Shop EtsyChai for the Holidays

Get ready with EtsyChai for the Jewish holidays and Chanukah shopping.

Purim – end of Shabbat on Saturday, the 23th of February until Sunday, February 24th

Klezmer Greetings Purim Personalized Greeting Cards, Pkg of 3

An old joke goes something like this?

Child: What holiday are we celebrating today, Ima (Mother)?

Mother: The one where they tried to kill us and failed. Now, let’s eat!

Of course, the very thing that makes most jokes funny is the kernel of truth at their foundation. Purim is one of the holidays containing that very kernel of truth.

Judaic Star of David Gift Tag Great for Purim Gifts

In short, the story itself has four main characters:

• Ahashverosh – The Persian King, living in his capital city Shushan. He isn’t a bad man, just easily swayed by others
• Mordechai – The leader of the Jewish people at that time. Helps save Ahashverosh’s life by uncovering an assassination plot. Later slated for death, but rescued by:
• Esther (Persian name)/Hadassah (Hebrew name) – Mordechai’s niece who is chosen to marry Ahashverosh after he has his original wife, Vashti, is killed for refusing to dance (supposedly naked) in front of revelers at his lengthy (180 days) party.
• Haman – The true villain of the story is Ahashverosh’s Prime Minister, who tries and fails to have Mordechai and the Jewish people killed
  
  

  

  Purim Kippah or Yarmulke

You can glean most of the story from above. In the end, Esther/Hadassah begs Ahashverosh to save her life and the lives of her people. Of course there are twists and turns to the story. But, in the end, the Jewish people triumph, Haman and his sons are killed, and Mordechai becomes the new Prime Minister to Ahashverosh. You can read the story with more details here: http://www.purimstory.com/

Purim Card from Original Watercolor Pen and Ink drawing

Purim is preceded by the Fast of Esther, remembering the three-day fast of the Jews before their battle fought as part of that episode in Jewish history/lore. The Fast is usually observed on the 13th day of the Hebrew month of Adar. This year the Fast of Esther falls on Shabbat (Saturday), so it should be observed from the evening of Thursday, Feb. 21st, through Friday, the 22nd.

Purim itself is a joyful holiday filled with costumes, noisemakers, gifts of food, charitable giving and, of course, feasting. The representative food for Purim is a triangular shaped pastry with fruit, poppyseed, or nut fillings called Hamantaschen, named for Haman and representing the three-cornered hat he wore as Prime Minister.

Purim Earrings - Purple Hamentaschen Charm Earrings

On the evening before Purim, and on Purim itself, people go to the synagogue wearing costumes (especially children) and having noisemakers, usually in the form of greggars. The Megillah, or Book of Esther, is read and every time Haman’s name is mentioned, everyone “blots out his name and his memory” by shouting or using their noisemakers.

During Purim people make plates of goodies and deliver them to neighbors and friends. This is known as mishloach manot (sending of portions). Additionally, it is customary to make a charitable donation to the poor.

Finally, the holiday involves a festive meal with eating and drinking – celebrating one more victory in the history of the Jewish people.

Purim Judaica mixed media collage Simchat Purim - Happy Purim

New EtsyChai Treasury

See what some of our EtsyChai Jewish members have to offer in terms of handmade items and special pricing. Here's an EtsyChai Treasury by Linda B

EtsyChai Jewish Creations

Let us know what your favorite item is.

Posted by Linda B of www.lindab142.etsy.com

EtsyChai Team Happenings

Happenings with EtsyChai Jewish Team on Etsy

March 30 - Buy Israeli Goods - visit http://etsychai.blogspot.com/2012/03/march-30-buy-israeli-goods.html

Passover Specials - visit http://etsychai.blogspot.com/2012/03/passover-specials.html

By Linda B, Team Captain
http://www.lindab142.etsy.com/ 

Congrats Meredith Bead

Meredith Bead, congrats on winning the EtsyChai Treasury contest.

See Karpas featuring Passover items.

Don't Passover EtsyChai for Passover Judaica

Announcement: is your Passover Seder table complete? If not, we've got all the goods you need.

Check out our shops for handcrafted artisan goods for Passover and other Jewish holidays. More details will follow to help you shop for Passover.

Treasury Winner

Congratulations to Nelle of Oy Clay Pottery for creating the winning EtsyChai Treasury.

Nelle created this Judaica in Clay Shabbat Set

Members, please include Nelle in your new Treasuries.

Shavua tov

Tu B'Shevat The New Year for Trees

"For the Lord your G-d brings you to a good land... a land of wheat, barley, grape, fig, and pomegranate..." (Devarim/Deuteronomy 8:7)

There is so much I don't know about Judaism. Sometimes I think my knowledge couldn't fill a thimble. But then we’ve had over five thousand years of knowledge to accumulate. Lots to learn, lots to explore. Take the holiday of Tu B’Shevat. Not a big holiday like Passover or Rosh Hashanah. It’s a tree planting holiday. Sounds good to me. Here in the southern US, we plant trees during this time of year, too.

Adam Rhine of Hebrew Art wrote this wonderful explanation of Tu B'Shevat that I just had to share.

"The 15th day of the month of Shevat commemorates the beginning of the "new year" for trees. Tu B'Shevat marks a new year for calculating the age each tree for purposes of tithing. In the Torah, fruit from trees grown in the land of Israel are prohibited from being eaten during the first three years. Fruit that grows in the fourth year is for the Lord. From the fifth year on, the fruit can be eaten." (Adam Rhine, Hebrew Art)

I feel the need to plant something.

Post by Eileen Patterson…still GoofingOff.

Etsy Chai Treasury Contest

Welcome to round 2 of the Team Etsy Chai Treasury Contest!
This week we have five collections to vote on. Each one is so beautiful and choosing just one will be hard (at least for me, you should see me with a menu. You'd starve waiting for me to decide what to eat).

#1
'Year round with EtsyChai' by yafitglass

Lovely collection for Shabbat and the major Jewish holidays Passover, Hanukkah and Rosh Hashanah

Square Shabbat Serv... agru $45.00	Knit Shabbat Challa... blazingneedles $25.00	SHABBAT SHALOM 6 pe... downtoearthcre... $36.00	Judaica Challah Cov... SabinaFashions $139.00
Flowers in the spri... yafitglass $84.00	Israeli Flag Illusi... acacheofjewels $7.00	Gemstone Passover S... lindab142 $18.00	Judaic Greeting Car... anjalicreation... $6.00
Potato Latkes Illus... LauraBolterDes... $20.00	Basketball dreidel ... TraceyLipman $8.00	Menorah Drip Tray CeramicsbyMarc... $20.00	Fancy boot menorah yafitglass $49.00
Wire Beaded Kippah ... lindab142 $42.00	Hand Made Batik Dov... AnotherCreatio... $7.00	Rosh Hashanah Chall... blazingneedles $25.00	Judaica ACEO Shema RuthFiberJudai... $20.00

Treasury tool by Red Row Studio.

#2
'Black and Blue' by agru No actual bruising will result from perusing these wonderful items. So, enjoy!

Judaica challah cov... SabinaFashions $120.00	SALE - Sterling Sil... beadsofparadis... $15.00	kyanite crinkle ear... markaplan $68.88	Pewter Hamsa earrin... Meredithbead $11.00
shipping tags recyc... KAPARA $2.50	Baby Beanie Hat Kn... PenelopeStern $16.00	Black Onyx Round Ge... lindab142 $20.00	Jewish Women Beaded... lindab142 $39.00
Blue Ruffle Scarf blazingneedles $30.00	Satin Braided Cord ... anjalicreation... $24.00	Sculptural Rattle -... ClayMystique $50.00	Star of David Love ... RiInnovations $19.00
BLESSING -Judaica a... bewonder $55.00	Jewish Themed Birth... daydaykay $3.50	Blue / Green Varieg... gsager $20.00	Candlesticks - fuse... virtulyglass $42.00

Treasury tool by Red Row Studio.

#3
'Amethyst from Team EtsyChai' by Goofingoff Inspired by the stone, amethyst, the stone for February.

Arise, shine.... lightofzionjew... $10.00	Chunky Purple and G... lindab142 $6.00	Silk Wrap Bracelet-... anjalicreation... $28.00	Lag B'Omer - Th... HebrewArt $36.00
Morning Without Cof... bbesigns $4.00	Wine Bottle Coaster... CeramicsbyMarc... $15.00	SHIVITI JUDAICA MAN... mandalamagic1 $51.00	Perivinkle blue visart $9.00
Birdhouse Heart Pol... PenelopeStern $9.50	Hand Knit Scarf...T... sewstacy $20.00	Smiling Flowers and... LauraBolterDes... $18.00	Amethyst Quartz Bri... AllureStudioWo... $32.00
Rug Mug -- keep you... ReneesNeedle $12.00	Amethyst Slice Stal... jewelersparadi... $11.95	Shema on Fabric (Vi... RuthFiberJudai... $19.20

Treasury tool by Red Row Studio.

#4
'Gifts fit for a Queen!' by AnotherCreation It is almost Purim, and here are some gifts that would be PERFECT for a Queen..Esther that is!

Custom Knitted Dog ... acacheofjewels $30.00	Judaic Wine Gift Ta... bbesigns $3.00	Woman's Teal Ki... Accentricities $38.00	Kosher Mug agru $23.00
Silk Wrap Bracelet ... anjalicreation... $36.00	Sterling Silver Jud... beadsofparadis... $24.00	Fabric Rose Paverpo... TraceyLipman $9.95	turquoise David'... markaplan $38.88
TRIBAL hamsa hebrew... downtoearthcre... $24.00	Challah Cover Moder... RuthFiberJudai... $360.00	Purim Earrings - Ye... lindab142 $13.50	Judaic Fabric Fat Q... Goofingoff $4.00
Judaica Challah Cov... SabinaFashions $150.00	Knit Personalized C... blazingneedles $40.00	Ani dodi His & Hers... lightofzionjew... $38.00	Ceramic Mezuzah Cas... CeramicsbyMarc... $22.00

Treasury tool by Red Row Studio.

#5
'Purim Surprises' by bbesigns

Blue Purim Esther B... lindab142 $16.50	Red & Blue Kippah /... gsager $20.00	Children's Cost... Goofingoff $5.00	Lilac and White Ruf... blazingneedles $30.00
Israel: There'... PetitsTresors $225.00	CYLINDERS multi-col... downtoearthcre... $30.00	Evening clutch, Emb... SabinaFashions $25.00	Washing Cup agru $60.00
davids star earring... markaplan $38.88	Diaper and Wipe Bag... TraceyLipman $27.00	Row Counting Bracel... ABLET $24.95	CROWN ROYAL WHISKEY... EisnerArt $22.50
Jewish Yiddish Cand... threesisterspl... $15.00	Sculptural Rattle -... ClayMystique $50.00	Purim Crayons - Gra... CrayonMavens $5.49	Purim Box of Catnip... mycrobe $30.00

Treasury tool by Red Row Studio.

So, you got a favorite? I do but I am not telling. I don't want you to be biased. Vote!!! The poll is in the upper right corner.

Post by Eileen Patterson...forever GoofingOff