The Purim Meal, or Seuda is a seudat mitzvah - that is, when we partake of it, we are fulfilling a positive commandment. Our Purim Seuda is in some way a parallel to the orgiastic feast hosted by the king Achashverosh in the beginning of the Purim story. There, the physical world was revered as an end unto itself. In the Jewish Purim Seuda, the physical pleasure reflects our spiritual joy - a joy at simply being rescued, and a deeper joy at seeing God's hand at work when things appear most bleak for us.

Bring on the Hamantashen!

The Purim meal is eaten on Purim afternoon. Bread is broken, and the Grace After Meals contains a special paragraph, Al HaNissim, commemorating Purim. Many traditional foods are enjoyed at the feast, including turkey, kreplach, and the ubiquitous hamantashen - (Ummm - want some recipes?)

Drink 'Till You Drop