GETTING HEAD START ON PURIM.Byline: Alex Dobuzinskis Staff Writer NORTHRIDGE - With Yiddish reggae blasting from loudspeakers and children throwing softballs at metal bottles, hundreds of Jews celebrated on the eve On the Eve (Накануне in Russian) is the third novel by famous Russian writer Ivan Turgenev, best known for his short stories and the novel Fathers and Sons. of the religious festival of Purim at Temple Ramat Zion on Sunday. The two-day Jewish festival starts today, but parties and carnivals were held a little early at synagogues A list of synagogues around the world. Contents: Top - A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z A
Esther Old Testament - the collection of books comprising the sacred scripture of the Hebrews and recording their . At Temple Ramat Zion in Northridge, rain kept most carnivalgoers inside. But that didn't put a damper damp·er n. 1. One that deadens, restrains, or depresses: Rain put a damper on our picnic plans. 2. An adjustable plate, as in the flue of a furnace or stove, for controlling the draft. on spirits, as children sported colorful costumes and teenagers pranced over indoor golf putting greens, chanting rhymes they learned in their youth group. ``The reason we dress up in costumes is because Purim is a holiday where everything is different, it is not like it seems,'' said Sandy Clayman, who teaches Hebrew at the synagogue. One example of that topsy-turvy world is in the Book of Esther itself, where King Achashverosh reigns over Persia and has trouble running his own family, said Clayman, who is known to her students as ``Morah Sandy,'' or Teacher Sandy. Purim celebrates the survival of the Jews during a perilous time in the reign of Achashverosh. Esther, who hid her Jewish identity Jewish identity is the subjective state of perceiving oneself as as a Jew and as relating to being Jewish. Jewish identity, by this definition, does not depend on whether or not a person is regarded as a Jew by others, or by an external set of religious, or legal, or sociological , became the empire's queen and with the help of a relative and guardian named Mordecai managed to outwit out·wit tr.v. out·wit·ted, out·wit·ting, out·wits 1. To surpass in cleverness or cunning; outsmart. 2. Archaic To surpass in intelligence. Haman, a court adviser plotting a mass murder of the empire's Jews. ``Purim's a lot of fun by itself,'' said Greg Sherman, 16, a member of the synagogue's youth group. ``We survived when everyone tried to kill us and everything and it's happy and fun.'' Purim is the only holiday in the Jewish year when tradition encourages drunkenness, and the tradition holds that one should drink until the difference between Mordecai's goodness and Haman's evil becomes blurry. But religious authorities also encourage moderation for the holiday. Sitting near dishware and other items on sale for a silent auction, Cary Dermer, 68, of North Hills was enjoying the Purim party at Temple Ner Maarav in Encino on Sunday. Even with a disc jockey disc jockey (DJ) Person who plays recorded music on radio or television or at a nightclub or other live venue. Disc jockey programs became the economic base of many radio stations in the U.S. after World War II. spinning Israeli tunes and teenagers playing arcade games You can also check the Killer List of Videogames. This is a list of arcade games organized alphabetically by name. It does not include computer or console games unless they were also released in video arcades. See Lists of video games for related lists. under a covered area away from the rain, Dermer observed that Purim is not much different now than it was when he was young. The festival is mainly about family, he said. ``I bet you a couple hundred years ago they were doing the same thing - without electricity,'' Dermer said. Today, the Book of Esther will be read in boisterous synagogue services where children are encouraged to shake ``graggers,'' or noisemakers, whenever the name of Haman is pronounced. The idea is to keep Haman's name from being heard. Alex Dobuzinskis, (818) 546-3304 alex.dobuzinskis(at)dailynews.com CAPTION(S): photo Photo: Molly Tomer, 9, rides a pony at Temple Ner Maarav during the synagogue's Purim carnival Sunday, held in the parking lot despite threats of rain. John McCoy/Staff Photographer |
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