Tastes Like Home…

by Rina Liebeskind

Rina Liebeskind is the Education Director at Kol Ami Synagogue, and recently traveled to Israel for an Educators’ Mission sponsored by the iCenter, the Jewish Education Project, and Shorashim. The goal of the mission was to show support to Israel by meeting with educators, hostage family members, and officials. While there, Rina had the opportunity to volunteer and also tour some of the displaced community sites. As a visiting educator, Rina saw first-hand the aftermath of the events of October 7th and is now sharing her experiences with learners back home.

Shalom

On Saturday, March 23rd, Jewish people worldwide will celebrate Purim, the most festive and joyous holiday of the year.

Many will be practicing the tradition of Mishloach Manot - the custom of sending little baskets of food to friends and neighbors. Here at Kol Ami, our students baked Hamantaschen with the help of Bruce Bayne from the MoKA (Men of Kol Ami) and a few other volunteers. Many of these Hamantaschen cookies will be added to the goodie bags that one of our parents helped prepare for our staff's Mishloach Manot.

As I'm contemplating the juxtaposition between the Mitzvah of increasing the joy during the month of Adar and the fact that there is a war in Israel and that we still have 134 men, women, and children held hostage in Gaza, it is exceedingly challenging to think about costumes, baking, and cooking for the holiday.

However, somehow, life goes on, and we find strength and inspiration in the work of others.

I want to share a website I often visit: Taste Like Home. As explained below, this site offers a creative way to find out more about those who cannot celebrate this holiday with their families and to share your Purim recipes with others: 

"134 Israelis are currently held hostage in Gaza. Each individual among them has a name, a face, family, friends, hobbies—and a favorite cookie."

This site offers a beautiful, poignant, and delicious way to create relationships and understanding of our 134 family members currently held hostage in Gaza for 160 days.

Please visit the site to learn recipes, read about our fellow Jews held captive, and find a favorite baked good to add to your Mishloach Manot this Purim. Please contribute by taking a photo and uploading it with the tag @tastes_like_home.

Do not let the hostages held in Israel become some forgotten part of the current conflict. We must do all we can to bring them home now!