Posted to Shlichus on

Purim with a Mexican Accent

Press Herald
Rabbi Moshe Wilansky of Portland, center, leads dancers at the Purim celebration held Sunday at Deering High School.

Portland, ME — The Book of Esther whizzed by in a whirl of Hebrew, interrupted only by the name “Haman.”

Dozens who listened to the reading at Deering High School greeted the name with noisemakers, jeers aimed at a man who, according to the Bible, tried to annihilate Persia’s Jews more than 2,300 years ago.

A crowd of more than 100 gathered Sunday to celebrate his failure on the Jewish holiday of Purim.

Rabbi Moshe Wilansky of Portland’s Chabad House said the holiday, which commemorates a diplomatic move that may have prevented a widespread massacre, is a relatively minor holiday that stands out because of its festive tradition.

The holiday celebrates the work of Esther, who thwarted a plot to massacre Jews in the Persian Empire.

Her story is detailed in the Bible’s Book of Esther.

Esther, who concealed her Jewish faith when she married Persian King Ahasuerus, told her husband about Haman’s plan to kill her people.

King Ahasuerus ordered Haman to hang and the Jews to raise arms against their enemies.

“It kept them from having a holocaust,” said Natan Kahn of Portland, who attended the celebration with his wife and five children.

At Deering, children came in costumes, danced and ate Mexican food. Clowns roved the Deering cafeteria while a band performed traditional music.

“It’s a carnival-type atmosphere,” Kahn said.

Anat Levey of Falmouth brought her 2-year-old daughter Kaya, who dressed up as a princess.

“I’m trying to teach her the Jewish traditions,” said Levey, who spent her early childhood in Israel.

Rabbi Wilansky said followers are asked to celebrate, share food and give to charity.

Revelers often wear costumes and are asked to listen to a recitation of Esther, or The Megillah, jeering at the mention of Haman’s name.
The celebration at Deering, organized by Wilansky’s Hasidic outreach group, had a Mexican theme this year, and participants shook maracas at the sound of “Haman.”

Eitan Kahn, 12, of Portland talks with a friend during the Purim celebration at Deering High School. The event was organized by Rabbi Moshe Wilansky’s Hasidic outreach group.
Draizy Wilansky, 13, of Portland films some of Sunday’s activities.

Related Articles

7 Comments