Port Washington Jewish Center Opens Doors for Community-Wide Purim Cookie Baking Event

The Port Washington Jewish Center will transform its kitchens into a community baking hub on Sunday, March 1, hosting its annual Hamantasch-A-Thon from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The event welcomes participants of all ages and backgrounds to learn the art of making hamantaschen, the triangular cookies traditionally eaten during Purim, according to synagogue officials. The celebration extends beyond the Jewish community, inviting anyone interested in baking and fellowship.

“Everyone likes cookies, and everyone likes to bake,” said Rabbi Alysa Mendelson Graf. “Why not make this a day of baking something delicious and just spending time together doing something fun and joyful?”

The synagogue has designed three themed baking sessions to accommodate different groups. At 10 a.m., “Mini & Me” pairs preschool-aged children with adults for hands-on baking followed by story time. The 11 a.m. “Bubbe & Me” session encourages intergenerational participation, with organizers offering to pair participants who need baking partners for the hour-long workshop.

Adults can join the 1 p.m. “Margarita & Me” session, which combines cookie making with cocktails or mocktails in celebration of the holiday spirit, according to event organizers.

Mendelson Graf said the Hamantasch-A-Thon reflects her philosophy of engaging multiple senses to create meaningful experiences. “My goal as a rabbi is to create Jewish opportunities for people to really use all of their senses in experiencing Jewish life,” she said. “That’s why I bake fresh challah for our Friday night services and for our religious school students. I want our building to smell like Jewish life.”

What began as an effort to ensure every child in the synagogue community could make hamantaschen has evolved into a broader community invitation, according to Mendelson Graf. The event now welcomes participants regardless of synagogue affiliation or religious background.

The celebration connects to Purim’s central themes through the story of Queen Esther, who found courage to speak out and save her people. “The hero of the Purim story is Esther, who struggles to find the courage to use her voice,” Mendelson Graf said. “It shows that it’s not always easy, but it’s imperative. There’s joy in this holiday, and there’s also obligation, the obligation to use your voice to change the world.”

Beyond baking, the synagogue’s religious school students will continue their months-long tradition of collecting tzedakah, or charity, culminating in a shopping trip to purchase groceries for the food pantry at Our Lady of Fatima. The partnership between the neighboring congregations has become an annual tradition, according to synagogue officials.

“We want our kids to understand the value of a dollar and how hard it can be to put food on the table,” Mendelson Graf said. “We want to be living the values of Jewish life.”

Some of the freshly baked hamantaschen will be packaged as mishloach manot, traditional Purim gift bags distributed throughout the community. Others, Mendelson Graf noted, are often consumed before they finish cooling.

The rabbi described her synagogue as “small but mighty” and sees the Hamantasch-A-Thon as an opportunity for newcomers to experience its community atmosphere. “If you’ve been looking to find a place that feels like home, that’s this place,” she said. “Come and make some cookies with us.”

The Port Washington Jewish Center is located at 20 Manorhaven Blvd. Interested participants can email [email protected] or visit www.portjewishcenter.org/hamantaschathon for additional information about the March 1 event.