Purim is celebrated at East Meadow Beth-El

The Jewish holiday of Purim was celebrated and wholeheartedly embraced by the East Meadow Beth-El Jewish Center on March 24. The day brought together families and members of the community to take part in celebrations for joyous holiday.

Purim commemorates the saving of the Jewish people from Haman, who was planning to kill all the Jews in the ancient Persian Empire. The story of Purim is recounted in the Book of Esther.

The central figures in the Purim story are Queen Esther, who was a Jewish woman married to the Persian king, and Mordecai, her cousin. Haman, the villain of the story, was the royal vizier who plotted to destroy the Jewish people.

Purim usually falls in late February or March on the Gregorian calendar. It’s marked by several customs and traditions including reading the Book of Esther, both in the evening and the morning of Purim, sending gifts of food to friends and family, eating a festive meal, often including triangular pastries called hamantaschen, which are filled with sweet fillings such as poppy seeds or fruit preserves, and dressing up in costumes.

The Book of Esther, also called the Megilla, was read by 19 members of East Meadow Beth-El, including Rabbi Aaron Marsh, Laura Yoblansky, Ilana Goldner, David Wayne, Laurie Diamond, Joe Gul, Josh Kardisch, David Tobias, Susan Tobia, Jordan Silver, Josh Jurysta, Steve Jurysta, Harry Miller, Seth Meisel, Mike Kessler, Levana Lichter, Susan Bernstein, Scott Eckers and Betti Braunschweiger.

They studied the text on their own, attended Sunday classes, and encouraged each other throughout the process.

And all throughout the shul and celebrations that followed, costumes were abundant. Whether families were dressed like princesses and princes, or simply came to embrace the holiday traditions, fun was had by all at East Meadow Beth-El.