Monday night of March 2 was the start of the Purim holiday, and concluded at sunset on Tuesday night. The Purim story, told in the Book of Esther, recounts how Queen Esther and her cousin Mordechai thwarted Haman’s plot to destroy the Jewish people in ancient Persia.
While most synagogues held Megillah readings — the public recitation of the Book of Esther, retelling the Purim story aloud in synagogue — for community attendance, the Hewlett-East Rockaway Jewish Center took it a step further and held a large event full of celebration and connection to Judaism.
Executive Director of the center Lisa Stein said there was a nice turnout of 150 community members. She said they had a traditional and family friend Purim experience that taught the children attending about Purim.
“We had a traditional Megillah reading, and the entertainment group The Chutzpah Caravan performed a Purim puppet show and musical for a creative telling of the Purim story. We had a klezmer band perform Yiddish music with a modern twist, festive hamantaschen and other treats,” said Stein. “The community seemed very engaged, and had a great time.”
