Join in this year’s virtual communitywide Purim celebration on Feb. 26
How many times have we cursed COVID-19 for ruining special occasions and even everyday life? Isn’t it ironic, then, that the pandemic in one sense has broadened our ability to gather?
The explosion of Zoom and other video conferencing tools has actually made it easier to include friends and family from near and far for celebrations.
How many of us included out-of-town relatives in lighting the menorah virtually last year? Hasn’t it been a little easier to participate in Friday night services from your computer, rather than rushing to the synagogue?
And now, organizers of the communitywide Purim day celebration hope this unexpected benefit of the pandemic can boost attendance at this year’s event.
When the program was live there were never many school-age children attending, though attendees included preschool children and adults who were not working, said Rabbinical Association Administrator/Program Director Annette Fish. Now, because so many people are working and attending school from home, there’s a greater chance they will be able to join.
This year’s virtual celebration is scheduled for 11 a.m. to noon Feb. 26, a day we commemorate Queen Esther saving the Jewish people from the evil Persian Empire official, Haman, who was planning to have them all killed.
The lineup
The story is told in the Book of Esther, also known as the Megillah. Rabbis David Glickman, Beryl Padorr, Jonathan Rudnick, Linda Steigman and Hazzan Tahl Ben Yehuda will be reading a synopsis of each of the chapters in a creative fashion, interspersed with music and discussion, Fish said.
“While we partner with Village Shalom and The J Heritage Center, it is a community celebration that draws adults and children of all ages, whether affiliated or non-affiliated,” Fish said. “This is an opportunity for members of the community — especially those who do not have transportation to participate in a Purim se’udah (festive meal) experience — to be able to enjoy a Purim celebration.”
This year, the Rabbinical Association hopes to have participation from several senior retirement and independent living facilities. “This program provides a comfortable venue for bringing multi-generations from the Jewish community together to celebrate and learn about holidays and Jewish traditions,” Fish said.
The communitywide Purim day program is made possible by a grant from the Flo Harris Fund of the Jewish Community Foundation, and all the area congregations. Fish said it truly is a collaborative effort.
While details are still being worked out, Rabbi Padorr of Congregation Ohev Sholom said, “The rabbis and Hazzan Tahl Ben Yehuda will be participating in the service, singing, teaching, reading the Megillah and leading the community in joy and happiness, as is the custom of Purim.”
Usually the Hazzan coordinates the music, with Rabbi Rudnick joining in, as well as Rabbi Padorr, Fish said.
Goodies
Those who sign up will receive a shalach manot gift bag, while supplies last, which includes hamantaschen, raisins, juice, a piece of fruit, beads and a grogger. The gift bag can be picked up curbside at Village Shalom on the afternoon of Feb. 25, or you can request on the registration form that a bag be delivered to you.
Costumes and beads are encouraged to make this as festive as possible. And bring your groggers, even though everyone will be muted.
Although the communitywide Purim program is midday, it is not targeted to just the elderly or small children.
“It is close to lunch time, so hopefully people can Zoom in; no one has to leave where they are,” said Rabbi Padorr. “It has always been geared for Village Shalom residents and their families. Some of the children and grandchildren of the residents come. Anyone can enjoy the celebration of Purim and the community spirit. This year the challenge was how to make it ‘Zoom friendly’ for everyone and keep the spirit and joy of Purim.”
With all the other Purim celebrations at various congregations, what makes this one special? Fish said not only is this a tradition, but not everyone is able to participate in their congregation’s evening program. When the communitywide Purim day was in person, it included a meal — the se’udah that is part of the holiday celebration.
“We can’t do that this year, but we’re hoping the people at Village Shalom who participate will be served lunch afterward,” she said. “So we’re doing a revised version of what we would do if we were in person and hopefully everyone will have a festive meal after the Purim celebration.”
In the feedback and evaluations gathered in past years, people said they really appreciated the opportunity to celebrate with friends and family from around the community, people that are not necessarily in their own congregations, and being able to see, meet and hear from the hazzan and clergy from various congregations, Fish said.
“People tell us how much it means to them to see their rabbis working, celebrating and praying together in a united effort, and a sense of community is created when individuals from all movements come together to worship, learn and celebrate as one community,” she said.
Rabbi Padorr said that the Kansas City-area rabbis are a close-knit group who all enjoy working together, considering themselves community rabbis as well as rabbis in their own field or congregation.
“We can rejoice together to show our bond with each other as we do with other holidays throughout the year,” she said. “It is an opportunity for all of us to be together as one big family under the tent of the Jewish people.
Especially now, when people are feeling isolated, it is even more important to bring the community and people together in whatever way we can, and to mark occasions that help us feel some sense of normalcy and the familiar rhythm of the Jewish calendar and life.”
