Food also plays an important role in Purim festivities. A special triangular-shaped pastry called Hamantaschen—representing Haman’s hat or perhaps his pockets—is traditionally baked and shared.

But Purim wants us to look deeper. Jewish foods are relentlessly symbolic. Taschen means pockets in Yiddish — and what do pockets do? They conceal. On Purim, it turns out, there are many dishes ...

But you do, according to the Sages, have to give mishloach manot — two or or more food items, delivered to at least one person, on the day of Purim, which this year is Friday. If you’re gonna ...

Every year on Purim, we emphasize mishloah manot (sending food gifts), matanot l’evyonim (gifts to the poor), and countless acts of kindness. But what about kindness to those who truly need it ...