Saratoga Chabad Hosts Purim Celebration

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SARATOGA SPRING, NY — The Saratoga County Chabad hosted its fifth annual Purim celebration at 130 Circular St. Friday. Dozens of costumed denizens turned out for the event, which included live Israeli music from Skidmore students and a performance by Laughalot the clown.

Purim, a day of feasting and festivities, begins on the 14th day of Adar, the 12th month on the Jewish calendar.

This year’s Purim celebration at the Saratoga County Chabad was Israel-themed. Previous years’ themes have included Chinese, Japanese, and Hawaiian.

The event included a sandbox where kids could dig for coins in honor of Israel’s rich archaeological history.

After searching, some children headed over to the bouncy bounce that, according to Rabbi Abraham Abba Rubin, was brought in to represent King David’s Castle.

Those entering the Saratoga County Chabad were first introduced to oranges and an electronic juicer, where they could prepare fresh-squeezed orange juice in honor of the city of Jaffa in Israel.

From here, they could head over to Laughalot the clown, who painted children’s faces before bursting out into song. Laughalot, or Cecilia St. King, is the keynote musician at the Department of Peace in Rhode Island. King tours the upstate region of New York as a peace troubadour, sometimes performing at political rallies.

“My goal is to bridge the gap between cultures,” King said. She does so by singing educational-themed songs that preach tolerance.

Participants could then take a seat with Marcus Anderson who sketched caricatures of those visiting the Chabad. Anderson is a self-taught artist who teaches sketching to the disabled at centers throughout Albany and Saratoga.

The Purim celebration dates back to the second century B.C.E., when Jews first commemorated their survival from the hands of Haman, an adviser to Ahasuerus, the king of Persia. Haman was determined to massacre the Jews as a response to Mordecai, a Jewish citizen who refused to bow down to him.

Mordecai’s cousin Esther was Ahasuerus’ favorite concubine, but unbeknownst to the king, she was Jewish. After three days of fasting, Esther presented herself to the Ahasuerus and told him of Haman’s plan to exterminate the Jews. Ahasuerus was outraged, and sentenced Haman to hang from the gallows.