Purim goes adult in many places around the region

In many locations, Purim is going adult this year, and in New Orleans congregations are joining forces for the festivities.

Gates of Prayer in Metairie will welcome Temple Sinai for an adult Purim party on Feb. 23 at 7:30 p.m. The clergy and staff of both congregations will do a megillah reading “as you have never heard it before,” said Rabbi Robert Loewy. Adult beverages and appetizers will be served, and the event will be followed by a concert with the Baal Shem Tones, coordinated by the Institute of Southern Jewish Life. The event is for ages 21 and up. The family Purim event at Gates of Prayer will be Feb. 24 at 11 a.m.

Temple Sinai’s family event will be a megillah reading Feb. 24 at 9 a.m. with the Temple Sinai Puppets, followed by a Brotherhood Family Fun Day in Audubon Park.

Touro Synagogue will also be holding an adults-only Purim party the night of Feb. 23 at 8 p.m. At 10 a.m. on Feb. 24 there will be a family Purim celebration with Frank Levy of Stories in Motion.

While Gates of Prayer welcomes Temple Sinai, the other two congregations in Metairie’s Jewish Corridor — Beth Israel and Shir Chadash — will have a joint celebration at Shir Chadash on Feb. 23 at 7 p.m. There will be a pizza and beer dinner with the Panorama Jazz Band, and kids’ activities. The megillah reading will include special “voices.” Costumes are welcome.

Beth Israel in Metairie will hold a megillah reading on Feb. 24 at 8 a.m., followed by a Purim visit to Woldenberg. Rabbi Topolosky will host a musical Purim meal at his home at 4 p.m.

Chabad will have a Rockin’ Moroccan Purim on Feb. 24 at 5:30 p.m., at Chabad of Metairie. There will be a full Moroccan menu and décor, with masquerades for adults and children. Moroccan-themed costumes are encouraged. Sefardic singer Yossi Nachmias will perform.

At the Chabad on Freret Street, the Purim party will be the first event following renovations. There will be a party on Feb. 23 at 7:30 p.m. for the general community, and on Feb. 24 at 11 a.m. there is a Purim Brunch and Pub Quiz for young Jewish professionals.

Anshe Sfard, New Orleans, will have a community Purim party, Feb. 23 at 7 p.m. Music will be provided by the Bone Tone Jazz Band. There will be homemade Chinese food by Jerry Jacobs, and hamantashen will be served. There is a suggested donation of $10.

There will be an Arabian Nights theme party, PuriMarigny, at Mojitos Run Bar and Grill, Feb. 23 from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. It will be a fundraising event by Maccabi Young Leadership New Orleans, for Maccabi World Union’s ‘Adopt an Athlete’ Program, which enables young Jewish athletes from lost communities to participate in the 19th Maccabiah Games this summer in Israel. There will be a costume competition, belly dancers, live brass band early in the evening and live DJs, Hookahs, Haman Shots for Esther and Lechaim at midnight. Tickets are $30 in advance, $40 at the door. Donations are also welcome.

The New Orleans Jewish Community Center will have an Adloyadah carnival on Feb. 24 from noon to 4 p.m. at the Uptown location. The back field becomes the carnival grounds, with rides, music Israeli food, hamantaschen and snowballs. There is a costume parade led by a stilt walker. The event is free and open to the community, with food available for purchase. All-day game bands for children are $12, or $10 with a donation to Second Harvest.

Northshore Jewish Congregation in Mandeville will have its Purim Festival on Feb. 24 at 9:30 a.m., starting with the megillah reading and Purimshpiel. A costume contest starts at 10 a.m., followed by a carnival and potluck brunch. Bring food in the form of triangles.

Around the Region
Birmingham’s Temple Beth-El and Temple Emanu-El will team up for A Wicked Good Tale, Feb. 24 at 9:30 a.m. The Purim shpiel will feature Cantors Daniel Gale and Jessica Roskin, and members of both congregations. A carnival will follow at 10:30 a.m. The event will be at Emanu-El this year.

Beth-El will also have a Family Ruach Shabbat service and dinner on Feb. 22 at 5:45 p.m., and a megillah reading on Feb. 23 at 6 p.m.

Knesseth Israel will hold a Purim celebration on Feb. 23 at 6:30 p.m. There will be a carnival including moon bounce, 8-horse carousel, obstacle course, two-lane slide and many other features.

The Bais Ariel Chabad Center in Birmingham will hold Purim in Britain on Feb. 24. The megillah reading will be at 4:30 p.m., followed by a Purim party that includes British cuisine, an open pub and “Chabad’s Got Talent.” Costumes in the form of favourite British personalities are encouraged. Admission is $18 per adult, $10 per child with a $50 family maximum.

In Huntsville, Temple B’nai Sholom will host “Mad Men, Martinis and Megillah” on Feb. 3 at 7 p.m. Awards will be given for best costume in several categories. There is a $5 suggested donation.

Huntsville’s Etz Chayim will hold a hot dog dinner at 6:30 p.m. on Feb. 23, followed by the megillah reading and performance by the local BBYO teens and religious school children. There will be gluten-free and vegetarian options at the dinner.

In Mobile, Springhill Avenue Temple will have its Purim celebration, “The Muppets: The Shushan Connection” on Feb. 22 at 6 p.m. Ahavas Chesed in Mobile will have its megillah reading on Feb. 23 at 7 p.m.

Fresh from their Metairie appearance, the Baal Shem Tones will also perform at Beth Israel in Jackson at its Purim festival. The congregation will hold its annual Purimspiel on Feb. 23 at 7 p.m., “Greased Purim.”

The congregation’s carnival will be at 10:30 a.m. on Feb. 24, followed by lunch at noon and the Baal Shem Tones concert at 12:30 p.m.

Gulfport’s Beth Israel will have a Purim celebration on Feb. 24 at 11 a.m., with costume contest, cake walk and megillah reading.

There will be a community Purim event at B’nai Zion in Shreveport on Feb. 24. The costume parade begins at 10 a.m., and lunch from Albasha will be at 11:30 a.m.

Shreveport’s Agudath Achim will hold its annual Purim covered dish dinner on Feb. 23 at 6 p.m. Dairy or pareve dishes are requested. The megillah reading will be at 7 p.m. The time has been changed from earlier announcements because of another event.

At B’nai Zion in Shreveport, the Feb. 22 Shabbat service at 6 p.m. will include the megillah reading and annual Purim parody by Rabbi Jana de Benedetti.

Lake Charles’ Temple Sinai is hosting Lafayette’s Temple Shalom and Alexandria’s Gemiluth Chassodim for its Wild West Purim celebration, which starts at 10 a.m. on Feb. 24 and includes a lunch. Students are encouraged to wear costumes or western clothing, and Judy Ginsburgh will perform. Temple Shalom will meet at 8:15 a.m. to caravan to Lake Charles.