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JOYFUL HOLIDAY
By LINDA M. LINONIS
Photo
One-year-old Eli Clayman-Smith, held by his father, Matt Smith, is in the spirit of a “super” Purim on Wednesday night at Temple El Emeth in Liberty. The holiday, complete with costumes and funny hats, was celebrated with a reading from the Book of Esther on how the Jews in Persia defeated the evil Haman. Participants sounded “groggers” to boo the name of Haman when it was mentioned.
Liberty
Purim revolves around fun, costumes and food underscored by a triumphant message of courage and survival.
“It’s a joyful holiday,” said Elyse Silverman, program and education director of Temple El-Emeth, 3970 Logan Way.
The synagogue, in conjunction with Congregation Ohev Tzedek in Boardman, hosted a “Purim extravaganza” Wednesday night, when the observance began. It was preceded by prayers.
Even saying Megillah, the reading from the Book of Esther, is fun.
Silverman said Purim recounts the story of Esther, who had been made queen by Ahasuerus, King of Persia, and her cousin, Mordecai. Background information on Purim notes the villian is Haman, an adviser to the king who hated Mordecai.
The king left the fate of the Jews to Haman, who wanted to exterminate them. Mordecai persuaded Esther to speak to the king, which was risky, because she hadn’t told him she was Jewish. But the king loved her and when she told him about Haman’s plot, the king hanged Haman and his family on the gallows awaiting Mordecai.
As Rabbi Joseph Schonberger and assistants read the Megillah, participants shook their “groggers” when Haman’s name was mentioned. Filling in as groggers were boxes of macaroni and cheese, which will be donated to Second Harvest Food Bank. Boos and hisses also were the response when Haman’s name was spoken.
The word “Purim” means lots and refers to the lottery that Haman used to pick the date of extermination. Rabbi Schonberger said Megillah is the Jewish word for scroll, and it’s evolved into Jewish slang for story or process.
“The holiday is about how evil [Haman] was destroyed, and we survived to celebrate,” Silverman said.
“Fun” food in the form of hot dogs and a salad bar provided refreshments along with “world famous Sisterhood” hamantaschen, a pastry. “It’s filled with prunes, apricot, cherry and even chocolate,” Silverman said. The triangular shape recalls Haman’s three-cornered hat.
Ultimately, Silverman said, Purim shows that “God is always there even when it doesn’t appear so.” In the book of Esther, God is not mentioned. The rabbi said he believed it’s up to people “to be agents of God and do things that matter.”
Rabbi Schonberger said he likes Purim because it gives people a chance to “have fun” and was a counter balance to serious services. “It’s healthy to let go at times in a postive way,” he said.
Jodi Stoyak, co-president of El-Emeth, said she liked Purim because of the “relaxed nature of the service. It’s the Jewish Mardi Gras.”
Dr. Jerome Small, also a temple member who sported a duck hat, said he also liked the festive spirit but took to heart the serious tale of the Megillah. “It’s a story of history and ongoing history,” he said, adding it’s a sombering reminder of other efforts such as the Holocaust, to exterminate Jews.
Retired preschool teacher Susan Mostov, a member of Ohev Tzedek, appreciated the children in costume and the tasty hamantaschen.
Purim ends tonight.