Every year our congregation looks forward to a joyous tradition – our annual Purim Celebration. According to the Megillah (scroll of Esther), we observe Purim as a time of “feasting and gladness.” For example, we dress in costumes, feast on hamentashen (cookies shaped like Haman’s hat), perform spiels (silly plays) and enjoy a carnival with games and prizes.

We held our annual Purim carnival on Sunday, March 17. For many years, our CEH carnival has been organized by Jill and Lyn Shenk. Not only is Jill a master organizer, but Lyn has built many of the games! Some of the games included: Sail to Shushan (boat races), Shekel Drop, Gefilte Fish Toss, and Haman’s Hole in One (golf). There was also a moon bounce on our front lawn.

Children and their parents enjoyed playing games, eating hamentashen and other delicious food, collecting tickets and redeeming them for prizes. There was an atmosphere of merriment and celebration. This is an event that brings together many different members of our CEH community as well as their friends and family.

On Wednesday, March 20 our congregation, including our Wednesday Religious School students, participated in a partial Megillah reading and spiel. The spiel was a retelling of the Purim story as a parody of the musical Hamilton. Students in Kitot Gimmel – Zayin (3rd – 7th Grades) presented the spiel to the congregation with accompaniment by Elisa & Hannah Rosman. The spiel itself was written by Mike Stein. Everyone had a great time laughing at the spiel and shaking their graggers (noise makers) to drown out Haman’s name during the Megillah reading.

We’re looking forward to Purim 5781 (2020)!

Thank you to Jill and Lyn Shenk and a large group of volunteers including congregants, RS teachers, and RS students. Partial Megillah Reading & Spiel: Alan Savada (reader), Mike Stein and Elisa & Hannah Rosman (spiel), and congregants and teachers (readers & oneg set up and clean up).