Shavei Israel communities celebrate Purim
It’s Purim and Shavei Israel communities around the world are celebrating. Purim commemorates the Jewish victory 2,000 years ago over Haman’s evil plans in ancient Persia. There are enough surprising twists and daredevil turns in the story to keep the plot of the Megillah, the scroll of Esther read on Purim evening (this year Wednesday night in most of the world, Thursday night in formerly walled cities like Jerusalem and Safed), ever exciting and riveting fun for Jews of all ages.
Part of that fun is dressing up in costume, and the Bnei Menashe community in Israel certainly knows how to get in the spirit of the holiday. We have a selection of pictures here from the Bnei Menashe taken in Tiberias, Kiryat Shemona and Safed.
What else is going on with the communities served and supported by Shavei Israel?
In Lodz, Poland, Shavei Israel’s emissaries sent out mishlochei manot – Purim gifts – to seniors in the Lodz Jewish community. Here’s a picture.
And later on in Lodz, the younger set will have a party and festive meal and complete with a “Purim Shpiel,” where community members put on skits, sing songs and in general given rare permission to make fun of the leaders (at least in public)! Here’s the flyer with the schedule (it’s in Polish).
Elsewhere in Poland – in Warsaw, in addition to prayers and Megillah reading, there will be a contest for the best costume, plus a feast of food from around the world in honor of Achashverous, the Persian king (and husband of the Megillah’s Queen Esther) who, among less savory pursuits, was a world renowned party planner. On Thursday, there will be a Purim Shpiel, a carnival for the kids, and a communal Seudat Purim (the holiday’s festive meal).
In Krakow, the Megillah reading will be followed by a Purim parade in the streets of the Kazmierz, the old Jewish quarter of the city. There will be a Purim party at night and a seudah during the day.
In Colombia, the Bnei Anousim community there will gather at the Hotel Lancaster for a Megillah reading, theater performance, dinner and dancing with a live band.
There will be Megilla readings, parties and festive meals in Seixal, Portugal; in Palermo and San Nicandro Italy; in Chile and El Salvador.
Purim in El Salvador 2015