PLAYING AT PURIM FESTIVAL CELEBRATES FREEDOM.

Byline: Cecilia Chan Staff Writer

Carnival rides, cotton candy, games and costumes reigned at San Fernando Valley temples Sunday as thousands celebrated Purim, sometimes referred to as the ``Jewish Mardi Gras.''

Ora Gordon and his two children waited a turn at one of the many attractions in front of Temple Judea on Lindley Avenue, which was blocked off to traffic for the Jewish carnival.

``It's great, really wonderful,'' the 45-year-old Tarzana resident said with his 3-year-old daughter, Hannah, perched on his shoulders, in a pink nightgown and paper crown, dressed as the biblical Queen Esther.

``It's a lot of fun for the kids,'' Gordon said. But ``to me it's a festival of the celebration of freedom.''

Purim celebrates how Queen Esther and her cousin Mordecai, both Jews, saved their people in Persia from Haman, a prime minister who sought to annihilate them.

On Purim, recounted in the Book of Esther, people hold parties, perform plays, wear costumes and present triangular fruit-filled cookies, called hamentaschen, said to resemble Haman's three-cornered hat.

Temple Judea, with a membership of 1,300 families, for 15 years has opened the carnival to the community. Some 4,000 people were anticipated for Sunday, Rabbi Daniel Moskovitz said. The temple earlier in the day staged a costumed play to explain Purim for those unfamiliar with the celebration.

``It gets bigger every year,'' he said, noting more rides were added to this year's event. ``Purim is a holiday we are commanded to celebrate, to have fun and make fun.''

All the money raised from the carnival will go for scholarships. The most popular dress-up character for girls was Esther, although there was a Snow White and a clown.

Children and grownups ate goodies such as pizza, hamburgers and sweets such as the popular hamentaschen. They also enjoyed the pony rides, a bean toss, duck races and inflatable slides.

``It's a time for people to remember there is joy in life,'' Rabbi Donald Goor said. ``Judaism is a religion filled with celebration and joy, and after Sept. 11 it's a wonderful time to have a celebration.''

B'nai Ami Synagogue in Chatsworth, with a congregation of 30 families, celebrated its first Purim festival on a smaller scale.

About 50 people ate and played games outside the United Methodist Church on Topanga Boulevard, where the 5-year-old synagogue shares space for worship.

Rabbi Ilana Berenbaum Grinblat compared Purim with the Mardi Gras celebration in New Orleans.

``It's a festive time for kids to play games and enjoy,'' she said.

The event offered face painting, contests and an opportunity for photos on horseback.

Jay Sandler, ritual chairman, said the synagogue's goal is to grow to a membership of 75 families. He promised a bigger and better festival next year.

``We want to keep it a small-family atmosphere,'' said Sandler, noting the wide age range of the congregants. ``The thing about us is even though we are very small, we have a rabbi, a religious school and programs like Purim.''

Benny Volotzky, 13, who attends the synagogue, said he was having fun.

``It's cool,'' the Chatsworth youth said. ``It's meeting people, just having fun.''

Matthew Nadel, whose father, Richard, founded the synagogue, was trying to knock down milk cans with baseballs.

CAPTION(S):

2 photos

Photo:

(1) Moshe Cohen, 4, left, snacks on popcorn as he and his father, Meir Cohen, discuss taking on the Gee Whiz ride (behind them) Sunday at the Purim festival held at Temple Judea.

(2) Ella Nudell, 1, echoes biblical Queen Esther, heroine of the Purim celebration.

Charlotte Schmid-Maybach/Staff Photographer