Families gather to celebrate Purim with circus

Vaughan Weekly
March 19, 2014
By Angela Gismondi

There was fun for the whole family at the Purim celebration at the North Thornhill Community Centre Sunday.

Chabad Russian Center of Thornhill Woods, who hosted the festivities, put a unique twist on this year’s community celebration with the theme of Purim in the circus. In the spirit of Purim, participants were encouraged to come in costume. The event drew a large crowd.

The event was a community-wide program, and all were welcome to join, regardless of Jewish affiliation or background. Participants enjoyed a circus show, prizes, hearing the story of purim and refreshments. The celebration also featured live entertainment, crafts and activities and child-friendly reading of the Book of Esther, known in Hebrew as the Megillah.

The festival of Purim is celebrated every year on the 14th of the Hebrew month of Adar. It began this year after sundown on Saturday (March 15) and ended at nightfall on Sunday (March 16).

Known as the most joyous date on the Jewish calendar, the day-long holiday of Purim commemorates the salvation of the Jewish people in Ancient Persia from Haman’s plot to destroy, kill and annihilate all the Jews, young and old, infants and women, in a single day.

It is observed with public readings of the Megillah, or Scroll of Esther, to recount the story of the Purim miracle, sending food gifts to friends, giving gifts of money to the poor and enjoying a festive Purim meal.