Recounting the whole Megillah

Purim, the happiest of Jewish holidays, according to Rabbi Jay Rosenbaum of Temple Israel in Lawrence, may be celebrated various ways in the Five Towns but almost always includes a reading of the Megillah.

The story of Purim began 2,600 years ago and is about the victory over oppressors of the Jewish people. The main character, Esther, is a Jewish woman who married the king of Persia, King Ahasuerus, after winning a beauty contest. The king did not know Esther was Jewish since her guardian and Jewish leader, Mordecai, told her not to reveal her true identity.

Haman, the king’s prime minister, hated the Jews, especially Mordecai, because he would not bow down before him. He tried to convince King Ahasuerus that it would be in the best interest of the kingdom if the Jews were eliminated. The king gave Haman permission to deal with the Jews as he wished, so Haman made plans to massacre the Persian Jews.

Mordecai persuaded Esther to speak to the king in order to save her people and when she did, she told the king that she was Jewish and Haman planned to murder her and her people. The king was furious by what he heard and had Haman hanged and Mordecai was appointed as prime minister in Haman’s place. Also, while Haman’s massacre was prevented, the king allowed the Jews to fight to defend themselves and they were victorious in the end.

“Purim is a celebration of Jewish survival,” said Rabbi Rosenbaum, whose congregation marks the holiday — this year March 20 — by reading the Megillah, presenting a Purim and having a carnival where children dress in costume.

In Hewlett, Rabbi Elliot Skiddell of Reconstructionist Congregation Beth Emeth said like most celebrations and observances, there are many different levels. Such as the level of perseverance and never giving up hope, the concept that our destiny is in our own hands and the concept that each individual within the Jewish community defines their own sense of “Jewishness.” There is

also a sense of responsibility for one another that could be demonstrated in an unexpected moment.

On March 19, the eve of Purim, Congregation Beth Emeth will gather to read the story of Esther and whenever Haman’s name is mentioned, the congregation makes noise. “In addition to making noise, we have a parallel activity and every time Mordecai’s name is mentioned, we toss out handfuls of candy to the congregation,” Skiddell said.

At Congregation Sons of Israel in Woodmere, Rabbi Bruce Ginsburg said the congregation observes a fast and celebrates Purim on March 19 with a reading of the Megillah where children and adults come dressed in costume. On Sunday, there is a Purim carnival where children from the Hebrew school maintain the different booths. “It brings the community together,” he said.

The congregation also observes the Mitzvah of Mishloach Manot, which is the act of exchanging packages of food with neighbors and friends. The Woodmere Sisterhood of Congregation Sons of Israel puts together packages and delivers them for people who cannot.

Ginsburg believes the message of Purim is overcoming those who challenge Jewish identity and solidarity with the help of God. “When there have been persecutors, a lot of Jews went into hiding disguising themselves, changing their names and donning dress of the non-Jewish surrounding people which was true in the Holocaust and all centuries,” he said. “I believe even when we are in this country, it’s important to remember the challenges our ancestors faced.”