Festival of Purim

    

    “This blanket is so pretty.” Kyla was feeling the plush material of a red cloth that was hanging over a small wooden table. It was a vibrant crimson color that reminded Kyla of Little Red Riding Hood.

          “We use that as King Ahasuerus’s mantle during Purim,” said Marga.

          “What’s Purim?” asked Kyla.

          “You are a shiksa,” said Susan staring at Kyla with her wide, doll-like eyes.

          “A what?” asked Kyla.

          “Susan, be nice,” said Marga with a scowl. “It just means non-Jewish girl, Kyla.”

          Zammie looked at Kyla and grinned. “Yeah, she’s a shiksa.” Kyla ignored her cousin.

          “The Festival of Purim celebrates the Jewish people’s deliverance from Haman in ancient Persia,” continued Marga. “He had planned to kill all the Jews in the empire way back then, but his plans were ruined by Mordecai and Queen Esther.”

          “And how do you celebrate?” asked Kyla. “Are there dances and stuff.”

          “Yeah, people dress up in costumes, watch performances, we eat a lot. We also bundle up gifts for charity.”

--from Time Trip #4: Killing for Country

Images of recent Purim Festivals 

 

Read more about the Purim Festival here. 

TIME TRIP ADVENTURE 4

KILLING FOR COUNTRY  

Available at Amazon.com!

TIME TRIP ADVENTURE 1

THE JOURNEY TO ANCIENT GREECE 

Available at Amazon.com!

TIME TRIP ADVENTURE 2

A RIDE ON THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD

Available at Amazon.com!

TIME TRIP ADVENTURE 3

WITNESS TO THE FIRST THANKSGIVING 

Available at Amazon.com!  

Little Boy

At 8:15am, the bomb bay doors opened and “Little Boy” was released along with three recording instruments designed to measure and record output levels of the bomb upon detonation. Once the bomb was dropped, the Enola Gay immediately banked into a sharp turn knowing that they had little time to scramble clear. All crew members then put on dark glasses and prepared for the blast.

          Zammie walked over to help Kyla stack some of the chipped, maroon tiles when a glimmer in the sky caught his attention. He looked up and saw three planes set amongst the pale blue backdrop like mosquitoes on a calm lake.

          This is it, isn’t it?

          Zammie watched the lead plane for a moment when suddenly it began to turn at a tight angle, nearly circling completely around.

          Too late to do anything now. I wonder what will happen to us? I should grab Kyla and run . . . but where? There’s no time.

          “What are you doing, Zammie? Come help us.” Kyla was still bustling along like a good soldier.

          Zammie felt helpless. All the energy left his body. He bent over to pick up one of the square-foot tiles and it felt like a lead anvil in his hand. All of the activity in the neighborhood around them seemed to slow down.

         

Suddenly a bright light appeared less than a mile away right above the southern skyline. Zammie’s first thought was that the sun had shown up right next to the earth. The light was so bright that just a quick glimpse caused terrible pain in the eyes. He felt like someone had pointed a floodlight straight into his pupils. Some sort of pulsing shock wave could be seen moving rapidly towards them, spitting up dirt, trees, and buildings as it rolled across the land like a demonic hedgehog. A deep rumbling sound accompanied the pulse and Zammie felt the ground beneath him begin to tremble. Then a scorching surge of hot air rushed through the residential area, picking up people and houses alike, and flinging them back as if they were empty candy wrappers. 

-- Little Boy

from Time Trip #4: Killing for Country

Now Available at Amazon.com!

Stills from the animated film Barefoot Gen.

TIME TRIP ADVENTURE 4

KILLING FOR COUNTRY  

Available at Amazon.com!

TIME TRIP ADVENTURE 1

THE JOURNEY TO ANCIENT GREECE 

Available at Amazon.com!

TIME TRIP ADVENTURE 2

A RIDE ON THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD

Available at Amazon.com!

TIME TRIP ADVENTURE 3

WITNESS TO THE FIRST THANKSGIVING 

Available at Amazon.com!