Creative Costume Brings Breath of Fresh Air to Purim

Editor's Message

By Audrey Shore
Jewish Theological Seminary/ Columbia University
(KOACH on Campus Editor)

Instead of offering a meaningful, thought-provoking message in this issue, I'd like instead to share the absolute best story of Purim ever told, which will thus explain why it's my very favorite holiday.

Growing up in the bustling metropolis (read: small, sketchy town) of Randolph, Massachusetts for the first eighteen years of my life, I was lucky to belong to Temple Beth Am, which has to be the warmest, friendliest shul in the universe. Each Purim, Rabbi Weiss dons the craziest Purim costume possible, from Bart Simpson to the Joker from the Batman series...he's done it all. (And it's always a surprise; it's not possible to find out in advance... believe me, I've tried!)

So, the whole congregation gathers in the sanctuary to hear the Megillah, but before the reading there's a gala Purim parade where all the little kids (ahh... nee me!) walk across the bimah. The little boys say "I'm Mordekhai!" and have cotton-ball beards, and the little girls say "I'm Esther!" and wear tu-tus, et al.

Except for one little girl.

Precious Audrey was wearing the outfit that her mother forced her to wear each and every year, a costume that Natalie (the said ima) had constructed in her high school glory days. This wonderful garment was created out of navy blue felt with other colors of felt as accents. What was it, you may ask?

Renuzit Air Freshener. The precursor to Glade.

Yes, you read it right; I was an air deodorizer for Purim.

So when all of my friends said "I'm Esther!" or "I'm Vashti!" (those little girls had parents with questionable morals anyway), I got to say, "I'm Renuzit Air Freshener."

And they wonder why I needed therapy... : )

So on Purim, enjoy the holiday, and remember -- your costume cannot possibly be weirder than that of little Audrey Shore from Temple Beth Am.

     With love and hamentashen,

           Audrey

[Posted 2/20/02]