Starting Purim Early, Dance Fest for Women

Here in Shiloh we celebrate two days of Purim, although our local Chief Rabbi Elchanan Bin-Nun has been consulting with Torah scholars to get a final psak, halachik decision for us to join other ancient Biblical cities in celebrating only Shushan Purim, which is the second day.

After thirty-seven 37 years of a double Purim, it's pretty routine for me. There are advantages, OK only one or two I can think of.

1. We can give our kids a choice about which day they want to come to us, as long as it's a group decision.
2. We get to know the text of Megilat (Scroll of) Ester really well.

When I was young, I'd frequently find myself pulling an overnighter, needing all of that second night to cook for a second feast and mishloach manot, the food gifts one gives out. Now I can't do that, and I don't need to. We do less entertaining, and with just the two of us home, I also give out fewer food gifts.

At one time, I promoted having the second night as the perfect time for a Women's Purim Party. I blogged about one as Baile Rochel, Got That Rhythm! In recent years I haven't even gone to most of the parties, whichever night they had been held. Generally as I'd approach the location, the tsunami-like super-loud music pushed me away. But yesterday (a few days before Purim) was this year's party, and I had promised my friend, who was going to lead Belly Dancing that I'd come. 

My Belly Dancing friend added a few costume additions, so I'd look the part. Sorry, but I'm not posting a full body pose. I had never done that genre of dance, except that one time I wrote about, but did my best to follow. I didn't do too badly, though I was the oldest in the hall, even old enough to be the grandmother of some of the others there. 

Belly Dancing was great fun. Maybe I should convince her to give classes next year. It certainly makes one move every single muscle and parts of the body that in my case had been frozen for decades. 

Now, I'm ready for our two-day Purim Marathon!

Not Quite The Saturday Night of One's Dreams

As "old marrieds," we rarely do anything on Saturday nights. If there's an "event" here in Shiloh, I usually go, but they aren't frequent. Last night was a Memorial Shiur (Torah lecture), in memory of a neighbor who had passed away a few years ago. Rabbi Elchanan Bin Nun spoke about Purim Meshulash, "Triple Purim," which we have this year.

Purim is on Friday, meaning that Shushan Purim is on Shabbat, but we can't do the usual Purim Mitzvot on Shabbat, so what happens? And in Shiloh, since we celebrate "double Purim," it's even more complicated. I wrote this the last time we had Purim Meshulash. G-d willing, bli neder, I'll write more about the Halachot (Jewish Laws) later.

In the middle of his talk, the emergency beeper went off. Our hostess ran over to check. While she was out of the room, there were whispers, "It's announcing a funeral." And yes, a half hour after getting home, I was at the funeral of Shiloh's oldest citizen.