Pre-Purim Carnival: Families have holiday fun

KINGSTON, NY — In anticipation of Purim, the celebration of the rescue of Jews from Ancient Persia, Chabad Lubavitch of Ulster County held a Pre-Purim Carnival Sunday at the Congregation Agudas Achim in Kingston, complete with fire juggling and a “Guess How Many Hamantaschen Are in the Jar” table.

There were 42.

The jelly-filled hamantasch cookie is named after Haman, who can be compared to an ancient Adolf Hitler, according Kingston resident Tibor Spitz.

Haman was the assistant to Persian King Ahasuerus, who sought and found the most beautiful woman in Persia to be his wife – Queen Esther, who was secretly a Jew.

It was Esther’s pleading to the King that saved the Jews from Haman’s plan to kill them.

Haman was hanged instead, and Ahasuerus granted the Jews the ability to fight against their enemies.

In honor of Esther, Chabad set up a “Pin the Crown on Queen Esther” game; and out of dishonor for Haman, children made gragers, noisemakers that are boxes filled with clattery items, such as beans or stones.

“You read the story of Purim, and when you hear Haman’s name, you shake the grager so you don’t hear his name,” Yocheved Adams, 14, said.

She and others helped the guests at the game tables, which included puzzle races, balloon shaving, extinguishing candle flames with water pistols, manicures and a “Guess the Flavor” pie contest.

Twelve-year old Ellenville resident David Lonstein sampled the tangy pie fillings, and won twice.

“I guessed blueberry, and then apple, which was also right,” Lonstein said. “I’ve done the candle squirt, too.”

After eating all the cotton candy and pinning the crown on Queen Esther, kids such as Matthew Wilder had a chance to burn some fuel in a series of bouncy houses.

“Now he’ll shoot out all his energy running back and forth on this balloon,” Ben Wilder, the boy’s father, said. “This is the first time we’ve been here. It’s very nice – great for kids.”

Juggler handles fire

It’s tough to pull a child from a bouncy house, but apparently, fire works.

As the finale to an afternoon of games, sugar and playing with friends, Keith Leaf, the Amazing Fire Juggler, tossed three flaming batons and then a staff, which was also lit at both ends.

The children’s eyes were glued to the juggler, and the parents made quick glances at the exit sign.

The performance was well-liked. Afterward, parents and children stuck around and continued with the festivities.