5. Bake on a greased pan at 350 degrees for about 20 minutes.

From the Sisterhood Cookbook: With Love and Best Dishes (Pareve)

Ingredients

1/2 cup shortening or pareve margarine
1 cup sugar or a little less
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
2-3 cups flour
2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
Filling: 3/4 lb pitted prunes or apricots, 1/2 c. white raisins, juice & rind of 1 lemon, 1/2 c. sugar (opt.) 1/2 c. chopped nuts (opt.)

Directions

1. Cream together sugar and shortening. Add eggs and vanilla. Mix well.

2. Add flour, baking powder, and salt. Dough tends to be sticky. Add additional flour and refrigerate in a plastic bag.

3. Soak dried fruit in hot water, then cook in microwave until soft. Add lemon rind and juice. Add sugar if desired. Filling should be lumpy. Add nuts if desired. Refrigerate.

4. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

5. Roll out dough on a floured board to 1/4 inch thick. Using a glass about 3 inches in diameter, cut rounds from the dough.

6. After cutting the circles, flip them over on the floured board so they don't stick to the surface.

7. Place a small amount of filling in the middle of each round, then fold up sides to form triangles.

8. Bake for 15 minutes.

Purim Project Manot

HOW DO I PARTICIPATE?

VIA MAIL. You were sent a letter that included a list of congregants. Choose the names you want and send your list and check payable to Olam Tikvah to the synagogue's main office.

VIA INTERNET. You should have received a letter with a unique username and password. Use the link to the left to make your choices on line. Using the Internet gives you the added option of including a personal greeting. You may pay by check or credit card. (Note: when you log on, you will not find your own name on the computerized list. Be assured your name will appear on other people's computerized lists.)

WHAT DOES IT COST? $18 for the first name and $2 for each name thereafter.

WHAT IS RECIPROCITY? Check the "reciprocity" option to automatically send a basket to congregants you might have overlooked and who have included you on their lists. You will be billed after the baskets are delivered.

DELIVERY RESTRICTIONS: We cannot deliver baskets to apartments or PO boxes, but we will mail the scrolls. Special arrangements have been made for Greensprings and Ashburn. Our out-of-state residents will receive a scroll with your greetings.

DEADLINES: All basket requests are due by February 16.

QUESTIONS? Contact Brenda Klemow or Joanne Stryer for more information, or to help deliver the baskets to congregants.

3800 Glenbrook Road · Fairfax, Virginia 22031 · phone 703-425-1880 · fax 703-425-0835 · info@olamtikvah.org