Tomorrow is the Jewish festival of Purim. One of the big mitzvot associated with Purim is Mishloach Manot, sending food gifts to your neighbors. This practice was encouraged mainly to increase the level of brotherhood felt among the Jewish Nation - although we often choose to give gifts to our friends and family, it is also an excellent opportunity to give to people with whom you are not yet close friends, as a way of encouraging friendship.
This morning on Israeli radio, I heard an interview with a number of residents of Sderot and the surrounding areas, who are under an almost daily bombardment. One person interviewed was kindergarten teacher Daphna Solomon, who described how the city has been inundated with Mishloach Manot. Packages have been arriving from all over the country and from around the world. Her genuine happiness at this was heartwarming. She explained that each of her kindergarteners is going home with two or three packages. As a class, they open each package, look on a map of Israel to see where it is from, and then write a thank you letter. Daphna said that it was like getting a big hug from the entire country.
Afterward, the mayor was interviewed. He said
“This nation is the best nation in the world. There is no house that has not received twice or three times.”
Let’s hope that on this Purim we can all find a way to spread as much joy.
Happy Purim.
March 20th, 2008 at 6:17 pm
[…] One holiday tradition is to send friends and families baskets of gifts and cookies called mishloach manot. Months before the holiday, preparations begin for the festivities. This year in particular, a nationwide effort was made to honor the brave people of Sderot, who are at the battle lines of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Josh of Blogs of Zion recounts a heartwarming tale of Purim generosity. This morning on Israeli radio, I heard an interview with a number of residents of Sderot and the surrounding areas, who are under an almost daily bombardment. One person interviewed was kindergarten teacher Daphna Solomon, who described how the city has been inundated with Mishloach Manot. Packages have been arriving from all over the country and from around the world. Her genuine happiness at this was heartwarming. She explained that each of her kindergarteners is going home with two or three packages. As a class, they open each package, look on a map of Israel to see where it is from, and then write a thank you letter. Daphna said that it was like getting a big hug from the entire country. […]
March 30th, 2008 at 5:21 am
[…] Fomba fanao iray mandritra ity fety ity ny fifandefasana fanomezana sy bisikitra anaty harona antsoina hoe mishloach manot any amin’ny tapaka sy namana havana sy tapaka. Volana maro mialoha ny fety, dia efa omanina sahady izany. Tamin’ity taona ity manokana dia nisy ezaka manokan’ny firenena manontolo natao hanomezam-boninahitra ny vahoakan’i Sderot, izay tafiditra ho ao anatin’ny faritra ifanandrinan’Isiraely sy Palestina. Mitantara ny fahatsaran’ny Porima izay mampientanentana indray i Josh mpanoratra ny Blogs of Zion(bolongan’i Ziona). […]
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