Mishkan Torah Purim Spiel

March 3

Purim is a Jewish holiday that falls between late February and late March. It commemorates the triumph of the Jewish people over evil Haman in ancient Persia. The Jews were led by the brave Mordechai and helped by Queen Esther, and the story is told in the biblical book of Esther. At Purim, the Book of Esther (the Megillah) is read aloud, triangular pastries called Hamantaschen (“Haman’s pockets”) are eaten, and there are usually costume parties. Another tradition is to stage a Purim spiel (“shpil means ‘game’ or ‘(stage) play’ in Yiddish”— Wikipedia) that tells the Purim story. On March 3, I attended a Purim spiel at Greenbelt’s Mishkan Torah Synagogue.

Mishkan Torah’s Purim spiel “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Purim” was written by Jeffrey Rosen, directed by David Herschler and first performed 1987. There are close to 20 musical numbers, and they borrow from popular Broadway, opera, Gilbert and Sullivan and rock ‘n’ roll tunes. 25 years later, Rosen has updated some of pieces and Herschler is once again the director. In this photo, the full cast except Haman sings the opening number, “Purim Spiel Tonight.” Pictured here is Mordechai played by Bret Goldstein.