Kid Tested, Adult Approved!

By Chaya Oliver
Florida Atlantic University ‘03

The first time I experienced Purim was only four years ago. One may wonder, why did I get such a late start on celebrating such a fun and exciting holiday? The answer is simple: I am a Jew by choice. I began my studies in November of 1998 (5759), and thus, before that time I had never even heard of Purim.

I remember reading about the holiday, along with all the other Jewish holidays, in one of the books on my required reading list. I quickly found out that when people decide to convert to Judaism they spend many hours catching up on 3,000 years of Jewish history and culture!

The explanation consisted of about two pages. In those two pages, I found out the basics about the holiday known as Purim. I learned that it celebrates how Queen Esther saved the Jewish people from the evil Haman, how it is traditional to drink to the point of inebriation (learn more), how children (and sometimes adults) get dressed up in costumes, and how Hamantashen are the traditional food eaten at all Purim celebrations.

Now, we all know that a two-page description of Purim in a book on Jewish holidays does not exactly do the holiday justice - and quite frankly, neither did the first two Purim celebrations that I attended. I spent my first two Purims at the local synagogue in the small city where I grew up, where Purim celebrations consisted of a children's service on the Friday night closest to Purim and a children's carnival that Sunday.

At the Friday night service, the children would all come dressed in costumes and would receive candy and other sweets and the rabbi would read parts of the Book of Esther. At the carnival on Sunday, the children would again come in costumes and would play games in order to win prizes. My initial reaction to all of this was that it was similar to Halloween, since the children got dressed up in costumes, ate lots of candy, and went to school carnivals. I understood the historical significance of the holiday, but the actual celebration seemed like it was meant only for children.

The next Purim found me away at college and attending a new synagogue, Temple Beth David in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. As the holiday approached, I heard rumors that people came from all of the county in order to attend our synagogue's Purim celebration. I soon understood why! Every year on erev Purim, almost everyone -- even the adults! -- shows up in costume. On one side of the bimah, Rabbi Goldstein and Cantor Eschler take turns reading the story in Hebrew and, at the same time, on the other side of the bimah, our very talented story teller, Janie Grackin, weaves the tale in English.

The audience is expected to provide all of the "special effects." As is traditional, when Haman's name is said, the audience must make as much noise as possible. In addition to drowning out Haman's name, the audience also sits by armed with popcorn and confetti. Every time the word "feast" is said, everyone throws popcorn in the air (and at the people sitting around them) and every time the words "festival" or "party" are said, everyone throws confetti in the air (and at the people sitting around them). The final part of the evening consists of a "Purim Shpiel." The cantor adapts the plot of the story of Esther into a musical, and members of the congregation, with all of about three weeks practice, get up on the bimah, and sing about how Esther saved the Jewish people.

Since experiencing Purim last year, I have discovered that it is not just a children's holiday. Of course, like most synagogues, Temple Beth David has a Purim carnival on Sunday for the children, but the festivities on erev Purim are arguably just as much for the adults as they are for the children.

[Posted 2/20/02]