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The Charlotte Jewish News - March 2019 - Page 13 Chabad Will Feature Purim at the Circus Purim is the most joyous hol iday on the Jewish calendar and has been celebrated for over 2500 years in Jewish commu nities around the world. Purim commemorates the miraculous change of events in ancient Per sia, when the wicked Prime Min ister Haman convinced the fool ish King Achashverosh to kill all the Jews in his kingdom. The Persian Empire of the 4th century BCE, extended over 127 lands and all the Jewish people of that time were subjects of the Empire. Haman chose the 13th day of Adar as the day to annihi late and destroy all the Jews in the kingdom. Mordecahi the Jew, a minister in the king’s cabinet, galvanized all the Jews to repent, fast, and pray to God for salvation. Esther the queen, Mordechai’s cousin, reveded her Jewish identity to the king. Haman was hanged and Mordechai was appointed Prime Minister. On the 13th of Adar the Jews mobilized and defended them selves against their enemies. On the 14th day of Adar they celebrated and this day was per manently declared as an eternal, joyous holiday by Esther and Mordechai. In Shushan, capital of Persia, they extended the fighting by one day and they celebrate Pu rim on the 15th day of Adar. The holiday of Purim is ex treme in its joy and merrymak ing. The dress up is rooted in the fact that everything turned on its head. The downtrodden Jews were suddenly propelled to the top and Mordechai and Esther radiated with light and splendor. Esther’s request was univer sally accepted as well as the five special observances of the Pu rim day. They are: reading of the scroll of Esther; sending at least two ready-to-eat food gifts to a friend; giving gifts to the poor; Celebrating Purim in a Topsy-Turvy thanking God for the miracle; and rejoicing with a festive feast. At Chabad of Charlotte the joy of Purim is serious business. We have a full schedule of events planned. This year’s Purim theme at Chabad is “Purim at the Cir cus.” Wednesday, March 20, is the fast of Esther. The Purim festiv ities begin in the evening with the reading of the Megillah at 8 PM. Circus costumes are the recom mended attire for all the Purim festivities at Chabad. Purim day, Thursday, March 21, morning service is at 6:30 AM with the second Megillah reading at 7 AM. There will be an additional reading at 5:30 PM. The Purim main event will be held Thursday evening at 6:30 PM with a fantastic Circus themed feast which will include hot dogs, mini burgers and relish, cotton candy, popcorn, and of comse gourmet Hamantaschen. Circus entertainment for the children and exciting activities for grownups as well. Fee is $25 per person and $65 per family. (Early bird special - $20 per person and $54 per fami ly if paid by March 14). For more information, please visit Chabad- nc.org or call our office at 704- 366-3984.*:* Congregation MaTorah aprojeci (ij LubnviKholtiorth Carolina World By Rabbi Asher Knight, Temple Beth El “Read me another book ” These are the regular words of the sleepy children in my house hold who are negotiating just before bedtime. Stories help to shape our understanding of om- selves and root us in the narrative of the world. “Sing me another song ” These are the regular words of the children in my household - tucked into their beds, eyelids fluttering, listening to the melody of the Sh’ma. Songs help us to express our values and ideals: joy and gratitude, safety and friend ship, sadness and mourning, longing and love. As a parent and rabbi, 1 often wonder how to engender and encourage my children to feel knowledgeable enough to ulti mately make their own Jewish journey when they become adults. The challenge, of course, is that Charlotte’s prevailing culture is decidedly not Jewish. Jewish cul- tme, food, songs, stories, lessons, and virtues will not randomly seep into our consciousness with out deliberate action. How do we create a strong sense of Jewish identity? Reading certain books and singing certain songs, cele brating certain holidays, and joy ously living with the seasons and cycles of Jewish time. This March brings us to Adar 11, which brings us Purim, which brings us Haman. On Purim we are commanded to mirth and merriment. We read the story of Mordechai and Esther in the Me gillah. We sing songs. We wear costumes. The Talmud goes so far as to say that we should drink until we can’t tell the difference between the “good guy,” Morde chai - and the “bad guy,” Haman. Not knowing the difference between Haman and Mordechai is not just about tempering the categories of “good and evil.” It’s a powerful spiritual message. Our people’s journey isn’t over - sometimes it’s hard to tell the difference between safety and security. The tides of trouble are still prevalent in our lives today. And on Purim, we tell the story of a people who dared to hope. We tell how they fought for safe ty, freedom, and opportunity. We learn that om ancestors could not have done it alone. In this crazy, topsy-turvy world, neither can we. Come celebrate Purim with Temple Beth El on Sunday, March 17 at 11 AM. Members of our congregation will tell the story of Esther, Mordechai, and Haman to the music of the wildly popular Hamilton. The shpiel is appropriate for community mem bers of all ages. We will conclude shortly after noon so that we can head over to the LJCC Purim Carnival. And as we celebrate - whether you wear a costume or not, whether you raise a toast or not, try to think of one way the songs and the stories of this hol iday bring you a sense of Jewish Hebrew Cemetery Association (Continued from previous page) our Director Sandra Goldman leads with compassion and yid- dishkeit. Please contact San dra Goldman at 704- 576-1859 for more information about be ing a member, funeral pre-planning, finan cial aid for funerals, volunteering at the cemetery, or designat ing the Hebrew Cem etery as a beneficiary of your will or estate. Please join us and help us accom plish our mission of providing respectful and dignified Jewish belonging, purpose, connection, and joy. Chag Purim Sameach!*:* ESTHER A PERSIAN MUSICAL Sunday March 17, 2019 11:00am in the room where it happens. m TEMPLE BETH EL Dream Home Today. Your Home Tomorrow. Why Hire a Salesman When You Can Hire a Sales Mensch? ♦ Free Market Analysis ♦ Free MEGA Open House ♦ Fire Me Guarantee Andy Griesinger 704-228-3318 WWW. SalesMensch. com kwSOUTHPARK KELLERWILLIAMS, [Bttr REALTOR OPPOKTUNiTT Insurance for Home, Auto, Business and Life. Community volunteers from the Charlotte Jewish Federation level footstones at the cemetery. funerals for all Charlotte area Jewish people.*:* “My father, Harry, founded Swimmer Insurance Agency over 60 years ago offering security to the community and helping families through times of trouble. Today, we con tinue that tradition of service with everything we do. We will be there for every mile stone, every hardship and every transition your family or business experiences.” - DAVID SWIMMER Swimmer Insurance Agency 725 Providence Rd Charlotte, NC 28207 704.333,6694 www,swimmerinsurance,com
The Charlotte Jewish News (Charlotte, N.C.)
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March 1, 2019, edition 1
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