Members of Black Rock Middle School’s Jewish student affinity group, Kehillah, recently organized a hamantaschen-baking event and early Purim celebration, inviting classmates of all backgrounds to learn about and participate in the holiday’s traditions.

On Thursday, February 19, students gathered after school in Black Rock’s Family & Consumer Sciences kitchen to prepare hamantaschen, the flavor-filled, triangle-shaped cookies traditionally associated with Purim. Working together, students rolled out dough, cut circles, added fillings such as chocolate, apple, cherry and strawberry, and carefully pinched the dough into its distinctive triangular shape. The cookies are meant to resemble the hat worn by Haman, the villain in the Purim story.

The next day, on Friday, February 20, students reunited for an early Purim celebration. They enjoyed the hamantaschen they had baked, assembled Mishloach Manot—packages of treats traditionally given to friends and neighbors—and created Purim spiels, humorous skits and retellings of the holiday story.

Purim commemorates events described in the biblical Book of Esther (Megillat Esther), in which Queen Esther courageously revealed her Jewish identity to help save her people. Today, the holiday is celebrated through festive traditions centered on food, storytelling and community. This year’s actual Purim holiday is set for March 13-14, 2026.

Black Rock’s Kehillah events provided students with a meaningful opportunity to celebrate together while sharing cultural traditions, fostering understanding and strengthening connections among classmates.