Excited JEC children gathered around Rabbi Jonathan Schwartz of Adath Israel, Hillside, with pasta boxes in hand. As part of the JFS’s “Shake the Pasta” program, each child brought in pasta to first use as a gragger, and then contribute to the JFS food pantry. Rabbi Schwartz’s Megilla also had a unique story. This megilla, rescued from Hurricane Sandy, is no longer kosher, but perfectly suited for chinuch opportunities such as this. Rabbi Schwartz explained how just as the Megilla was making the children happy, the children also had the privilege of making the Megilla happy by enabling it to fulfill a purpose. The Early Childhood students listened carefully as Rabbi Schwartz read portions of the Megilla and shook their pasta box gragger enthusiastically each time they heard Haman’s name. What a special way to prepare the children for Purim!