Purim comes alive at family-friendly events

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Celebrate Purim with j.family ambassadors and the active adults of the Jewish Community Center of Northern NJ.

Purim is a joyous holiday that honors the Book of Esther, the story of a woman who became queen of Persia and prevented the genocide of her people.

In commemoration of the biblical story, the celebration has turned into a day of fun, costumes, games, and sweet treats including a tricornered, filled cookie called hamentaschen, named for and inspired by the shape of the villain’s hat in the original story.

Events run as follows:

Thursday, March 1 — 11:20 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Hamentashen Make – Take – Bake (followed by kosher senior lunch) at Temple Beth Or, 56 Ridgewood Road, Township of Washington.

The Active Adults Program invites participants to learn about the holiday of Purim while they make and fill their own hamentashen to bake at home.

There’s a $5 materials fee. To register for the lunch (suggested donation $4) contact Ruth at ruthb[AT}jccnnj.org or (201) 666-6610 ext. 2 by Monday, Feb. 26.

Sunday, March 4 — 9:30 to 11 a.m.
j.family Ambassadors’ Purim Magic at the Westwood Recreation Center, 55 Jefferson Ave.

Children are invited to dress up, marvel at a magic show, play games, listen to music, and enjoy refreshments including muffins and hamentaschen with the Jewish Community Center of Northern NJ’s j.family Ambassadors.

To register, visit the website jccnnjpurimmagic.eventbrite.com.

These programs are made possible through the generous support of the Jewish Federation of Northern NJ and the Bergen County Y, a foundation.

For more information, call (201) 666-6610 or visit JCCNNJ.org.