By Rabbi Aryeh Citron
In connection to Purim, this article will discuss the origins and reasons for the custom of eating hamantashen on Purim as well as some laws and customs that relate to this particular food.
The custom of eating hamantashen on Purim goes back at least several centuries as it is mentioned in the halachic works of the 17th century. The bracha on hamantashen is mezonos and when eating them during a meal, one need not say a bracha.
The Mishloach Manos that the Lubavitcher Rebbe gave would include hamantashen. In addition, it seems that the Rebbe was particular to eat at least one poppyseed hamantash on Purim.
The word “tash” means “pocket” in Yiddish. As such, hamantashen means “Haman’s pockets.” This refers to the pocket of poppyseed (or other) filling inside the dough of the hamantash. In Hebrew, this food is called “Oznei Haman” or the “ears of Haman” (see below).
Here are ten of the reasons given for the custom of eating hamantashen:
1) Poppyseed Spells Haman
The word for poppyseed (the original filling of hamantashen) in Yiddish is Mohn or מהן which has the same letters as Haman (המן). Thus, consuming this food reminds us of the mitzvah to erase Haman and destroy him.
2) Three Corners – Three Patriarchs
The Midrash says that when Haman saw the merit of the three patriarchs, his strength was weakened. The verse in Psalms alludes to this when it says, “And all the horns (i.e., strength) of the wicked I shall cut off,” which refers to Haman. And “the horns (strength) of the righteous will be upraised” refers to Mordechai. The three corners of the hamantash are a reminder of the merit of the patriarchs.
3) Commemorates the Three Aspects of the Torah
The Talmud says that the Jewish people reaffirmed their acceptance of the Torah at the time of the Purim miracle. The Talmud also points out that the Torah has three books, it was given in the third month, and on the third day of separation. It was given to the Jewish people who are made of three groups (Kohanim, Levyim and Yisra’elim), by Moshe, who was born third in his family. As such, we commemorate the acceptance of the Torah by eating a three-cornered hamantash. This is similar to the custom that some people to eat dairy on Purim to commemorate the acceptance of the Torah which is compared to milk.
4) Weakening Haman
The word tash, which means “pocket” in Yiddish, means “weaken” in Hebrew. Thus, the word hamantash means that Haman was weakened.
5) Mantashen – Remembering the Seeds
The Rama writes that some have a custom to eat seeds on Purim to remember that Daniel and his colleagues ate seeds while in Nevuchadnetzar’s palace as did Queen Esther in the palace of Achashverosh. The original hamantash had a poppyseed filling in keeping with the above custom. As such, these pastries were called mantashen i.e., pockets of poppyseed as man means “poppyseed” in Yiddish. But, because of the similarity to the word Haman, people began calling them hamantashen.
6) A Hidden Miracle
The filling which is hidden within the hamantash alludes to the miracle of Purim which was hidden within (what appeared to be) natural events.
7) Hiding the Sweetness
The sweet filling represents the Torah which is sweeter than honey, while the dough represents matters relating to physical pleasure. Thus the hamantash alludes to the fact that the Jews of that generation were making the Torah secondary to frivolous pursuits. We rectify this by studying Torah at our Purim feast to indicate that we are making the Torah our primary pursuit.
8) The Droopy Ears of Haman
As mentioned above, the Hebrew name of hamantashen is ozni Haman – the ears of Haman. This recalls a Midrash that when Haman heard that he would have to parade Mordechai through the streets of the capital city Shushan, he left the king’s chamber embarrassed with his ears drooping.
9) Haman Listened to his Wife
Some say that the Israeli term oznei Haman (ears of Haman) recalls that Haman’s downfall was a result of his listening to his wife’s bad advice. This is contrasted with On ben Peles who was saved by listening to his wife’s good advice.
10) Accepting the Oral Torah
According to the Midrash, the Jewish people accepted the Written Torah willingly, and G-d then forced them to accept the Oral Torah which has many more details. As such, when the Talmud says that we reaccepted the Torah on Purim it is referring to the Oral Torah. The Written Torah is studied with one’s eyes – by looking in a book, whereas the Oral Torah is studied with one’s ears – by listening to one’s teacher. The Talmud says that when Achashverosh gave his signet ring to Haman to sign the decree, it caused the Jewish people to do a teshuvah more powerful than the exhortations of 48 prophets and 7 prophetesses. We therefore eat “Haman’s ears” to recall that it was due to Haman that we reaccepted the Oral Torah.
The fact that we give Haman credit for this can be compared to a prince who was eating a feast, and something got stuck in his throat. Coughing, he walked out of the party but could not dislodge it. Suddenly a passing bandit struck him with a mighty blow the strength of which knocked out the food that was lodged in his throat. When the king heard about this, he had the bandit killed for striking the prince, but he elevated the bandit’s children in gratitude for the fact that their father saved his son’s life. Similarly, although Haman was killed for his attempt to destroy the Jews, we show appreciation that he motivated us to do teshuvah by eating a food with his name.
Wishing you a Shabbat Shalom and a Happy Purim!
(For sources – click here)
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