Purim is a joyous, chaotic and raucous holiday. In this Jewish leap year, there are two months of Adar (I and II) and we celebrate Purim in Adar II. This year that will be in late March. Even in leap years, Purim is followed one month later by Passover (they both occur on the full moon).
Purim is a harbinger of spring. Like spring holidays celebrated in other cultures and religions–the Hindu celebration of Holi, Carnivale in Brazil and the Caribbean and Mardi Gras in New Orleans for examples–the elation over the departure of winter and the rebirth of the Earth is intoxicating. And Purim is clearly a holiday to be observed in the millennium, where identifying the difference between good and evil is at times totally challenging.
So MARK YOUR CALENDARS! The AARC brings you a smorgasbord of preparatory events leading up to our Purim observance, which will culminate with Rabbi Michael Strassfeld joining us for the 4th Friday in March. Stay tuned for RSVP details!
- Throughout March:
- costume and mask consultations
- preparing Shalach Manot — the gifts of Purim
- March 19– Lessurbert Annual Cookie Baking (read hamantaschen) and pizza baking
- March 25– 4th Friday Service and Potluck unveiling the beautiful, whole megillah for the whole family and dinner theater Purim Spiel. (Tot shabbat prior to the service)
- March 26– Mincha service and learning with Rabbi Michael
This image and the one above are decorative sections from the Megillat Esther/Scroll of Esther used by AARC courtesy of Barbara Boyk Rust and Idelle Hammond-Sass
Have an idea of how to add to the fun? Contact Dina Kurz [dinakurz@gmail.com] (on behalf of the Purim Planning Committee) if you want to add an event (such as baking, costume or mask workshop, sangria making, etc.) to increase the merriment in advance of March 25.
Links to Purim last year here and here.
