CONGREGATION CELEBRATES PURIM.

Byline: Eric Moses Daily News Staff Writer

Celebrating the foiling of a plot to kill all the Jews in a Persian kingdom, dozens danced the macarena, petted animals and ate traditional pastries at Temple Beth Haverim's Purim carnival Sunday in Agoura Hills.

The annual festival commemorates Queen Esther's success in ruining her husband King Ahasuerus's plan to massacre the Jews living in his kingdom, including his wife, more than 2,500 years ago.

For the record, the annual celebration occurred Wednesday evening - the 14th day of Adar on the Hebrew calendar - when Esther's story was read from a scroll called the Megillah.

Each time the villain, an anti-Semite named Haman, is mentioned in the retelling, members of the congregation boo, hiss, blow whistles and stomp their feet.

The event is similar to Halloween. Revelers dress in costume of characters in the story, give sweet treats to friends and eat hamentaschen - a pastry reminiscent of the triangle hat Haman wore.

Though the only religious obligation during Purim is to listen to Esther's tale, there is a tradition of giving charity to at least two needy people. Rabbi Gary Johnson of Temple Beth Haverim said his congregation uses the carnival to raise money for charity groups. Last year's brought in about $10,000.

``It's helping lots of people,'' said Johnson, decked out in Donald Duck cap and tie.

At the carnival, children rode a small Ferris wheel, a rocket ride, tried their luck at a dozen game booths.

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PHOTO Erin Silverman, 4, meets a goat at Temple Beth Haverim's Purim carnival Sunday.

Michael Owen Baker/Daily News