‘Purim In the Air’ celebrates most festive of Jewish holidays
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Chaya Rosenblum helps celebrate Purim with a noisemaker at South Hills Jewish Community Center in Scott Township.
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An “Alice In Wonderland”-costumed Ellie Turow enjoys the Purim festivities, including her airline-style dinner.
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“Flight attendants” Rikel, left, and Rachel Rosenblum greet guests at the Purim celebration.
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Yossi Rosenblum watches as Rabbi Mendy Rosenblum reads the Megillah of Esther.
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Chabad of the South Hills co-director Batya Rosenblum, dressed for the celebration’s theme, reads the events itinerary.
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Lilly Turow, costumed for Purim, takes a break from dinner.
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Esther Rosenblum paints a youngster’s face as part of an “Xpress Spa” activity during the celebration.
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Ari and Chaya Rosenblum get ready to “board” the Purim celebration.
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Mussie Rosenblum, Chabad of the South Hills event coordinator, celebrates with giraffe-costumed son, Schneur.
Chabad of the South Hills celebrated the Jewish holiday of Purim in a lofty manner.
The theme for the March 10 gathering was “Purim In the Air,” with the hosts attired as flight attendants and, in the case of Chabad director Rabbi Mendy Rosenblum, as airplane captain.
Activities such as a “KidsPort” craft table and “XpresSpa” offering nail art and face painting kept youngsters entertained, as a “SkyBar” did for the over-21 crowd at South Hills Jewish Community Center in Scott Township.
Dinner was served airline-style on trays, with everything except a fold-down table attached to the seat in front.
As per Purim tradition, Rosenblum read the Megillah of Esther in Hebrew, with those in attendance celebrating at appropriate times by letting a variety of noisemakers do their thing.
The Megillah, which means scroll, chronicles the events of the historic Purim, by which the Jewish people overcame persecution at the hands of Haman, the anti-Semitic adviser to King Ahashverosh of ancient Persia. The noisemaking occurs each time Haman’s name is mentioned during the reading.
As such, Purim – which translates to “lots,” as in objects that are tossed for wagering purposes – represents the most festive of Jewish holidays.
Those who celebrate generally dress in costume and while partaking of food and drink as the occasion’s mitzvah, or good deed, to bring the joy of the holiday to a crescendo.
Chabad of the South Hills – Jewish Center for Learning and Living, 1701 McFarland Road, Mt. Lebanon, is dedicated to increasing the awareness, knowledge and observance of Judaism throughout the area. For more information, visit www.chabadsh.com.