B'nai Israel celebrates Jewish freedom in Purim
Synagogue's preschoolers learn about holiday with costumes and crafts
BY LAYLI WHYTE
Staff Writer

CHRIS KELLY staff Samantha Pfeffer, Navesink, celebrates Purim at Congregation B'nai Israel, Rumson, by painting the face of a laughing Alex Scaff, also Navesink, at the Purim celebration on March 4.

RUMSON - A classic story of good triumphing over evil, the Jewish holiday of Purim is being celebrated by even the youngest members of Congregation B'nai Israel.

Purim is the story of Queen Esther of Shusan (today known as Persia), wife of King Ahasuerus.

According to the Megillah (the Book of Esther that is read on Purim), King Ahasuerus had in his employ a man named Haman, who wished the Jewish people of the land to bow down to him, including Esther's cousin, Mordecai, and when they wouldn't, he attempted to banish them from Shusan.

Although the king did not know that his wife was Jewish, Esther went to him and pleaded with him to help her people.

The king listened to his wife, and instead of sending away the Jewish people, he banished Haman from the land.

Children in Congregation B'nai Israel's Gan Yeladim Preschool and Kindergarten Enrichment programs have been learning about Purim and illustrated books, called Megillah, to tell this story.

"The word Megillah has entered the lexicon," said Anne Farber, an assistant pre-kindergarten teacher. "It means the whole story, the whole deal. People say, 'the whole megillah.'"

Purim is a time of celebration, and the children at Gan Yeladim haven't missed out on the story's significance.

"It's a classic Jewish holiday," said Farber, "where evil is triumphed by bravery and the Jewish people survive, once again."

On Monday, children at Gan Yeladim were dressed in costumes, one of the traditions of Purim, and enjoying a favorite Purim treat, hammantashen.

"Hammantashen are little cakes made in the shape of triangles to represent Haman's hat," explained Gail Pierson, the director and teacher of the pre-K program. "We fill them with jelly or chocolate chips."

Julia Mancuso, 5, named these treats as one of the things she likes best about Purim.

"I like eating hammantashen," she said, "and I like Queen Esther."

Jonathan Rasnitsyn, 5, had his own favorite things about Purim.

"I like King Ahasuerus," he said, "and hammantashen."

Gabe Kroll, 4, said that hammantashen is one of his favorites, too.

"I like Queen Esther, too," he said, "and I like that Haman got sent away forever because he's mean."

In addition to the much-loved hammantashen, which the children put into Purim baskets and give to friends, and family, Pierson said that the baskets also contain candy and "graggers" or noisemakers.

"When we read the Purim story," said Pierson, "and we say Haman's name, we make noise with the graggers and 'boo' him. The children really like it."

Charlotte Rubin, 4, said that she liked the noise-makers.

"I like the graggers the best," she said.

The children also make masks and puppets representing the Purim characters, give puppet shows and sing Purim songs while they march through the halls of the synagogue.

The congregation also had a celebration last weekend with a Purim parade, with some older children and pre-school children in costume, marching and singing Purim songs for the congregation.

Pierson has been at B'nai Israel since it first opened in 1984, and said that Purim is always a favorite holiday for the children.

"Every year we celebrate Purim," she said. "We celebrate that we are free to not bow down to anyone, to not bow down to idols or anyone except God."