The Weekend’s “Super” Purim Celebration

Faster than a spinning dreidel, more powerful than Moses parting the Red Sea, able to leap Masada in a single bound! Look! On the bimah, it’s WHC Super Clergy!!

This past weekend, heroes and heroines big and small turned out to celebrate the Purim holiday with Washington Hebrew Congregation. Families fortified their strength to help defeat the evil Haman (boo!) at a Super Supper then headed into the Sanctuary for our Shabbat Purim Service.

The congregation quickly realized that this was no ordinary service when Rabbi Lustig answered a phone call in the middle of his welcome, disappeared into a phone booth, and emerged as a superhero. A glance around the bimah revealed that all the clergy and songleader Audrey Katz, had traded in their robes and tallit for blue “Washington Hero” capes, shirts, and masks.

The superhero theme carried through the service, with prayers, songs, and flying clergy heroes displayed on a jumbo screen over the bimah in a larger-than-life animated comic book. Queen Esther, the ultimate superheroine, saw her bravery rewarded when the evil Haman (boo!) was ultimately defeated.

After the service, everyone was treated to a super-sized oneg in Edlavitch Hall. While quenching their thirst with Superhero Mocktails (Iron Man Punch, anyone?), Dan Israel entertained the revelers with his fire-eating and magical super powers. Heroes and heroines also made Mighty Masks, decorated Courageous Cards, and took Fearless Photos in front of a WHC Gotham-themed superhero backdrop.

The fun (and superheroes) moved to JBSC on Sunday for WHC’s annual WHECTY-hosted Purim Carnival. Laughter could be heard throughout the building, as WHC heroes and heroines had their faces painted; played games (and won prizes!); enjoyed hamantashen, cotton candy, pizza, and more; and climbed and jumped their way through their own superhero land.

Relive some of the fun at our Purim photo gallery!