Purim is one of the most joyous and fun holidays on the Jewish calendar. It commemorates a time when the Jewish people living in Persia were saved from extermination.
This year, lakeside residents are invited to a community Purim celebration on Wednesday, March 23, 3 p.m. at the Lake Chapala Jewish Congregation. All are welcome to enjoy the Purim adaptation of “Rock Around the Clock” as well as a traditional festival buffet.
The price for synagogue members is 70 pesos and 100 pesos for non-members. The synagogue is located at Santa Margarita 113, in Riberas del Pilar, one block north of the Carretera.
The story of Purim is told in the Biblical Book of Esther. The heroes of the story are Esther, a beautiful young Jewish woman living in Persia, and her cousin Mordecai, who raised her as if she were his daughter. Esther was taken to the house of Ahasuerus, King of Persia, to become part of his harem, and he loved her more than his other women and made her queen. But the king did not know that Esther was a Jew, because Mordecai told her not to reveal her nationality.
The villain of the story is Haman, an arrogant, egotistical advisor to the king. Haman hated Mordecai because Mordecai refused to bow down to Haman, so Haman plotted to destroy the Jewish people. The plot thickens and it appears that all is lost until Queen Esther comes to the rescue and saves her people.
The primary commandment related to Purim is to hear the reading of the Book of Esther. We are also commanded to eat, drink and be merry. According to the Talmud, a person is required to drink until he cannot tell the difference between “cursed be Haman” and “blessed be Mordecai,” though opinions differ as to exactly how drunk that is.
It is customary to hold carnival-like celebrations on Purim, to perform plays and parodies, and to hold beauty contests. Americans sometimes refer to Purim as the Jewish Mardi Gras. For further information, contact Barbara at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.