JCC’s Purim Carnival benefits foodbank and Israeli city

Eytan Graubart excitedly walked about the main lobby of the Weinstein JCC, with shaving cream covering his hair and face.

He didn't seem to mind being the recipient of a pie in the face because it was all for a good cause.

Proceeds from yesterday's communitywide Purim Carnival at the JCC are going to the Central Virginia Foodbank and to help build an underground playground in the Israeli city of Sderot, which is a frequent target of rocket fire from militants in the Gaza Strip.

"To give the kids a safe place to play, they're building a bomb shelter/playground underground," said Graubart, the carnival director. "We thought, with the Jewish holiday, it would be a good cause to be a part in."

As for the mess created by the shaving cream pie, he said: "That's part of the spirit of this holiday. To wear costumes, be silly."

The story of Purim, in the Book of Esther, is read each year at this time. The Jewish holiday is tomorrow. A reading of the Megillah will take place tonight at synagogues.

The story begins in Persia when King Ahasuerus was ruler. He fell in love with a beautiful woman named Esther and made her his queen.

Not long after they were married, his chief adviser, Haman, persuaded the king to issue a decree that all Jews residing in the city of Sushan be killed because one of them -- Mordecai -- refused to bow before Haman.

Mordecai, a cousin of Esther's, learned of the plot and asked Esther to intervene. She invited Haman and King Ahasuerus to an elaborate banquet, where she revealed she was Jewish. The king reversed the order and recognized Haman as a wicked person and had him put to death.

Thousands of people took part in yesterday's community gathering at the Purim Carnival. The festive atmosphere added to the carnival-like experience. In one of the downstairs gyms, carnival games such as ring toss, egg relay and miniature golf were available for children. There was even a game in which participants could hang Haman, the villain of the Purim story.

In another section of the community center, children interacted with clowns and had their faces painted.

Other children took part in a costume contest in the Israel November Auditorium. The costumes ranged from princesses to superheroes, and one girl dressed up as a bottle of ketchup.

Costumes weren't limited to the children. Laurie Kaplan was masquerading as Catwoman, while son Meye was dressed up as Batman sidekick Robin and daughter Rachel was Haman.

But while those in attendance enjoyed themselves, they also were helping other causes. The theme of this year's event was "Purim Gives Back," said Scott Katz, assistant director of the JCC.

"We're really trying to take the concept of 'tikun olam,' which means repairing the world, to the next level with Purim," Katz said.

Contact Jeremy Slayton at (804) 649-6861 or .