My Conversion Story Journal

March 15, 2025

Purim is a holiday where just existing is celebrated. The ability to still be a Jew and a Jewish nation regardless of where you live in the world and overcoming evil to continue the right to exist is the entire celebration of the holiday. If Jews had died in the time of Esther, I know I wouldn't exist (even though I'm not technically a Jew).

On Purim, children are dressed up and their main thought is showing off their costume and getting candy gifts. It's cute to see. The teenage girls (and 20s it seemed) were dressed up and their main thought is friends. Some adults dressed up and some adults didn't. Thier main thoughts were making sure they fulfilled every mitzvah that was required: hearing the Magillah read day and night, giving Matanot LaEvyonim (money to the poor) and giving Mishloach Manot (food gifts to friends).



Handing out Mishloach Manot was weird. I went around the neighborhood knocking on people's doors and either sitting a bag on their doorstep next to other bags, or handing them the bag and driving away. It was weird. A friend was kind enough to go around with me, which I am thankful for, but it was still weird. Does it ever get not weird?

My favorite part of Purim was the fact that everyone was happy and laughing. There has been so much sadness and suffering that it was such a blessing to see everyone smile, laugh, and enjoy friends.

There was a comedian for the entertainment this year. Though he had a few recycled jokes, he was much better than the magician last year that obviously didn't know his audience. Just hearing everyone laugh made my day.

I love that one of the main focuses for this holiday is listening to the book of Esther read to you. I love anything that has to do with the Tanach. I guess my favorite thing about this holiday, though, is that it can't be done alone. Seeing other people happy makes me happy. That is the best thing about this holiday.

Today was Shabbat. I went downstairs for kiddush. There was a young (7 maybe?) boy that I had a conversation with. I asked him what he dressed up as for Purim. He wanted me to guess. He gave me a hint that it was the name of a car and started with the letter P. I couldn't think of any car that started with the letter P. He then said the second letter of the word is L. What car begins with PL? Police! With all of my children grown, I am definitely out of the loop on little kid spelling!

Have a great week!