Purim For Three Days (March 2015 KOL)
Historically, Purim has been celebrated on the 14thday of Adar, which begins on Wednesday night this week and continues into Thursday. In walled cities, most noticeably Jerusalem, Purim, is celebrated on the 15thof Adar, and called Shushan Purim, because the battle of Purim occurred in the walled city of Shushan, Persia a day later than other places. It is unusual that the rabbis did not make everyone celebrate one day in all locations, but that is the case. All over Jerusalem on Friday, adults and children will be in costume, a day later than the rest of Israel. Traditionally, you celebrated one day or the other. Not so at TBS!
At TBS, Purim is one of our favorite holidays. We celebrate Purim for an entire weekend, “by rabbinic decree.” There will be something for everyone and I do hope that young and old take the time to let loose and wear costumes. IT IS THE ONLY SHABBAT YOU CAN COME TO TBS IN PAJAMAS (…ALBEIT APPROPRIATE ONES THAT COVER EVERYTHING!) Rumor has it that the Bar Mitzvah family has bought matching PJ’s!
Our celebration will begin on Friday night with Family Services (bring babies to grandmas!) where we will read the TBS special Children’s Megillah, which was lovingly crafted for us by Ellen Frasier and her daughters. Saturday night,at 7 p.m., we will have the Adult Purim Shpiel, “Megillah on the Roof.” Since we are not serving alcohol this year, well-behaved older children (those who can sit still and be quiet for an hour) are welcome to attend this event followed by homemade hamantaschen, made by members who have volunteered to feed us. Thank you to Adam Brown, Ruth Kohn, Mardi Cernohorsky, Deb Polayes and Pam Dettelbach for volunteering to bake for your fellow members. Gary and I will also be baking for Saturday night. It is not too late to call the office and let us know if you can bring a dozen or two of your favorite recipe.
And then, we have rearranged Sunday so that all the children can enjoy the Carnival immediately after Sunday School. Unlike years past, we are not having a school assembly. Teachers will do Purim in the classrooms, and use the time this Sunday to catch up on all that we have missed due to the bad weather. YES students will go first session, and then, the older students will help at school and help Brotherhood set up the famous Brotherhood Purim Carnival. I am asking the Confirmation Class to go for BOTH SESSIONS, so we can start making up missed classes. Pre-K to 7thgraders will go second session, and be dismissed into the Carnival. We hope that you will come inside and have lunch with your kids and share the fun of Carnival with them. Religious school will send you all of the times. As a child, coming to temple in costume for school and attending the Carnival are some of my favorite memories. Make memories with your family!
I will have a costume for Friday night, Saturday night, and Sunday morning/afternoon. What about you? Three days of PJ’s, come to services in jeans, or get thematic for this 2015 winter and dress in your favorite Frozen costume. Dr. Seuss’s birthday was this week; wear your favorite hat in his honor.
Why do I love Purim? Because, it reminds everyone what a fun religion Judaism is and how we have always taken adversity and tried to turn it around to celebrate our survival and our resilience. Whether you fill your hamantaschen with prune or poppy seeds, apricot, or peanut butter and chocolate chips… FILL YOUR PURIM WITH THREE DAYS OF JOY AND CELEBRATION, as the Megillah says, “orah v’simcha, light and joy!”
From our house to yours, Happy Purim!
Rabbi Perlin
PS…. The fun continues the following week, with a three-day event with Rabbi Deborah Prinz, our scholar-in-residence, on the history of Jews and Chocolate starting with a Chocolate Seder on Thursday night, March 12that 7 p.m. And then spend Friday the 13thwith us for a chocolate Sip and Schmoozeto start services, a great chocolate-themed sermon and a chocolate-heavy oneg…and food for those who don’t eat chocolate, too. Rabbi Prinz will be at Minyan Makers and then teach at a lunch and learnat TBS, so RSVP for the seder and lunch and learn as soon as you can by emailing Ellen.