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Adar*

Adar – It’s a real BALAGAN**

*The Jewish month that houses the fantastically FUN holiday of Purim!!

**a happy mess

Welcome to the official Jewish Culture Month (Adar) website of Hillel at the U of M.

We’ve chosen the month of Adar, when the Jewish people are commanded to be joyful, to explore Jewish culture with everyone on campus here at the U.  You’ve come to the right place for prizes, games, quizzes, learning, events, free stuff, excitement, and a host of other resources you will find here. With so much excitement happening in the month of Adar, it is hard to keep track of all the games, events, and more. It’s really a BALAGAN**  That is why Hillel has created the U of M Adar site, and the Adar Calendar. Now you know where to find everything…but many of you might find yourselves wondering:

—- JewishMag’s Purim Issue: Read stories, find recipes, games, activities, poems, the Megilah, and much more —-

“What the heck is Adar, and why are we supposed to be celebrating it? I didn’t know it was a holiday!”

Well you have come to the right place to answer all your questions and more. Here is the breakdown:

Adar is a month in the Hebrew Calendar. Because the American Calendar goes by the sun, and the Hebrew one by the moon, there are a number of difference. This Hebrew Month is Adar. Click “About Adar” above to learn more.

Why do we celebrate?

Adar is the happy month. While the month of Adar is not a holiday, we’re sure going to party like it is one. It holds the Jewish holiday of Purim..the holiday where once again the Jews celebrate not being annihilated.  Some peopel think of Purim as the ‘Jewish Hallowween’ and we have our own Masquerade Ball to celebrate!  You may also see us eating crazy triangular shaped cookies – called Hamantaschen. But, we are getting ahead of ourselves..Click “Events” above to check out what upcoming events you can attend, or click “Celebrations” to learn more.

What are these contests I keep hearing about? Hillel has launched a number of contests to go along with crazy celebrations that last all during the month of Adar. To take the online challenge, hit “Quiz,” at the top of the screen. To learn more about the picture, costume, and other contests, hit the “Contests” button.

– So what is Adar? –

Adar Is:

  • A Hebrew Month (Similar to the U.S. Calendar, the Hebrew one has 12 months*)
  • The final month of the Hebrew Calendar
  • A month generally associated with joy and festivities.
  • The Hebrew month of Adar is synonymous with joy because Adar has traditionally been a month of hope and good luck for the Jewish people. Adar is the last of the months on the Jewish calendar, and in this way represents completion.
  • The sages say that Adar is the best month to try to remove your personal barriers to holiness. And by removing those barriers, you create the potential for the greatest joy.

Learn more about Adar from any of this great sites:

ENJOY the month!   –  It’ really a BALAGAN**

**a happy mess!

Fun Facts

–  Jewish Fun Facts  –

  • Jewish Levi “Levi’s” Strauss (inventor of jeans) is the largest clothing retailer in the world.
  • European Jews are the founding fathers of all the Hollywood studios.
  • The most popular selling Christmas song (“White Christmas”) was written by a Jew. (Irving Berlin)
  • Jews win more Nobel prizes than any other ethnicity. They win 40 times more than should be expected of them, based upon their small population numbers.
  • A Jew (Steven Spielberg) is the most successful filmmaker since the advent of film.
  • In 1910, a Jew (Louis Blaustein) and his son opened the first gas station, eventually founding Amoco Oil.
  • The first theater to be used solely for the showing of motion pictures was built by a Jew (Adolf Zukor).

– Israel Fun Facts –

  • AOL Instant Messenger was invented by Jews from Israel.
  • Israel is the only country in the world that entered the 21st century with a net gain in the number of trees
  • The Dead Sea in Israel is the lowest point on earth, at 1,315 feet below sea level at its lowest point
  • Israel has more museums per capita than any other country in the world
  • Israel has a higher life expectancy, lower average infant mortality rate and almost double the amount of doctors per patient ratio than the U.S.
  • Almost 1/3 of all Israelis are volunteers.
  • Haoman 17 in Jerusalem has been rated one of the top nightclubs in the world. Top international DJs frequently play at the club.

Cooking

The traditional and most widely-known Purim treat is the HAMENTASHEN (Also spelled: hamantash, hamentasch, homentash, homentasch, (h)umentash). A Hamentashen is traditional Ashkinazi Jewish pastry made during Adar, specifically for Purim. If you want to know more about why we make Hamentashen, click here. Otherwise, on to the important part: How to Make Hamentashen

hamentashen

Ingredients

  • 1 (18.25 ounce) package moist yellow cake mix
  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
  • 2 eggs
  • 2 tablespoons water
  • 1 cup fruit preserves, any flavor

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Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
2. Grease cookie sheets.
3. In a large bowl, mix together the cake mix and flour. Stir in the eggs and water to form a stiff dough. On a lightly floured surface, roll the dough out to 1/8 inch thickness. Cut into 3 inch round circles and place 2 inches apart onto the prepared cookie sheets. Place a teaspoon of filling into the center of each cookie and pinch the sides to form three corners. Moisten with water if necessary.
4. Bake for 6 to 8 minutes in the preheated oven, or until lightly browned. Allow cookies to cool for 1 minute on the cookie sheets before removing to wire racks to cool completely.

Hillel wants to see how your Hamentashen turned out! Send us pictures and stories about Hamentashen making to win prizes! E-mail your Hamentashen pictures, videos, or stories to Hamentashen@uJews.com

Events

calendar
Click Here to view all Adar Events!

  • No dates present

    • Sorry you missed the Purim Party! Check out the photo album below

    Contests!

    Pictures!

    View All Adar (Jewish Culture Month) Photos Here

    Or check out some random photos below!

    noisemakers

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    about uJews

    uJews.com, the official site of Hillel at the University of Minnesota, is proud to bring the celebrations of Adar to the U of M campus. To find more about Adar, look above. If you want the Mp3 player to coninue playing music, please click the button above, labeled "open Mp3 player," and you will then be able to continue listening while you surf our site, or the internet. Thanks for visiting!