Purim in not the best time to start a diet

Purim is a minor Jewish festival celebrating the victory of the Jewish People in the Persian Empire during the reign of King Xerxes (or Ahaseurus in the Megillah) over the evil forces of Haman, the Viceroy of Persia.  This year, Purim begins Wednesday night, March 7.  That evening we read Megillat Esther (the story of Esther), make loud noise whenever we hear the name Haman and generally have a great time.  Purim is a day that best exemplifies the phrase that all Jews have heard at one time or another, "They tried to kill us, they didn't, let's eat!"

One of the things that we are supposed to do in celebration of Purim is go give Mishloach Manot, gifts of food that we send to each other.  It's a wonderful tradition and a lot of fun.  Most Mishloach Manot baskets come with hamantashen, filled triangular cookies that signify Haman's tri-corner hat, as well as other goodies such as potato chips, pretzels, M&Ms, cookies, granola bars, and so on.  We can send Mishloach Manot through our Shul or through the JCC or, if you're really motivated, you can make your own packages and distribute them to your friends.

So, here at the Schulman household, we have received 4 baskets from friends over the past 3 days.  Baskets with goodies that are almost never in the house, and in fact I'm eating the pretzels as I type.  In addition to those baskets, Elyse, my true Eshet Chayil (Woman of Valor) and Whitney, my younger daughter, both made hamantashen on Sunday.  Did I tell you they are both wonderful bakers?

And here is my problem!!!  I'm trying to lose weight!  I want to be 1/2 the man I used to be!  You're probably not giving me a lot of sympathy, and I don't blame you, but if I had self control I wouldn't be dieting now, would I?  But, just as the Jews in Persia overcame the evil Haman, I too will overcome the evil of hamantashen!  This morning, I was on the elliptical, tomorrow morning I'll do the same, and so on, and so on and so on.

By the way, be on the lookout for a post in about a month that will be titled something like "Passover is not the best time to start a diet..."

If you celebrate Purim, have a Chag Sameach and if you follow the tradition of drinking until you cannot tell the difference between Haman and Moredechai, please be smart and give someone else the keys when you drive home.