Community Corner
Purim Is Celebrated Around CDM
The Jewish holiday is celebrated with festivities including a carnival, food, drinks and charitable actions.
The weather outside was frightful, but it failed to dampen the spirits of Purim celebrations in and around Corona del Mar.
Celebrated after sundown Saturday and all day Sunday, Purim commemorates the salvation of the Jewish people in ancient Persia from the ruler Haman’s plot “to destroy, kill and annihilate all the Jews, young and old, infants and women, in a single day,” explained Rabbi Reuven Mintz of Chabad of Newport Beach.
Purim History
Find out what's happening in Newport Beach-Corona Del Marwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
According to the Book of Esther, when King Ahasuerus of Persia had his wife, Queen Vashti, executed for failing to follow his orders, he held a beauty pageant to find a new queen. The winner was a Jewish girl, Esther, who married the king. The anti-Semitic Haman was appointed prime minister of the empire. When Mordechai, the leader of the Jews (and Esther’s cousin), refused to bow to Haman, the latter got angry and convinced the king to issue a decree ordering the extermination of all the Jews on a date chosen by a lottery Haman made.
Mordechai convinced the Jews to repent, fast and pray. Esther asked the king and Haman to join her for a feast, where she revealed her Jewish identity. Haman was hanged, Mordechai was appointed prime minister and the Jews were saved.
Find out what's happening in Newport Beach-Corona Del Marwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Celebrations
Traditions include listening to the megillah (the Book of Esther) and twirling noisemakers called "graggers" to stamp out the name of Haman whenever it is mentioned; holding carnivals where people come in costume; and having a special meal that includes alcoholic beverages. A special Purim delicacy is a three-cornered pastry called hamantaschen, made in the shape of Haman’s hat and filled with jam. In a more serious vein, people give to the poor and gift baskets to friends and family.
Chabad of Newport Beach celebrated the holiday with Purim in Peking, a buffet Chinese dinner with abundant wine. People dressed in Asian garb and listened to a reading of the megillah.
Temple Bat Yahm held a Purim carnival with games and prizes. For children: a giant hamster ball, laser tag, a pony ride, a balloon man, carnival booths, a giant slide, two bounce houses and arts and crafts. Food, drinks, entertainment and gift items for purchase rounded out the event.
More than 500 people attended the carnival, according to Bill Shane, executive director of Temple Bat Yahm. “It’s exciting that people braved the weather to show their community spirit,” he said.
