PURIM 5784/2024

FUN! MUSIC! GAMES! PRIZES!

With celebrations including costumes, skits and songs, noisemakers, and gifts of food, Purim is definitely full of fun! Purim is a joyous holiday that affirms and celebrates Jewish survival and continuity throughout history. The main communal celebration involves a public reading—usually in the synagogue—of the Book of Esther (M’gillat Esther), which tells the story of the holiday: Under the rule of King Ahashverosh, Haman, the king’s adviser, plots to exterminate all of the Jews of Persia. His plan is foiled by Queen Esther and her cousin Mordechai, who ultimately save the Jews of Persia from destruction. The reading of the megillah typically is a rowdy affair, punctuated by booing and noise-making when Haman’s name is read aloud.

Purim is an unusual holiday in many respects. First, Esther is the only biblical book in which God is not mentioned. Second, Purim, like Hanukkah, is viewed as a minor festival according to Jewish custom, but has been elevated to a major holiday as a result of the Jewish historical experience. Over the centuries, Haman has come to symbolize every anti-Semite in every land where Jews were oppressed. The significance of Purim lies not so much in how it began, but in what it has become: a thankful and joyous affirmation of Jewish survival.

two costumed synagogue members pose at the purim carnival festival
associate rabbi bailey romano and cantor ayelet porzecanski lead the purim spiel adults and children from the synagogue, all dressed as marvel heroes and villains
two preschool-aged girls dressed in purim fairy costumes play with toys in a kiddie pool at the synagogue
congregants enjoy food at the outdoor purim carnival

EVENTS

March 23

6:30pm: PURIM SPIEL & MEGILLAH READING  | A rousing and hilarious take on the Purim story performed by BHS clergy and members of the synagogue.

superhero themed poster for the annual purim spiel and megillah reading, dated March 23, 2024

March 24

11:30am: TOT MEGILLAH READING | The Parenting Center welcomes children ages 0-5 and their grownups to join us in a reading of the Megillah.

12:00pm: PURIM CARNIVAL | Join us for the Religious School’s annual Purim Carnival. This event is for children of all ages and will include pizza, dancing, and a bounce house.

superhero themed poster for the annual purim carnival, dated March 24, 2023
poster for the tot megillah reading, dated March 14, 2024

PURIM SPIEL

Enjoy BHS’s 2024 Purim Spiel!

MISHLOACH MANOT (Shalach Manos)

graphic for mishloach manot for purim

RECIPES

recipe for hamantaschen
recipe for hamantaschen

It’s a mitzvah!

Mishloach Manot is the mitzvah of sending gifts of food to others in our community at Purim. In fulfillment of this mitzvah, each year the BHS Mishloach Manot Project Committee solicits contributions that enable us to provide hamentashen treats and Mishloach Manot for our home-limited members. Click here to contribute.