The Wild Side of Purim

The website of Congregation Beth Shalom describes the festival of Purim as "the wildest day in the Jewish calendar."

Yet on the surface, Purim, which falls on March 19 and 20 this year, looks like a run-of-the-mill religious festival.

The celebration originated in the Jewish community in Persia in the fifth century BCE and includes a public reading of the scroll of Esther. The story of Queen Esther and her cousin Mordecai recounts how they together thwart the plan of the evil Haman -- the "enemy of the Jews" -- to murder all of the Jewish people in a single day.

What's so wild about that?

Well, turn the reading into a full-on drama, complete with costumes and audience participation, and things start to get interesting.

Hand out noisemakers to everyone so that they can drown out Haman's lines with boos and jeers, and you've got a bit of chaotic fun.

Throw in some schnapps and, well...things can get wild.

If you're picturing something like a cross between the Rocky Horror Show and the Hebrew Bible, you're right.

In addition to the Megillah (scroll) reading, Purim traditionally includes prayers, exchanging gifts, giving to the poor and a meal of celebration.

Expect to see plenty of hamantashen (meaning "Haman's pockets") -- a three-sided pastry with a pocket of filling that, depending on who you ask, could represent Haman's hat, his ears or the bribe money given to him.

Rabbi Mike Werbow and the Congregation of Beth Shalom held a "full, no-holds barred" Megillah reading last night, with a second reading being held today at 9 a.m.  Visitors are invited to the family-friendly event and a carnival will follow from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at 5915 Beacon St. in Squirrel Hill.

Freilichen Purim!