By Brian Feldt
Of The Journal Star
Peoria - It was not the typical scene for a sacred Jewish holiday.
Little girls wore princess costumes, boys wore king outfits and the rabbi was fully cloaked in a New York Yankees baseball uniform.
Together, resembling a Halloween party, they celebrated one of the oldest traditions in the Jewish faith.
More than 100 Jews gathered at Barrack's Cater Inn on Friday afternoon to celebrate Purim, the Jewish holiday that commemorates the salvation of Jewish people from destruction in ancient Persia through the efforts of Queen Esther.
The costumes have become a custom of the holiday within the past 500 years, and are supposed to resemble biblical figures such as Queen Esther or King David.
And although Rabbi Eli Langsam chose to sport a Joe DiMaggio or Babe Ruth personality, the purpose of the celebration was far from lost.
"This is a great holiday for the Jewish people," he said. "It's all about thanking God for the great miracle that God did in saving the Jewish people from the evil (Persian Emperor) Haman."
According to the Biblical Book of Esther, Haman plotted to eliminate the Jewish race and cast lots to determine the day upon which to kill them. Purim is celebrated on the 14th day of the Hebrew month of Adar, which is the day following the Jews' victory over Haman and his army.
Four phases make up the holiday's celebration. Among them are recitation of the Book of Esther, giving gifts of food and drink, giving charity to the poor and a celebratory feast.
Every year, the Chabad of Peoria hosts the celebration, and every year the party takes on a new theme.
This year's theme was "Purim in New York." Those in attendance received kosher New York-style deli meals along with traditional Purim foods such as hamantaschen - triangular pastries with a filling such as prunes, apricots or poppy seeds.
"It's a holiday like every other holiday, and actually is one of the bigger ones," Langsam said. "We have a great time. The kids have a great time and we have great food. We celebrate the great holiday that God saved the Jews."
Recently, though, the holiday has become more of a celebration for kids to experience their heritage.
"It's a wonderful holiday but it is more of a holiday for the kids," said Dolores Griminger of Peoria. "The kids always have a good time dressing up because all the little girls want to be Queen Esther. It's a lot of fun."
Brian Feldt can be reached at 686-3194 or bfeldt@pjstar.com.
Showing posts with label Purim. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Purim. Show all posts
Sunday, March 23, 2008
Purim masks highlight story of Esther
By Carla Hinton
Religion Editor
TULSA — A mask depicting the beauty of the biblical Queen Esther and a vivid red mask resembling a stoplight are displayed side by side at the Sherwin Miller Museum of Jewish Art.
The variety is what leaders at the Tulsa museum had desired. It shows awareness of the lesser-known Jewish festival, Purim, is growing among Tulsa school students, due to the museum's second annual Purim Mask Invitational.
Purim is the Jewish holiday commemorating the Persian Jews' victory over oppression, as chronicled in the Book of Esther. The holiday began at sundown Thursday and concluded at sundown Friday.
Though the holiday is over, many of the colorful masks will be exhibited through April 27 at the museum, 2021 E 71st St., Tulsa. A reception for the winning artists is set for 2 p.m. April 13.
Museum curator Karen York said the mask contest was opened last year to students at Tulsa area Jewish schools such as Temple Israel School, B'nai Emunah School, Chabad House and Heritage Academy, a school on the same campus as the museum.
She said about 90 masks were submitted then. This year the contest was broadened to include students in the Tulsa Public School system and 221 masks were submitted. York said Tulsa Public Schools submitting entries included Owen Elementary, Edison Preparatory Middle School and High School, Project 12, Memorial and Central high schools.
She said the museum hopes to include the Jenks and Union area schools next year, as well as Tulsa area universities.
Arthur M. Feldman, museum executive director, said he wants to convey the message that there are many issues that unify the Jewish and non-Jewish community.
He said the mask contest is another way to get Jewish and non-Jewish students alike to discuss the story of Queen Esther and the lessons everyone can learn from it.
"Purim, which is the original beauty pageant, I guess in the Bible, is about the story of Queen Esther,” Feldman said.
As chronicled in the Book of Esther, the Persian king chooses Esther from among a bevy of women to be his queen. At her cousin's recommendation, she hides her Jewish identity, but decides to disclose it later when evil leader Haman plots to destroy all Jews in the kingdom.
"In the story, she masks her identity as a Jewess and only reveals herself in time, in essence, to save her people. That is where we get the concept of masking,” Feldman said. He said the name of God is not in the Book of Esther, symbolizing that God is present though his name is hidden.
Feldman said many people think of masks in relationship to Mardi Gras or Halloween. Purim introduces the concept of masks in a different way.
Pointing to a McDonald's french fry-theme mask and a football-theme mask, Feldman smiled.
"The vitality of what you see is ready-made masks and original masks,” he said.
"I think they did a great job. There's a lot of whimsy, there's a lot of fun.”
Religion Editor
TULSA — A mask depicting the beauty of the biblical Queen Esther and a vivid red mask resembling a stoplight are displayed side by side at the Sherwin Miller Museum of Jewish Art.
The variety is what leaders at the Tulsa museum had desired. It shows awareness of the lesser-known Jewish festival, Purim, is growing among Tulsa school students, due to the museum's second annual Purim Mask Invitational.
Purim is the Jewish holiday commemorating the Persian Jews' victory over oppression, as chronicled in the Book of Esther. The holiday began at sundown Thursday and concluded at sundown Friday.
Though the holiday is over, many of the colorful masks will be exhibited through April 27 at the museum, 2021 E 71st St., Tulsa. A reception for the winning artists is set for 2 p.m. April 13.
Museum curator Karen York said the mask contest was opened last year to students at Tulsa area Jewish schools such as Temple Israel School, B'nai Emunah School, Chabad House and Heritage Academy, a school on the same campus as the museum.
She said about 90 masks were submitted then. This year the contest was broadened to include students in the Tulsa Public School system and 221 masks were submitted. York said Tulsa Public Schools submitting entries included Owen Elementary, Edison Preparatory Middle School and High School, Project 12, Memorial and Central high schools.
She said the museum hopes to include the Jenks and Union area schools next year, as well as Tulsa area universities.
Arthur M. Feldman, museum executive director, said he wants to convey the message that there are many issues that unify the Jewish and non-Jewish community.
He said the mask contest is another way to get Jewish and non-Jewish students alike to discuss the story of Queen Esther and the lessons everyone can learn from it.
"Purim, which is the original beauty pageant, I guess in the Bible, is about the story of Queen Esther,” Feldman said.
As chronicled in the Book of Esther, the Persian king chooses Esther from among a bevy of women to be his queen. At her cousin's recommendation, she hides her Jewish identity, but decides to disclose it later when evil leader Haman plots to destroy all Jews in the kingdom.
"In the story, she masks her identity as a Jewess and only reveals herself in time, in essence, to save her people. That is where we get the concept of masking,” Feldman said. He said the name of God is not in the Book of Esther, symbolizing that God is present though his name is hidden.
Feldman said many people think of masks in relationship to Mardi Gras or Halloween. Purim introduces the concept of masks in a different way.
Pointing to a McDonald's french fry-theme mask and a football-theme mask, Feldman smiled.
"The vitality of what you see is ready-made masks and original masks,” he said.
"I think they did a great job. There's a lot of whimsy, there's a lot of fun.”
Combined Purim festival lights up T.Y. Park
BY BETH FEINSTEIN-BARTL
Special to The Miami Herald
It was more than just a day at the park for Tzippi and Nick Wigoda.
The couple commemorated the Jewish holiday of Purim at a March 16 festival that attracted thousands of revelers to a mini-midway with carnival games and rides set up along a shady stretch at Topeekeegee Yugnee Park in Hollywood.
''We're all celebrating together, as one Jewish community,'' said Tzippi Wigoda as she watched her 2 ½-year-old daughter, Shoshana, rode on a kiddie train.
The couple, who also brought 8-month-old son Jake, were there to have fun and show support for their synagogue, Young Israel of Hollywood-Fort Lauderdale, Wigoda said.
The Orthodox congregation was one of six Hollywood temples that partnered with the Jewish Federation of Broward County to put on the event, aptly named Purim in the Park. Temple Sinai of Hollywood, Temple Solel, B'nai Sephardim, Hollywood Community Synagogue Chabad and Walnut Creek Chabad also participated.
Purim, marking how the ancient Jews of Persia were saved from death, is traditionally greeted with joyous activities. The recent celebration was the largest put on by organizers, with about 6,000 visitors.
Crowds noshed at two new food courts selling kosher hot dogs, knishes and lots of hamantaschen, a triangular fruit-filled pastry served during the holiday. Some 20 rides, compared to four last year, kept folks busy, too, said Avi Frier, co-chairman and founder of Purim in the Park.
The festival has been at T.Y. Park since its start in 2002. Due to lack of volunteers, there was no festival in 2005 and 2006, then it returned a year later when the federation got involved, Frier said.
In 2007, the event was renamed Jill Edison Purim in the Park in memory of Edison, a Hollywood resident who organized Temple Solel's Purim carnival for many years at T.Y. Park before it evolved into the existing community-wide event, said Jackie Reiner, festival co-chairwoman and a board member at Temple Solel.
Purim in the Park draws members from the six congregations representing Judaism's Orthodox, Conservative and Reform movements. It also brings in the unaffiliated and people from the community at large.
''Everyone's welcome,'' Reiner said.
In accordance with the Purim command of making gifts to charity, for the second year in a row the festival's proceeds supported the sponsoring synagogues and Southeast Focal Point Joseph Meyerhoff Senior Center.
The money will benefit programs at the center, which serves around 750 seniors a week at 3081 Taft St. in Hollywood, said Frieda Caldes, the facility's director.
''It's wonderful for people to come together and give back to the elderly in their community,'' Caldes said. ``We're thrilled and ever so grateful.''
Special to The Miami Herald
It was more than just a day at the park for Tzippi and Nick Wigoda.
The couple commemorated the Jewish holiday of Purim at a March 16 festival that attracted thousands of revelers to a mini-midway with carnival games and rides set up along a shady stretch at Topeekeegee Yugnee Park in Hollywood.
''We're all celebrating together, as one Jewish community,'' said Tzippi Wigoda as she watched her 2 ½-year-old daughter, Shoshana, rode on a kiddie train.
The couple, who also brought 8-month-old son Jake, were there to have fun and show support for their synagogue, Young Israel of Hollywood-Fort Lauderdale, Wigoda said.
The Orthodox congregation was one of six Hollywood temples that partnered with the Jewish Federation of Broward County to put on the event, aptly named Purim in the Park. Temple Sinai of Hollywood, Temple Solel, B'nai Sephardim, Hollywood Community Synagogue Chabad and Walnut Creek Chabad also participated.
Purim, marking how the ancient Jews of Persia were saved from death, is traditionally greeted with joyous activities. The recent celebration was the largest put on by organizers, with about 6,000 visitors.
Crowds noshed at two new food courts selling kosher hot dogs, knishes and lots of hamantaschen, a triangular fruit-filled pastry served during the holiday. Some 20 rides, compared to four last year, kept folks busy, too, said Avi Frier, co-chairman and founder of Purim in the Park.
The festival has been at T.Y. Park since its start in 2002. Due to lack of volunteers, there was no festival in 2005 and 2006, then it returned a year later when the federation got involved, Frier said.
In 2007, the event was renamed Jill Edison Purim in the Park in memory of Edison, a Hollywood resident who organized Temple Solel's Purim carnival for many years at T.Y. Park before it evolved into the existing community-wide event, said Jackie Reiner, festival co-chairwoman and a board member at Temple Solel.
Purim in the Park draws members from the six congregations representing Judaism's Orthodox, Conservative and Reform movements. It also brings in the unaffiliated and people from the community at large.
''Everyone's welcome,'' Reiner said.
In accordance with the Purim command of making gifts to charity, for the second year in a row the festival's proceeds supported the sponsoring synagogues and Southeast Focal Point Joseph Meyerhoff Senior Center.
The money will benefit programs at the center, which serves around 750 seniors a week at 3081 Taft St. in Hollywood, said Frieda Caldes, the facility's director.
''It's wonderful for people to come together and give back to the elderly in their community,'' Caldes said. ``We're thrilled and ever so grateful.''
Chabad celebrates annual Purim festival
Daniela Aizic wore a pair of bunny ears that she had bought in Israel. Her children, Ethan, 1, was dressed as an M&M, Elan, 2, as a fire truck and Aviya, 4, wore a Snow White costume.
The costumes were part of the Jewish holiday known as Purim.
"We get to wear costumes twice a year" said Aizic, reminiscing about the Purim celebrations she remembered as a child. "The children are still too young to know why we are celebrating, but in time they will learn."
Purim is a time for celebration and rejoicing. It is also about the story of Queen Esther and how she foiled a plot by Haman to have the Jewish people annihilated, thus part of the Purim celebration is the reading of the "Megilah" (Scroll of Esther).
Rabbi Simon Jacobson read the Megilah in Hebrew as a group of children and adults held clangers, poised and ready to make noise each time the name Haman was mentioned.
"Purim is also a time we exchange gifts, we aid the poor and celebrate with food and wine" said Sheina Jacobson, wife of the rabbi.
This was the fourth annual Festival of Purim sponsored by the Chabad of Charlotte County.
The costumes were part of the Jewish holiday known as Purim.
"We get to wear costumes twice a year" said Aizic, reminiscing about the Purim celebrations she remembered as a child. "The children are still too young to know why we are celebrating, but in time they will learn."
Purim is a time for celebration and rejoicing. It is also about the story of Queen Esther and how she foiled a plot by Haman to have the Jewish people annihilated, thus part of the Purim celebration is the reading of the "Megilah" (Scroll of Esther).
Rabbi Simon Jacobson read the Megilah in Hebrew as a group of children and adults held clangers, poised and ready to make noise each time the name Haman was mentioned.
"Purim is also a time we exchange gifts, we aid the poor and celebrate with food and wine" said Sheina Jacobson, wife of the rabbi.
This was the fourth annual Festival of Purim sponsored by the Chabad of Charlotte County.
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