The Many Mistakes of Purim

amother

OP ↓

Thu, Mar 21 2024, 3:18 am

Purim teaches many lessons
If you'll take the time to hear
Some are new and novel,
Others get repeated every year.

One special lesson of Purim
That will never make it into a song
Is the immutable fact
That you'll always get something wrong.

If you bake perfect brulees and babka
And enclose a freshly seared steak
Who trusts your kashrus and hygiene?
That's quite an expensive mistake.

So you put in a mountain of nosh
With all hechshers clearly displayed
But who gives their children such garbage?
A terrible error you've made.

You figured you're safe with chocolate
Again you're coming across rude.
There's allergies, not everyone likes it
And besides, we'd rather real food.

You created a fantasy scene
With taffy, sour sticks and more
Why do you think that looks edible?
We trashed it when it came through the door.

You went for packaged candy and chips
Perfect for your theme Sunshine Rays.
Pathetic, is this what you focus on?
Is this what Purim means nowadays?

So you tried storebought ice coffee
And individually wrapped pastries too.
That's so insulting, so simple
Is that all our friendship means to you?

If you send wine with your Manos
It might not be expensive enough
Perhaps it's too dry or too bubbly
What a waste, who drinks this stuff?

So you went and spent the big bucks
For a classy Manos from the store.
Uch, what a stupid use of money
Should have given that amount to the poor.

You give up and focus on teachers
This you'll get right, you just know.
Fear not, my faithful Purim friend
We'll point out why this is not so.

You enclosed a few dollars in your gift
Along with a nice candy tray.
Hello, why do they need more nosh?
The money's what they want anyway!

So you went and upped your tip
Now it's quite a generous touch.
But with no personal thank you note
It's not appreciated much.

Now you went and sat down for hours
And wrote handwritten messages for each.
But you forgot the therapist and Kriah Morah
Don't you know how much they teach?

The lesson, my friends is clear now.
It's as obvious as black and white.
However hard you are trying
You will never get this thing right!

For such a depressing lesson
I had to read through this rhyme?
Ah, now here comes the clincher
Making it all worth your time!

Stop judging what someone is giving!
Just grin and express gratitude.
Whether or not you agree with their theme
And even if you don't like their food.

And stop worrying what others will think
You know you'll be wrong in the end.
So just focus on sending happily
And do your best to be a good friend.

No need to try much too hard
Have fun! It's a Yom Tov you see.
If that means hamentashen in paper bags
Or elaborate creativity.

Stop with the pressure and tension
Give it all a break meanwhile.
Don't take yourself too seriously
Just give and do it with a smile!

Feel free to throw the tomatoes... or chocolate bars, or babkas. We accept all gratefully!

119

amother

Natural ↓

Thu, Mar 21 2024, 3:23 am

I can't like this enough!!!!! Kudos, OP!!! Reminds me of the poem "Mashiach's Hat"......

English3

Thu, Mar 21 2024, 3:25 am

Wow op. You hit all the right notes.

Bnei Berak 10

Thu, Mar 21 2024, 3:25 am

BRILLIANT

amother

Wine ↓

Thu, Mar 21 2024, 4:06 am

Thank you from the bottom of my heart! I needed to hear this. It seems that to some whatever we give ends up in trash. This is uplifting and puts it in prospective. As a teacher I always put MM aside until night when I have time to see what mothers made. I appreciate everyone's time effort thought and even the simple ones are appreciated.
Wishing you a Happy Purim with joy.

amother

Buttercup

Thu, Mar 21 2024, 4:13 am

Great poem - I need to hear this too. While I'm thinking up ideas and preparing, I am so excited. But once it's time to assemble everything I just feel pressured and like nothing is good enough anyway, so why did I bother. All the imperfections become larger and I second guess every decision.

Thu, Mar 21 2024, 4:14 am

Fabulous! Kol hakavod!

ProudJew

Thu, Mar 21 2024, 4:45 am

Amazing! Loved it!

imasinger

Thu, Mar 21 2024, 5:26 am

Applause!

The other big Purim mistake I read about here is darker -- the way it triggers those guys with alcoholic tendencies.

Highstrung

Thu, Mar 21 2024, 5:57 am

You forgot to mention not to bother writing poems , because rhyme is not a poem and nobody reads them. Well I do and I absolutely love it from the way you wrote it to the message it displays. Spot on.

amother

Lawngreen

Thu, Mar 21 2024, 6:22 am

Amazing and so well written!!!

Debbie

Thu, Mar 21 2024, 6:38 am

OP this is so good!

amother

Cherry

Thu, Mar 21 2024, 7:13 am

Perfect

amother

Mintgreen

Thu, Mar 21 2024, 7:16 am

Awesome!!

daagahminayin

Thu, Mar 21 2024, 8:12 am

Wonderful poem!

amother

Brunette ↓

Thu, Mar 21 2024, 8:15 am

Thank you! As it is things will be so different this year because I 'm recovering from a really bad accident. We are doing something so simple and we don't have a lot financially. Anyone have ideas to explain to kids they don't have to give everyone in their class?

salt

Thu, Mar 21 2024, 8:22 am

amother Brunette wrote:

What is your explanation?

If you are talking about going round to the houses of everyone in the class on Purim itself, and they kids are not old enough to do it themselves, then say you don't have time to take them.

If it's too expensive, but there is time to physically do it - then tell them it's too expensive, but they can buy cheaper stuff and give to more.

If you are talking about bringing 'mishloach manot' (which is not really mishloach manot because it's not Purim) for the whole class into school on the last school day before Purim, then I think it's better to give something small to the whole class (even if it's just a toffee and a chocolate) than giving a few select.
There are always some kids who get loads and some who never get.

Always important for kids to give to the kids who are less likely to get - not only the popular kids - also take mishloach manot to the unpopular kids who will receive less.

corolla

Thu, Mar 21 2024, 8:28 am

I love this so much!

Success10

Thu, Mar 21 2024, 8:30 am

Talent!

amother

Dahlia

Thu, Mar 21 2024, 8:39 am

Thank you op!
Love it!
This should be pinned