Congregation Brith Sholem celebrates merry Jewish holiday
By JaNAE FRANCIS
(Ogden Standard Examiner: Saturday, March 14, 2009)OGDEN -- The miracle of the ancient Persian Empire Jews who were saved by Esther's willingness to risk her life was cause for much celebration for Congregation Brith Sholem last weekend.
Members of the congregation dressed in costumes and acted in ways similar to a modern-day Mardi Gras. They laughed, shouted and used noisemakers in their synagogue Sunday as they observed Purim.
"Whether it was Haman or Hitler, there has always been someone who hates the Jews," said Gillian Whitney, of Logan, an organizer of the event.
"You are supposed to be very merry," she said. "It looks like the worst possible thing, and it turns out to be the best possible thing."
"Purim is always supposed to be the funniest thing of the year," said Judi Amsel, congregation president. "The noisemakers are so we can blot out the name of the bad guy. We are commanded to blot him out."
Carol McNamara, of Logan, said there is an odd component to the holiday.
"How often do you get to shout in the synagogue?" she said. "It's the most fun holiday. We tell stories. We laugh. We parade. We dress up. Of all the festive holidays we have, it's the most silly."
But the celebration did bring cause for a few moments of reverence, during which Whitney offered a prayer. "Blessed are you, our God, who performed miracles for our forefathers," were some of the words she offered in that prayer.
Afterward, she and Gary Boyle, of Ogden, recited a rhyming story of Mordechai's role in helping Esther win a decision from the king to deliver the Jewish people. "The moral of this story dear children: To honor God and all people wherever you go," Whitney said.
Following that, some of the congregation's young people performed a light-hearted skit re-enacting the event while dressed in their various costumes, some applicable to the performance and some not.
Next, all the children of the synagogue hit a clown pinata representing Haman, and scrambled for candy as it broke. "Everybody enjoys an excuse to whack a pinata," Whitney said.
With a bright orange wig, trench coat and a loudly honking horn, 13-year-old Cole Stern, of Ogden, often found himself at the center of the party's festivities. Stern said he thought it fitting to dress as Harpo Marx, a late Jewish comedian known in the 1950s for his pantomime.
"He was sort of erratic," Stern said. "I spent an afternoon thinking of things I could do."
Equipped with a watering can strapped to his belt, Stern entertained those who were paying attention to him during the more chaotic moments of the celebration by pretending to water an artificial plant at the front of the synagogue.
Equipped with a watering can strapped to his belt, Stern entertained those who were paying attention to him during the more chaotic moments of the celebration by pretending to water an artificial plant at the front of the synagogue.
Adding to the party atmosphere were Hamantaschen, fruit-filled tarts made by Congregation members, in the shape of the three-cornered hat Haman wore.
Participants also collected used dress clothing and canned goods for those in need, which is another Purim tradition.
Gillian's Notes: Here are some additional photographs of our Purim celebration
